I am pleased to share that Isle of Wight County Schools is undertaking a three-year effort to improve the effectiveness and equity of services for supporting struggling students both with and without disabilities.
While
we are proud of the quality of services provided to struggling students and the
hard work of our staff who help all children achieve at high levels,
ever-higher expectations require us to look for ways to further increase
student learning and improve the way we deliver services to our students. The
division has engaged the District Management Council, a Boston based
organization, to assist with this project.
This
systematic study will examine our current regular and special education
services, programs, procedures, and staffing for serving struggling students
through the use of quantitative (both in-division and benchmark division
information) and qualitative data gathering (using focus groups, stakeholder
interviews and classroom observations). The review will also help the division
understand how various categories of staff use their time as they serve
struggling students. With this information, the division will be able to make
thoughtful and informed decisions to ensure all of our students receive
appropriate support. Later in the process, DMC will help codify practices that
will best serve students in the division as well as help with the development
of staffing guidelines in accordance with these practices.
The result
should be a better picture of what is working well in the division, a better
understanding of what the appropriate level of staff and services are, and
overall improved delivery of services to struggling students and parents, and
better utilization of division resources.
We are
excited to be undertaking this study, and appreciate your support in this
process. I will be sure to keep you updated as the project achieves key
milestones. In the meantime, please let me know if you have any questions. For
more information contact: Mr. Thomas Chelgren at tchelgren@iwcs.k12.va.us
Jim Thornton, Ed.D.
Superintendent
