Curriculum & Instruction

Collective Commitment #1

Delivering innovative, individualized, and inquiry-based programming designed to address the academic and social-emotional needs of our students inside and outside of the classroom.

NOTE: This area of focus falls under Collective Commitment #1 which is subdivided into four areas under Curriculum & Instruction/Student and Community Services. The four areas of focus are Curriculum & Instruction | Student & Community Services | School Safety, Future-Ready Programming, Social-Emotional Learning, STEAM, and Early Childhood Education.

Objective #1
Partner with key agencies, parents/guardians, and community groups (e.g., parent-teacher organizations) to create a parent education program that helps meet the needs of our community. 

• Partner with the Ladue Education Foundation (LEF), parent associations, and other outside organizations to bring in speakers for parents and for teacher professional development opportunities.

• Utilize survey data (Panorama) and feedback from parent organizations to determine the best topics for which the district can offer additional information and support.

• Create a parent education program that offers opportunities throughout the school year to help parents learn more about topics such as supporting their child(ren)’s academics, social-emotional well-being, and mental health.

• Collaborate with the Communications and Technology Departments to create a repository of resources that help parents and community members navigate the educational process. Examples include support for parents, support for youth (internships/jobs), Hi-Set program information, information about curriculum nights, strategies, and interventions (website, in-person, virtual option).

Objective #2
Recommend to the Board ways to increase summer program offerings and after-school activities to provide both intervention support and enrichment opportunities to students.

• Review current summer school offerings and research ways to incorporate more enrichment programming into our summer programs.

• Research current after-school enrichment programs and determine opportunities to equitably offer activities across the district. 

• Review transportation needs for after-school activities to ensure equitable access to programming. 

• Explore opportunities to expand high school summer school options beyond credit recovery (Government, Personal Finance, Physical Education, Driver’s Education, etc.) 

• Research and recommend opportunities to expand partnerships with area community centers to increase sports and athletic community events across grade levels.

Objective #3
Create a comprehensive K-12 school counseling program that addresses responsive services, school counseling curriculum, individual student planning, and system support. 

• Implement broadly based elementary and middle school career awareness and exploration program, which align with high school and career center curricula.

• Create and implement a system of data collection and evaluation to provide the necessary information for program review and development.

• Establish and monitor the implementation of learning and behavioral supports that are identified, coordinated, and implemented with fidelity at the classroom, building, and system levels.

• Collaborate with community partners to provide information and resources to students and parents/guardians to address barriers impacting student success.

• Implement methodologies to support social-emotional learning, culturally responsive teaching, and trauma-informed practices based on student needs.

• Beginning no later than 7th grade, building leaders ensure each student participates in an individual planning process designed to assist in a successful transition to postsecondary experiences (e.g., college, technical school, military, the workforce, etc.).

• Individual Career and Academic Plans (ICAPs) are developed and reviewed annually for each student starting no later than 8th grade and continuing through 12th grade.

• Each student has equitable access to responsive services and resources to assist them in addressing issues and concerns that may affect their academic, career, and social-emotional needs. Examples include school counseling and additional supports such as school psychologists, social workers, nurses, and therapists, based on local context and student need.

Objective #4
Develop a comprehensive school safety and security plan.

• Develop, implement, and annually review our comprehensive school emergency operations plan at each school campus. 

• Employ a designated safety coordinator who demonstrates knowledge of all federal, state, and local school violence and prevention programs and resources that are available to students, teachers, and district staff.

• Ensure emergency preparedness drills are performed in compliance with state statutes and local ordinances.

• Staff participate in relevant school safety and violence prevention training.

• Ensure access to Missouri’s school violence anonymous reporting tip line.

• Implement trauma-informed methodologies, youth suicide awareness and prevention training, and provide responsive services based on student need and local context.

• Provide staff, teachers, parents/guardians, and students access to the school system’s written code of conduct, which specifies unacceptable student behavior and consequences for that behavior.

• Train and ensure the implementation of effective practices on non-violent intervention, and preventing/responding to incidents of harassment, bullying, and cyberbullying for students and staff.