Goal 1: The implementation of 8th grade Algebra I and expansion of Pre-AP, AP, and dual-enrollment courses in all high schools by 2016-2017.

Strategic Actions :

The implementation of 8^th grade Algebra I and expansion of Pre-AP/AP, and dual-enrollment courses in all high schools by 2016-2017:

- Collaborate and expand A+ partnership by pursuing a system-wide grant

- Budget and provide high schools and middle schools with additional staffing, or transition to a modified block in order to expand course offerings to include AP in the four core subject areas.  (approximate cost of additional units is $60,000) 

- Vertical alignment with local curriculum to ensure rigor and expectations with 8^th grade Algebra I, and to include pre-calculus or possibly calculus as the terminal high school  course.

- Professional learning communities (PLC) to ensure feeder school collaboration and vertical alignment concerning rigor and expectations within each school community.

- On-going professional development with A+, AMSTI, and math collaborations within our system to remain up-to-date concerning curriculum and sharing best practices.

 Goal: The implementation of a fine arts curriculum (e.g. music, art, theater, etc.) by 2016-2017. 

Strategic Actions :

The implementation of a fine arts curriculum (e.g. music, art, theater, etc.) by 2016-2017:

 - Initially, budget and provide local teaching units to offer a fine arts curriculum in each

   of our four school districts (Unit cost $60,000.00 each x 4 = $240,000

   approximately).  The teacher would rotate among schools within the district.

 - Collaborate and plan a curriculum with other school systems that currently offer a fine

   arts curriculum

 - Collaborate, plan, and partner with postsecondary department of fine arts for resources

   (human and curriculum)

Goal 3 Increased bandwidth, and installation of switches and wireless connection points in all of our schools to provide a 1:1 technology initiative with laptops or Chromebooks for every student, or the implementation of a BYOD policy by the 2017-2018 school year.

Strategic Actions:

A 1:1 technology initiative with laptops/Chrome-books for every student, or   implement a BYOD policy by 2017-2018

- Budget and provide capital to improve and provide the necessary infrastructure (i.e. increase bandwidth, installation of switches, Wi-Fi connectivity, etc.) throughout the system prior to making system-wide hardware purchase.

- The Walker County Board of Education recently received a $570,770 grant via W.I.R.E.D. to supplement the funding for infrastructure upgrades to accommodate a future 1:1 or BYOD initiative.

- Collaborate and plan with school systems that have previously implemented a system-wide initiative to determine issues prior to implementation (i.e. dos and don’ts)

- Budget and provide capital for technology/hardware costs, and seek grant proposal to supplement total expense

- Collaborate and plan with technology leadership team to up-date systems acceptable use policy (AUP) concerning a “plugged in” culture, and possible BYOD dos and don’ts

Strategic Actions:

4 Ongoing evaluation of the career technical curriculum to ensure alignment with regional, high demand occupations and future needs of business and industry:

- Collaborate with state of Alabama Labor Division concerning Region 4 Occupational data to determine, and better understand, trends and high demand occupations within our geographical region

 - Attend Walker County and Jasper City Industrial Development Board meetings to determine and better understand local occupational trends and needs. 

- Attend Walker County Chamber of Commerce meetings to determine and better understand local business and industry needs and future recruitment to the area.

- Annually evaluate programs’ curriculum and enrollment to determine if any necessary changes are required within the program, or possible termination of a program that does not match regional needs to assist students in becoming marketable and employable.

Strategic Actions:

5. ALL Walker County students will graduate college or career ready!!

- Continued data analysis of ACT, ACT ASPIRE, and ACT Work keys’ reports to determine areas of strength and weakness to identify specific standards or instructional areas for improvement

- System-wide professional development with a continued emphasis on College and

Career Ready Standards (CCRS) to ensure implementation of instructional practices with an increase in rigor, expectations, and relevancy to the real-world that includes

  student engagement and collaboration. (system calendar includes six (6) in-service days

  designated to accomplish this ongoing professional learning and collaboration).

- Continued focus on vertical and horizontal collaboration to ensure CCRS alignment

across grade configurations.  This includes professional learning communities (PLC)  within respective school community feeder patterns.

- Continued focus on formative assessments to inform teachers and students concerning individual progress with the CCRS.

- Continued analysis of the Alabama Commission on Higher Education (ACHE) annual report concerning the number of students requiring postsecondary remediation, and continued collaboration with our local postsecondary institution  (i.e. Bevill State Community College) to identify reasons and solutions

- Ensure that ALL students graduate with a minimum of one of the following identifiable on his or her transcript: ACT composite benchmark, ACT Work keys benchmark,college dual-enrollment course(s), AP course(s), or a Career-Technical Credential