Strategic Objectives and Action Steps
In spring of 2006, SMART's Management Council undertook an in-depth evaluation, review, and update of its strategic plan. The strategies that emerged from these planning sessions will guide SMART's work from 2006 through 2012.
Promote higher expectations for science and mathematics teaching and learning and provide the support necessary to achieve those expectations.
Improve teacher content knowledge and instructional practices by providing outstanding professional development in mathematics and science by:
o Focusing on effective practices
o Leveraging resources
o Offering opportunities for teachers to network and
o The use of technology as a tool to improve mathematics and
share knowledge and ideas
science education.Promote standards-based education and align curriculum, instruction, and assessments.
Promote the use of technology as a tool to improve mathematics and science education.
Actively work to improve science and math education to produce smarter, higher achieving, more capable students that will develop a sustainable and replicable framework for continuous improvement.
Enable all school district members to take a higher degree of risk to improve.
Involve business, industry and community as full partners.
Continuously assess and improve the impact of SMART initiatives on students and teachers.
Improve the ability of teachers to integrate subjects, use data more effectively and utilize effective practices.
Actively involve parents, the business community and the community at large in efforts to improve mathematics and science teaching and learning.
Reduce the number of topics being taught.
Promote a rigorous and coherent curriculum.
Increase collaboration and sharing.
Encourage higher level mathematics and science course offerings.
Implement Assessment for Learning strategies for all students .
Work to promote a coherent and consistent set of policies and expectations.
Continue to identify, develop and share high quality mathematics and science lessons that emphasize standards based instruction and effective teaching strategies.
Work to pool and leverage resources to achieve a desired level of improvement.
To achieve its ambitious stretch goals and address the above strategies, the SMART Consortium member school districts have mapped out a series of strategic action steps:
1. The SMART Consortium will construct a framework of key indicators /big ideas with a structure of supporting indicators for mathematics and science for use in member school districts by January of 2007. (Essential Focus Elements)
2. The SMART Consortium will gather data and information to investigate the establishment of a mathematics, science and arts school and prepare a report with recommendations for the management council by December of 2006.
3. The SMART Consortium will pursue strategies to increase the level of sharing and cooperation to address similar needs that exist across school districts to reduce duplication and increase the leveraging of human and material resources.
4. The SMART Consortium will work collaboratively with member school districts, business, and community organizations to increase knowledge, awareness, and understanding about the importance of mathematics, science and technology skills for the current and future workforce by 2010.
5. SMART Consortium member school districts will work to increase the number of students taking advanced mathematics and science courses.
6. SMART Consortium will pursue strategies to increase the number of students pursuing STEM degrees.
7. The SMART Consortium will pursue strategies to increase the number of teachers entering mathematics and science education and earning a teaching license in these two areas.
8. The SMART Consortium will investigate an alternative licensure program – SMART Scholars Program – which will focus on non-traditional applicants from business, industry, etc. This program will involve the establishment of mathematics and science teaching options and effective practices with a heavy emphasis on real-world application learning.
These strategic plan action steps are now guiding the development of all of SMART’s programs to improve K-12 science and mathematics teaching and learning.