Vision For Education- 2017
Meriden Public Schools
Pride in All We Do
Lynda Thornton
EDU 505: The Future of Education
Dr. Sandra Foster
Meriden Connecticut
Meriden Public Schools from the Past to Present 1806-2012
Hubbard Park
“Castle Craig Tower is a stone observation tower
atop East Peak in Meriden. The tower, which was
dedicated on October 29, 1900, was given to the
people of Meriden by Walter Hubbard, President of
the Bradley & Hubbard Manufacturing Company,
and one of the most generous of the city's
philanthropic citizens” (City of Meriden 2012)
“Meriden, located in New Haven County ,located in south-central Connecticut,
with the Quinnipiac River cutting through its southwestern portion. Formerly
known as North Farms, the area was incorporated as a town from parts of
Wallingford in 1806, and became a city in 1867. Industrialization brought a
manufacturing boom and Meriden began producing everything from ivory
combs, buttons, tinware, and cutlery, to coffee grinders and organs—though
Meriden would eventually become famous as the Silver City. In 1944, the War
Manpower Commission named Meriden “The Nation’s Ideal War Community,”
for its industrial and patriotic contributions during World War II. Today’s
economy is primarily service-based.”(Connecticut History 2012)
“St. Stanislaus is a neighborhood Catholic school, grades Pre-K through 8, serving Meriden, CT and the surrounding
communities. In 1897 founders from Poland created this God-centered learning environment, where prayer,
advanced study, and service still prevail. A truly experienced and devoted faculty develops each student spiritually
and academically through a commitment to innovation and technology, the advantage of outstanding facilities, and
by daily implementation of over 100 years of traditions. Through this character building process, young men and
women build the foundation that prepares them for success in secondary school and for the rest of their lives.”(St.
Stanislaus School 2012)
Meriden Public Schools = Failing Schools
“People shouldn’t fear accountability. They ought to welcome an accountability system as a useful tool to make
sure no child is left behind, a useful tool to make sure they make constructive improvements in their school
districts and their schools.” President George W. Bush, (2002) as cited in (Kress, S. et al. 2011)
Meriden Public Schools
Elementary Schools
Meriden Public
Schools No Child
Left Behind
(NCLB) 2004-2012
Meriden public
schools AYP
status-Not
achieved -8 years
-Benjamin Franklin
-Hanover
-Israel Putnum
-John Barry
-Nathan Hale
-Roger Sherman
-Casimir Pulaski
*Thomas Hooker-Safe
Harbor -2009
Meriden Public
Schools Middle &
High Schools
-Lincoln M. S
--Washington M. S
-Platt High School
*Maloney H.SSafe Harbor-2010
Vision For Education- 2017
Pride In All We Do
Meriden Public School District
Theory of Action:
Core Beliefs
Our Mission
“We will provide all students with educational opportunities to acquire the knowledge, skills and attitudes
that will enable them to lead productive and self-sustaining lives in a democratic, multicultural society.
"Success for all students" requires the vision to prepare students for whatever the twenty-first century may
have in store. As its student community grows in its diversity, so does the world in which they will live.
The Board of Education will look to past successes and build upon a solid foundation of academic
achievement to produce the program initiatives necessary for students to thrive academically, socially
and emotionally. To that end, the Board had developed the following goals:
To meet high expectations for academic achievement for all students to prepare them for productive and
self-sustaining adult life, continuing education and responsible citizenship in a democratic, multicultural
society.
To meet the fundamental needs of all learners by providing a safe and disciplined environment conducive to
learning.
To meet high standards for the performance of teachers and administrators leading to improved student
learning.
To focus resources effectively, efficiently and equitably to ensure that all students achieve at high levels
sufficient to enable them to lead productive and self-sustaining lives.
To increase the direct involvement of all citizens in public education.” (Meriden Public Schools 2012)
Vision For Education- 2017
The Plan:
By 2017 the Meriden public school district will improve their standardized test scores as measured by the
Connecticut Mastery Test.
-On the Connecticut Mastery Test in Reading, Mathematics, and Writing, the average grade-level gain in
the number of students at our above proficiency over the five-year period of this vision will be at least
20 percentage points.
-Connecticut Mastery Test achievement gaps in targeted subgroups (Black, Hispanic, Free/Reduced Eligible,
English Language Learners, and Special Education students) will be reduced by at least 30 percent over
the next five years 2012-2017. In addition all subgroups will show growth in academic achievement on
the Connecticut Mastery Test in Reading, Writing and Mathematics over the five year period of the
plan.
Accomplished through the following strategies and action steps:
-Identify and organize improvement priorities
-Connect student learning to adult behaviors
-Support Creative district/school initiatives
-Led to District Reorganization Plan to increase rigor and promote high expectations
-Incorporate the analysis of student data at the district, school and instructional levels
-Facilitate collaborative partnership with Connecticut State Department of Education
MPS Meriden Public Schools 2012-2017
Continuous Improvement Plan…
Who we are...
Pride In All We Do
How we will improve.
Schools
8-Elementary
Professional Learning
Communities/Data
Teams
2-Middle
2-High School
Staff
667-Teachers
517-Support Staff
Meriden Public
Schools 20102011 Profile
Students-9,100
Students with
disabilities-1,232
42-Administrators
American Indian-24
Free & Reduced Lunch62%
Asian American-210
ELL-12%
Black- 1,131
% of students who
graduated 2009-201075%
Diversity
Hispanic- 3,741
White-3,255
Peer Coaching/ Advisory
Program
Student
Achievement &
District
Improvement
Leadership Academy
Meriden District
Assessments/Technology
in the Classroom
School Improvement
Plans/Revised Curriculum
according to the CCCS
2009-2010-Drop out rate
4%
Meriden Public Schools, “accessed September 8, 2012”. Retrieved from http://www.meridenk12.org
Vision For Education- 2017
Meriden District Assessment (MDA)
• Developed by Research and
Evaluation Office
• Online diagnostic assessment
for grades 3-10
• Administered 3-4 times
throughout year
• Immediate feedback on
specific student errors
• Informs teacher instruction
and guides learning
PLC/Data Teams
• Common identified need
• Partnership with unions
• Increased student
instructional time
• Weekly abbreviated Thursday
schedule
• Provides additional hour for
teacher collaboration and
data sharing
Vision For Education- 2017
Family School Liaison
• Family School Liaison Coordinator
• Four Community Educators
• Facilitates proactive family
engagement
• Provides creative student supports
• Fosters positive school, home and
community relationships
Peer Coaching
•
•
•
•
•
Our best teachers are our best
teachers
Initiated by MFT and Central
Office
Tenured teachers and
administrators volunteer to be
Peer Coaches
Peer Coaches participate in
training by National School
Reform Faculty
Collegial model for observing,
collaborating, providing
feedback, sharing classroom
strategies and reflecting
Vision For Education- 2017
Leadership Academy
• Builds capacity at all levels
• Engages teacher leaders and
aspiring administrators
• Provides specialized training
program in collaboration with
Connecticut Association of Schools
(CAS)
• Tailored to meet our district’s
goals and initiatives
Teacher/Administrator Dashboard
• Online personalized
dashboard for individual
teachers and administrators
• Teacher/Administrator
attendance, classroom
discipline referrals and
student assessment data
displayed
• Same gauges used to
evaluate student
performance
Meriden Public Schools Technology
All currently utilized in the district to improve student achievement
Key-
Meriden assessment
system for instruction
+color=technology
AP Classes at Platt High
School using iPads
SMART Boards,
Computer connected
overhead projection
•Technology discussed in
NMC Horizon Report 2012
*Technology discussed in
2020 Forecast:creating the
future of learning
Matched Vertical Score
Growth Models
Flipped Classroom
models
Dashboard for
teachers/administrators
Teacher Created web
pages and wikis
*Technology discussed in
12eLearning Predictions
for 2009
Meriden Public School Improvement Plan
“Not one of these factors-exceptional leadership, teaming, clear standards, or accountability-by itself made the
difference…But in combination, these factors guarantee that any school will make rapid, substantial
improvement.”(Schmoker, 2006)
Learning
Analytics/Technology
-Meriden district
assessments
-Accelerated Reader, STAR
Reader Program, System 44,
READ 180.
-Matched Vertical Score
Growth Model, Calculate
student growth over time,
compare data by class,
grade, school, district and
state averages
-SMART board Technology
-Computer linked overhead
projection
-Laptops and tablets
Teacher Administrator
dashboard
-on-line personalized tracking
system
Teacher/Administrator
attendance, classroom
discipline referral
References
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Connecticut History, “accessed September 8, 2012”. Retrieved from
http://connecticuthistory.org
Connecticut State Department of Education, (n.d). Retrieved from
http://www.sde.ct.gove/sde/site
Connecticut State Department of Education, (n.d). School governance councils.
Retrieved from http://www.sde.ct.gove/sde/site
Johnson, L. Adams, S., and Cummins, M. (2012) The NMC horizon report: 2012 Higher
education edition. Austin, TX: The New Media Consortium.
Kress, S., Zechmann, S., & Schmitten. M.(2011) When performance matters: The past,
present, and future of consequential accountability in public education. The Harvard
Journal of Legislation. Vol 48, p.185-234.
Meriden Public Schools,(n.d). Retrieved from http://www.meridenk12.org
Meriden Public Schools, School improvements (n.d). Retrieved from
http://www.meridenk12.org
Schmoker, M. (2006). Results now: How we can achieve unprecedented improvements in
teaching and learning. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum
Development.
St. Stanislaus School, "accessed September 8, 2012”. Retrieved from
http://www.ststansedu.org
2020 Forecast: creating the future of learning(n.d) Retrieved from:
http://www.knowledgeworks.org
12eLearning predictions for 2009:eLearning techniques by Professor Missal,