By: Jeremy Handel, Staff Writer | jeremy@thewoodrufftimes.com
The Spartanburg County School District Four Board of Trustees approved a new five-year strategic plan and goals at a specially called meeting on April 29.
The plan and goals are required by the State Department of Education for every district in the state and must be updated every five years.
Superintendent Dr. Aaron Fulmer told the Trustees at their regular meeting on March 30 that the state had been delayed in providing guiding materials for the process, the district was working on a compressed timeline to develop the plan and get it approved by the Board by the state’s April 30 deadline.
Rachel Traynham, director of compliance and student support, led the effort to put the plan together, including hosting community meetings to get feedback from locals.
The new plan established district- and school-level goals to achieve by 2030. The goals are broken into three categories: student achievement, teacher/administrator quality, and school climate.
The district-level goals for the next five years are:
Student Achievement: By May of 2030, 60% of first graders will score at or above the 50th percentile on i-Ready Reading
Student Achievement: By May of 2030, 60% of second graders will be projected to meet or exceed the SC Ready ELA/Reading benchmark as 3rd graders.
Student Achievement: By May of 2030, 65% of students in grades 3 – 5 will score meets or exceeds on SC Ready ELA and Math.
Student Achievement: By May of 2030, 15% of students with disabilities in grades 6 – 8 will score meets or exceeds on SC Ready ELA.
Student Achievement: By May of 2030, 20% of students with disabilities in grades 6 – 8 will score meets or exceeds on SC Ready Math.
Student Achievement: By May of 2030, the total number of Algebra I End of Course (EOC) scores C or above will increase from 41% to 51%.
Student Achievement: By May of 2030, the total number of English II End of Course (EOC) scores C or above will increase from 78% to 85%.
Teacher/Administrator Quality: Through varied opportunities and monetary support, Spartanburg School District Four will increase advanced teacher certifications and/or endorsements from 5% to 25% over the next five years.
School Climate: By May of 2030, survey responses will indicate increased parent satisfaction with home/school relations on average across the district from 85% to 95%.
School Climate: By Spring 2030, Woodruff High School’s graduation rate will increase from 80% to 85%.
In addition to the district goals, each school submitted its own goals in the same three areas of student achievement, teacher/administrator quality, and school climate that fed into the district goals. The individual school goals related directly to the district goals in pushing to improve students’ test scores, increase certification among faculty, and increase parent participation and satisfaction.
Trustees unanimously approved the plan and goals, which were submitted to the state for approval by the Department of Education.
Author: Tracy Sanders
