After each school leadership team reflected on its school culture, community, and the key contributing factors to student growth, they used this information to select the Strategic Plan Indicators that would have the greatest positive impact for their students.  Each school was directed to select two to six indicators on which to focus during the 2018-19 school year.  Certainly, we all know that if we focus narrowly and deeply, we are more likely to realize positive results.  The indicators that this school’s leadership team selected are noted below.

Throughout the next 3 years, schools will focus on their chosen Strategic Plan Indicators as the drivers to increase student engagement and achievement within their schools. They will choose strategies to help them grow or increase within each indicator and will monitor and evaluate the student and school changes that take place along the journey.  Below you will see what this school imagines their students and school to look like in 2021 after having focused and worked on their chosen indicators for three years.

One Indicator Maryland City Elementary selected to focus on is to increase the percentage of students who read on or above grade level by the end of second grade (Indicator 5). By the spring of 2020, we will have implemented our school-wide initiative to provide teachers with the skills needed to work with EL students. By incorporating Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol (SIOP) and oral language strategies into guided reading and other subject areas in all grade levels, we will increase opportunities for language and vocabulary development for all students, including our ELs. Enhanced language development will improve reading, speaking, and writing skills across the curriculum and reduce achievement gaps between student groups on quarterly assessments (Indicator 6). 

By the spring of 2020, all staff members will also be using trauma-informed practices, and they will be well-versed in how to help students develop executive functioning skills. There will be evidence of both throughout the building not only during classroom instruction, but also during other parts of the school day. We will continue with Morning Circles, Second Step lessons, and brain-based teaching strategies. Professional development in each of these areas will be on-going. Classroom routines and school-wide expectations will be consistently implemented with a focus on Whole Brain Teaching and a positive behavior management system, PBIS. Maryland City Elementary students will feel cared for and supported by our staff and the entire school community (Indicator 2).