43°
“School turnaround work is difficult and requires a continuous commitment from teachers, students, parents, administrators and the surrounding community,” Education Commissioner Stefan Pryor said.
“Walsh and Dunbar have demonstrated the grit and determination to build systems designed to last and have successfully navigated unexpected challenges. The Department looks forward to an ever strengthening partnership with these districts and schools in improving outcomes for their students.”
Dunbar’s turnaround committee endeavored to build upon the positive progress made in Year 1 of the plan and focused on strengthening supports for students’ social and emotional needs, including the addition of a new school counselor, the State Board of Education said in a statement.
Other improvements detailed in the revised plan include extending the school day and the addition of a new pre-kindergarten program. To help with implementation efforts, the committee selected Cooperative Educational Services to hire and manage academic assistants for the school and to provide high-quality professional development and coaching for Dunbar teachers, among other responsibilities, the State Board of Education said in a statement.
Waterbury’s Walsh School used Year 1 in the Commissioner’s Network as a planning year to identify a partner to help with implementation and to ready the school for transformative changes detailed in its revised school improvement plan, the State Board of Education said in a statement. The district also selected a new principal to lead the school’s turnaround.
Years 2 and 3 will focus on fostering a stronger bond between students and teachers through smaller learning communities where teachers stay with the students across grade levels for three consecutive years, the State Board of Education said in a statement. Students will benefit from extended learning time and teachers will receive more opportunities for high-quality professional development. Innovative Educational Programs (IEP), chosen at the local level through a competitive process, will assist in the implementation of the improvements.
Click here to follow Daily Voice Bridgeport and receive free news updates.
