Education

VISION #1—  OUR COMMUNITY VALUES EDUCATION AS THE VEHICLE THAT INSPIRES LIFE-LONG LEARNING AND POSITIVE COMMUNITY CHANGE.

 

FOCUS GROUP: EDUCATION

The Education Focus Group will look at information including graduation and dropout rates as well as the Maryland Model for School Readiness Report and SAT scores.

MISSION
"Our students graduate high school with a plan and pathway to pursue post-secondary opportunities."

Post-secondary Opportunities Defined
"Opportunities after high school completion that lead to the skills or knowledge needed to pursure a career path or life enrichment through continuing education and training."

 

*Denotes IMPACT Council Member

Strategic Community Impact Plan

Education Focus Group Comprehensive Goals and Strategies

Vision #1 – Education- Our community values education as the vehicle that inspires life-long learning and positive community change.

Goals- School Readiness

GOAL # 1 - Within five years, all students entering kindergarten will be fully ready to learn based on standards set by Maryland Model for School Readiness.  Strategies include:

1. broaden elementary schools’ capabilities to work with families prior to entering kindergarten;
2. expand reach of programs that encourage parents to be their child’s first teacher;
3. partner with WCPS Birth to Five team to provide services to students in the natural home setting with learning difficulties, and speech and occupational therapy issues;
4.  increase opportunities for parents to attend workshops/learning opportunities on parenting skills;
5.  increase opportunities for parent and child interaction activities focused on cultural enrichment, critical and creative thinking skills and habits of mind that encourage curiosity and enhance literacy and numeracy skills;
6.  increase the number of accredited, affordable pre-kindergarten programs that offer flexible schedules to accommodate parent work/life schedules;
7. develop parent mentoring programs; educate parents of MSDE’s and WCPS ultimate goal of every child entering kindergarten will be fully ready to learn and succeed.

 

GOAL # 2 - To help reduce learning loss within three years,  school age children will have access to extended school year, summer and weekend learning opportunities, regardless of socio-economic situation.       Strategies include:

1.  convene a group of educators, arts and culture program providers to develop a structured full and part-time weekend/summer program that leverages our community’s many cultural, arts and education assets to provide substantive learning experiences;
2.  increase access to opportunities for students to attend cultural activities and learn critical and creative thinking skills and habits of mind that encourage curiosity and enhance literacy and numeracy skills;
3. provide opportunities for parents to meet with their children at local community centers to inform parents of these services;
4.  increase number of free or reduced cost learning programs, including summer camps and other enrichment experiences that are tailored to the interests and strengths of children, not just remediation in areas of deficiency, that will foster college and career readiness and that include transportation;
5.  establish structured community/business leader involvement in school-wide enrichment & mentoring programs in every geographic attendance zone; explore county-wide partnerships with local non-profits/faith community and other organizations to increase the number of flexible and affordable before and after school care programs in Washington County.

 

Goals - High School Completion

GOAL # 3 - Increase graduation rate 1% each year with a long-term vision of 100% of students graduating from high school annually.  Strategies include:

1. develop new ways to engage parents in child’s education so they become committed participants in the process;
2. expand career experience and opportunities to students at the middle and high school levels;
3. provide assistance in native languages to English Language Learners (ELL) and their parents/caregivers;
4.  establish structured community/business leader involvement in school-wide enrichment and mentoring programs;
5.  advocate for state legislature to change Maryland’s compulsory education law by raising the age of mandatory attendance from 16-18, excepting students who graduate before age 18;
6. establish a process to develop a post-secondary plan for all students focusing on opportunities at four-year colleges, community colleges, trade schools through apprenticeships and other educational opportunities.

 

GOAL # 4 - Increase percentages of adults who have complete a high school diploma or its equivalency by 5% in the next five years.  Strategies include:

• provide funding to expand both the number of clients served and the number of locations offered for the External Diploma (ED) and General Education Diploma (GED) programs;
• explore partnerships with local businesses, workforce providers and the State of Maryland, to provide on-site and alternative locations for ED/GED programs;
• establish partnerships between and among community organizations, social service agencies and continuing education programs and home school cooperatives to coordinate and provide support for all learners;
• add/expand wrap around services for developmentally disabled students 21 years of age and older.

 

Goals- Post Secondary Opportunities

GOAL # 5 - Each year at least 75% of county high school graduates will enroll in full-time post-secondary educational opportunities.  Strategies include:  

1. expand college campus experiences for students to include: organized visits to college campuses for elementary and middle school aged students and summer learning experiences on college campuses for high school students;
2. increase opportunities for parents to attend workshops and seminars on college readiness;
3. develop corporate/community partnerships to support specific college readiness programs such as STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math) and AVID ( Advancement Via Individual Determination);  
4. develop mentoring network for families involved in the college application and financial aid process;
5. provide and publicize free assistance in completing FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) and other forms;
6.  increase need and merit-based scholarships to county students who have been accepted and plan to enroll in a four-year college;
7. develop a public awareness campaign promoting the importance of post-secondary education and training- model after Born Learning;  sponsor an annual College Month, highlighting importance of college.

 

GOAL # 6 - Within next 10 years, increase the percentage of adults with associate and bachelor degrees to meet or exceed the percentage in Maryland.   Strategies include:

1. expand internship opportunities of adult learners, increase and publicize opportunities for free, individualized assistance in completing FAFSA ( Free Application for Federal Student Aid)  and other college related forms;
2. increase number of need-based scholarships for adults who have been accepted and plan to enroll in a college or technical school;
3. expand initiatives to target adults who possess some college credits but not a degree and provide supports to ease their transition back into college;  
4. expand partnerships between postsecondary institutions and businesses that will benefit from an improved workforce to provide incentives, aid and on-site training for adult learners;
5.  expand internships opportunities for adult learners by coordinating with local employers and postsecondary institutions to provide financial aid and other incentives for participation;
6. develop targeted outreach programs to provide college and career information, guidance training and strategic supports to underrepresented and at-risk populations, including English language learners, learning disabled, economically disadvantaged, physically challenged and first generation college-goers;
7. expand skill based job training programs and life skills training for non-traditional and developmentally delayed adults;
8. convene a community discussion around needs of the minors of undocumented immigrant who do not have SSN, but have proved residency for the expressed purpose of making post-secondary opportunities more accessible and affordable for qualifying students;
9.  gather and analyze data to determine reasons for degree completion and non-completion;
10. develop programs to address primary needs such as finances, academic supports, social/emotional/peer supports, transportation, child care, employer support, teen pregnancy and parental support.

GOAL # 7 - All students will have access to social and emotional supports and physical and mental health services.  Strategies include:

1.  expand relationship between and among Washington County Public Schools and community partnerships, social service agencies, health care providers and volunteer organizations to create and expand supports for students;
2.  utilize a communities-in-school approach to embed community programs, resources and supports within schools;
3. develop partnerships to offer nutrition programs when school is out of session;
4. explore best practices like the partnership between Boonsboro Middle School and Boonsboro High School where Villa Maria provided mental health services for students through support given by the local management Board (LMB).

GOAL # 8 - Within 5 years, increase the number of adults who enroll in and complete a formal career training program, such as licensing apprenticeship, certification, and degree programs.  Strategies include:

1. develop targeted outreach programs to provide college and career information, guidance, training and strategic supports for at-risk populations;
2. expand skill-based job training programs and life-skills training for nontraditional and developmentally delayed adults.
3. expand internships opportunities for adult learners by coordinating with local employers and postsecondary institutions to provide financial aid and other incentives for participation;
4. develop targeted outreach programs to provide college and career information, guidance training and strategic supports to underrepresented and at-risk populations, including English language learners, learning disabled, economically disadvantaged, physically challenged and first generation college-goers;
5. expand skill based job training programs and life skills training for non-traditional and developmentally delayed adults;
6. convene a community discussion around needs of the minors of undocumented immigrant who do not have SSN, but have proved residency for the expressed purpose of making post-secondary opportunities more accessible and affordable for qualifying students;
7.  gather and analyze data to determine reasons for degree completion and non-completion;
8. develop programs to address primary needs such as finances, academic supports, social/emotional/peer supports, transportation, child care, employer support, teen pregnancy and parental support.

Goals- All Learners

GOAL # 9 - Promote full adult literacy to address the literacy needs of adult English language learners, adults with learning disabilities and others who are challenged by a lack of literacy skills.         Strategies include:

1. support  organizations that provide tutoring to adults in need;
2.  convene a task force to assess the literacy needs in Washington County;
3. explore establishment of a research-based tutoring program focused on language-based differences.

Download related material:

Select a file... 2007-2008 MSDE Fact Book 2007-2008 WCPS Annual Report 2008-2009 Maryland Model for School Readiness Report 2008-2009 MSDE Fact Book 2008 Maryland Report Card Performance Report 2009-10 HCC Course Catalog 2009 Maryland Report Card Performance Report Advanced Placement and IB Results APPLES for Children Child Care Demographic Report Dropout Rate Graduation Rate High School Assessment Results by Content Home Schooling End of Year Report dated June 26 09 Homeless Student Data through January 2010 Job Training Entities MD Special Education Early Intervention Data Mobility Info about Highest 5 Elementary Schools MSA Results Nonpublic School Enrollment Info SAT Results rsity System of MD Programs of Study US Census Data School Enrollment USMH Enrollment Trends WCPS Attendance WCPS ELL Enrollment WCPS System Grade Band Status WCPS University of Maryland and Career Tech Education Completers 09 Student Mobility Rates by School Comprehensive Data Report of HCC FARM Numbers 10-30-2009 Grade 12 Post Graduation Intentions Education: Comprehensive Goals and Strategies