Palo Alto Unified School District is proud of its reputation as one of the top districts in the United States. It has occurred with a dedication to continuous improvement through the cooperative efforts of the Board of Education, administration, credentialed and classified staff, dedicated students, and a supportive community. Our district's new Strategic Plan  has shown us, yet again, the strength of our community’s commitment to educational excellence. With clear goals, metrics, and initiatives, the plan describes our priorities and will be a strong foundation as we reflect on our progress and move forward together. Regular review of our accomplishments and challenges will be included in our ongoing work to achieve continuous improvement.
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Strategic Planning Process | Mission |
Board Adopted Strategic Goals
Documents:
Strategic Plan | Strategic Plan Survey Summaries | Analysis of Comments | 2010 Strategic Plan Review Survey Summaries | 2010 Strategic Plan Review
Strategic
Planning Process
On May 27, 2008, the Board of Education approved the newest Strategic Plan goals designed to achieve the next level of excellence in the education of our students. This plan was developed with broad community and staff input using multiple methods that included one-on-one conversations, focus groups, Board meetings, and a full day workshop with representation by all stakeholders.
Four specific themes will drive our improvement over the next four years and beyond. First, we reassert our commitment to academic excellence and learning. Second, if we are going to be our best, we need to attract, retain, and enhance the skills of the most talented people we can find. Third, our district also faces enormous challenges to its infrastructure and its finance. Finally, there is a collective realization that the trust and confidence of our community is vital for our success. We believe, then, that these four areas of focus can guide our efforts well for the next four years and beyond. Working together, we can achieve educational excellence for each student, every day, across the entire district.
Mission
Our mission is to enable all students to:
- Strive for academic excellence,
- Acquire the knowledge and skills that support learning
- Value creativity and life-long learning,
- Demonstrate respect for self and others, and
- Participate meaningfully in our democratic society and interdependent global community.
Strategic Plan Goals, Board Adopted May 27, 2008
| Goal A: |
Academic Excellence and Learning – Create an exceptional learning environment that engages, challenges, and supports all students so that they thrive and achieve their academic potential every year, while preparing them to pursue college and other post-secondary opportunities to be global citizens. |
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A1 |
Improve curricular system and instructional practices to challenge every student. |
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A2 |
Provide college readiness and post-secondary preparation for all students. |
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A3 |
Ensure high expectations and support for all students. |
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| Goal B: |
Staff Recruitment and Development – Create an exceptional teaching environment by recruiting, developing, and retaining the most talented staff. |
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B1 |
Improve District’s ability to attract and recruit staff. |
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B2 |
Re-examine and enhance staff evaluation system. |
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B3 |
Enhance professional development. |
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| Goal C: |
Budget Trends and Infrastructure – Be prudent stewards of our resources through rigorous planning and budgeting, and build further resources by enhancing public and private support for public education. |
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C1
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Ensure financial stability and growth through effective stewardship of financial assets, community funding sources, and dynamic activities to improve District resources. |
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C2 |
Construct facilities that address enrollment growth and are worthy of the promise and talent of our students. |
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C3 |
Develop short-term and long-term plans to address non-construction issues associated with enrollment growth (e.g., boundary issues, school/class size). |
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| Goal D: |
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Governance and Communication – Create a focused, transparent governance process that is a model of informed communication and decision making. |
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D1 |
Improve alignment of District leadership (superintendent and Board) and community’s focus on most crucial District aspirations while fostering an environment of innovation. |
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D2 |
Improve District transparency and communication between District leadership (Superintendent and Board) and the community. |
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D3 |
Diligently monitor and report staff and student progress on strategic plan initiatives to gain trust, promote constructive dialogue, and determine success. |
Revised April 2010 |