Allentown School District
Middle School Transformation Launch
December 13, 2019
Middle Schools that Support College - Career - Community Readiness
Middle School Transformation: A Case for Change
Strengths Weaknesses
S W
1.Engaged and Caring Parents 1. PSSA Scores
2. High quality staff 2. Community Confidence
3. Strategic vision for 3. College and Career
improvement
Readiness
Opportunities Threats
O T
1. Engaged Philanthropic and 1. Resource deficiency
Partner Community 2. Communication
2. Collective desire for success 3. Fidelity of Implementation
3. CSI designation and supports
Continuing the vision of the ASD Board
of Directors
2017 2018 2019-2020
School, community Curriculum audit to identify Launch Middle
and district highest leverage work aligned School
stakeholders build to framework. Transformation
strategic framework.
Begin addressing the most critical areas
of need based on framework.
It takes a Village…… to Transform
• The Century Fund • Pennsylvania
Commitment Department of
Education Commitment
– $2.8 Million
– Three year investment – $2 Million designation
for 4 CSI schools
in the MST.
– District Improvement
Pilot (Mass Insight)
– DataWise
Middle Schools that Support College -
Career - Community Readiness
Middle School Transformation
SELECTION OF SUPPORT PRIORITIZE DISTRICT
AND TRANSFORMATION IMPROVEMENT, EQUITY,
PARTNERS AND SUPPORTS
MIDDLE SCHOOLS
THAT SUPPORT
COLLEGE & CAREER
READINESS
DEVELOP CORPORATE DISTRICT-WIDE
AND COMMUNITY COMMUNITY SCHOOLS
COUNCIL
IMPLEMENTATION
Middle School Transformation
STRATEGIC STUDENT CENTERED SUPPORTS AND
PARTNERSHIP FOR EMPOWERED TEACHER VOICE
SCHOOL 1. Nationally recognized transformation partners.
IMPROVEMENT 2. Use of “on track” measures for partner models.
3. School Innovation Teams will select model
(teachers, administration, parents, and
community).
4. Focus on Small Learning Communities for students
and Professional Learning Communities for staff.
5. Focus on standards aligned instructional programs.
6. Customize school environment to better meet the
needs of students & parents.
7. Partners will support development of the required
CSI Plan.
Middle School Transformation
DISTRICT IMPROVEMENT
DISTRICT 1. ASD recognizes the needs for increased capacity
IMPROVEMENT at the Central Office level to support
AND SUPPORT transformation efforts.
2. ASD has engaged in the District Improvement
process with PDE.
3. ASD will engage a capacity builder to support the
district leadership in creating systems to support
the increased teacher/leader voice in our middle
schools.
4. ASD will focus on systems and two-way
communication with parents and community.
5. Equitable Resource Allocation*
1. Additional College & Career Counselor
2. STEM/ESOL support
Middle School Transformation
EXPANSION OF Increasing Supports and Empowering Families
THE COMMUNITY
SCHOOLS MODEL 1. Each middle school will partner with the
UWGLV to implement a district-wide
middle schools, community school
model.
2. Capacity-building supports.
3. Stakeholder engagement and
participation.
4. Authentic family engagement.
5. Restorative Practices continues to be a
core philosophy.
6. Resource coordination.
Middle School Transformation
CORPORATE Strategic Partnerships for Resources and
AND Sustainability
COMMUNITY 1. ASD will work with local business to develop a
COUNCIL corporate and community council.
2. Building specific resources for sustainability.
3. Opportunity for innovation and choice within at the
building-level.
4. The council will serve three main purposes:
1. Continue to develop strong partnerships to
add support to our middle school
communities.
2. Develop plan for sustainability after the initial
investment from the Century Fund.
3. Monitor “on-track” implementation measures
of partners.
Middle School Transformation
Implementation Timeline
1. Onsight 1. Partners 1. School 1. Middle Schools
Engagement with Chosen Improvement begin
parents and staff (CSI) plan implementation
at each school. 2. Corporate/ finalized
Community 2. Community
2. School Innovation Council school
teams developed kickoff elements in
place
Jan. 2020 March 2020 June 2020 Sept. 2020
Middle School Transformation
SELECTION OF SUPPORT PRIORITIZE DISTRICT
AND TRANSFORMATION IMPROVEMENT, EQUITY,
PARTNERS AND SUPPORTS
MIDDLE SCHOOLS
THAT SUPPORT
COLLEGE & CAREER
READINESS
DEVELOP CORPORATE DISTRICT-WIDE
AND COMMUNITY COMMUNITY SCHOOLS
COUNCIL
IMPLEMENTATION