SUPERINTENDENT ANNOUNCES NEW FOCUS
ON ACCREDITATION
Says strategic plan is not aligned with state and
federal requirements
St. Louis – Dr. Diana Bourisaw, Superintendent of the
St. Louis Public Schools, provided her insight on the district’s
strategic plan to the Board of Education at the board’s
regular meeting held last evening. She encouraged the Board,
and the employees, of the St. Louis Public Schools to focus
on full accreditation by the Missouri Department of Elementary
and Secondary Education (DESE).
“The immediate goal for all of us should be accreditation
for our district,” said Dr. Bourisaw. “As such,
we will focus on the performance standards established under
the Missouri School Improvement Plan (MSIP), including academic
achievement for all students, career preparation, graduation
rates, and attendance rates,” she added.
According to the Superintendent, there are several key areas
where the strategic plan, Building Towards 2011, is deficient.
For example:
· None of the initiatives were fully funded for the
2006/2007 school year. It would require an additional $71.4
million this year alone to fund the many programs.
· The total cost to implement the plan between now
and 2011 exceeds $528 million.
· There is a lack of information on how the strategic
plan will improve attendance and graduation rates, two areas
that have been ignored in recent years.
· While it is aligned with the Malcolm Baldrige National
Quality Award Program, and incorporates several recommendations
made by the Council of Great City Schools, the strategic plan
is not adequately aligned to Missouri’s School Improvement
Plan (MSIP).
· The district is in danger of losing accreditation
under MSIP. The St. Louis Public Schools nearly achieved full
accreditation in 2003 -- only two points short of the standard
of 66. In the most recent accreditation survey, the district
dropped to 39 points.
“It is the responsibility of all of us to improve the
condition of the St. Louis Public Schools. The tasks we face
cannot be accomplished by teachers alone. I ask for everyone’s
help – parents, teachers, principals, board members,
and community leaders – in reaching our goal to provide
an excellent education for all students. Together we can make
St. Louis Public Schools the first, best choice for our students
and their families,” Dr. Bourisaw said.
Editor’s Note: The Superintendent’s full report
can be viewed online at
http://www.slps.org/boardofeducation/board_presentations/sep_2006/board_p091906.htm
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