Highline Schools' Strategic Plan is Not Focused on Academics: Does it Need an Overhaul?

As the school year closes, many Highline parents are concerned that their children can't read or do simple math; they wonder if the district is failing to keep its "Promise."

by Katie Kresly. On June 5, 2024, Highline Schools sent out a survey asking families if they "support Highline Public Schools' strategic plan."Highline's four stated goals were carefully developed by the district through "extensive feedback sessions and focus groups with students, their families, our staff and community members."

• Culture of Belonging
• Innovating Learning
• Bilingual & Biliterate
• Future Ready

Each component sounds pleasant, but they all bypass the basics of academic achievements in favor of softer, emotional aspirations.In a mere decade, the district has shifted from measurable to unmeasurable goals, and simultaneously added that it wishes to "disrupt institutional biases" in the name of equity. [Equity, Race & Identity Policy 0010]According to OSPI Report Card, only 34% of Highline students meet English Language Arts standards and 22.5% meet math standards. Highline District has fallen to the bottom 20.3% of school districts in Washington State. And yet, Highline boasts a nearly 85% grad rate.A parent stated at a recent school board meeting, "teaching literacy is the most equitable things you can do for our students." He and his wife pulled their daughter from Highline because she was unable to read in the 4th grade, and they spent nearly two years to return her to "grade level" reading.As the district increases its focus on Social Emotional Learning, and Instruction on Race and Identity, academic outcomes are decreasing. Parents like the 4th grader's father want to see districtwide changes, and a returned focus towards academic success.Back in 2013, strategic plan goals were lofty. For example, they aspired to have 95% of students meet academic standards. Although Highline did not achieve this goal, at least it set forth some measurable targets, as any SMART** goal should. (** SMART Goal: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-Bound)[caption id="attachment_18531" align="aligncenter" width="696"]

2013 Highline Schools Strategic Plan Executive Summary - e-digitaleditions.com[/caption]Oddly, as the next three strategic plans were created, the goals stressed less achievement and more emotion. Much harder to measure.In less than a decade, Highline's goals have softened so much that the board's current Vice President, Joe Van, has asked Superintendent Ivan Duran to create and provide "KPI's" or Key Performance Indicators to the board at regular intervals. However, we have yet to hear any of the promised KPI goals, standards, or reports on how any of the emotions-based, social programs are "succeeding."The newly introduced Strategic Plan Dashboard focuses on the following areas of growth:

• Implementing one or more research-based family engagement practice in each school
• Supporting a culture of belonging and meaningful relationships for students and staff
• Redesigning secondary school experiences
• Increasing access to culturally relevant, universally designed, standards-based instruction
• Establishing systems of student support
• Preparing students for and success beyond high school
• Increasing access to language learning opportunities

According to Washington State Law [RCW 28A.150.210], schools are meant to "provide opportunities for every student to develop the knowledge and skills essential to:"

(1) Read with comprehension, write effectively, and communicate successfully in a variety of ways and settings and with a variety of audiences;

(2) Know and apply the core concepts and principles of mathematics; social, physical, and life sciences; civics and history, including different cultures and participation in representative government; geography; arts; and health and fitness;

(3) Think analytically, logically, and creatively, and to integrate technology literacy and fluency as well as different experiences and knowledge to form reasoned judgments and solve problems; and

(4) Understand the importance of work and finance and how performance, effort, and decisions directly affect future career and educational opportunities.

Highline wants to know what families think about their plan; Only Highline families may respond.

Sent From Highline Public Schools on June 5, 2024:

Do you support Highline Public Schools' strategic plan?

Our Promise is every student in Highline Public Schools is known by name, strength and need, and graduates prepared for the future they choose.

Our strategic plan is grounded in this promise, and it guides our work as a school district. Last summer, the Highline School Board unanimously approved four goals to anchor Highline’s new strategic plan. The new plan is guiding our work for the next three year

The goals adopted by the board are:

• • Culture of Belonging: A culture where all are welcome, valued, and safe.
  • Innovative Learning: Academic experiences that engage, empower, and challenge every student.
  • Bilingual & Biliterate: Multicultural skills that enable students to live, work, and communicate across cultures.
  • Future Ready: Students explore possibilities and develop mindsets that prepare them for a changing future.

The goals were developed after extensive feedback sessions and focus groups with students, their families, our staff and community members.

Learn more about our plan on our website.

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