A Blueprint for Success
In 2004, the Newport News school division introduced the Superintendent’s Blueprint for Excellence: Goals for a Quality Education, a strategic plan for school improvement that offers new approaches to addressing the future of the school division. The Blueprint reflects the best thinking of the division’s instructional staff, supported by research, data analysis, and community input from more than 150 stakeholders at focus groups and community forums.
The school division is working to meet new accountability standards set forth by the Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL) and federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) legislation. The standards include: improving academic performance and closing achievement gaps among students with special needs, minority students, economically disadvantaged students, and English for Speakers of Other Languages; teachers who are highly qualified and meet state and federal mandates; improved facilities; and the continuous upgrading of technology.
The Blueprint has five goals:
- Improve academic achievement for ALL students while closing achievement gaps;
- Establish and maintain school climates and facilities that are safe, orderly, nurturing, and supportive of quality teaching and learning;
- Provide services to enhance the management, efficiency, effectiveness, and accountability of the school division;
- Implement policies, procedures, and programs to promote the recruitment, professional development, and retention of a quality workforce; and,
- Promote strong home, school, business and community relationships that support student achievement.
These goals form the foundation of the Strategic Plan for Newport News Public Schools (NNPS).