Introduction 

Kent School District’s 2023-2028 Strategic Plan will serve as a roadmap and guide us on our journey over the next five years. As the district implements its strategic goals, action planning provides a framework to consider Strategic Plan commitments, break them down into manageable initiatives with annual milestones, identify targeted strategies, and use data to monitor progress.

Each year, priority initiatives aligned to Strategic Plan commitments are identified which direct the district’s resources towards the strategies most impactful to achieving our goals. As each year gets underway, Action Planning Teams (APTs) lead the planning and execution of these initiatives and provide periodic progress updates so all Kent School District stakeholders can stay up-to-date and anticipate intersections with their individual and team’s work.

Contents 

The following sections provide a summary update on the progress of each priority initiative for the 2023-24 school year. Use the links below to explore the areas of recent focus for each initiative, and how stakeholder voice has/will be centered in upcoming planning and improvement opportunities. 

Goal 1: Preparing Students to be Global Citizens 

• Core Resource Implementation for CKLA/Caminos

• Integration of Academic & Behavior Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) 

• Expand STEM and CTE-Focused Partnerships

Goal 2: Expanding Student, Family, and Community Partnerships 

• Evaluate Mental Health Partnerships

• Expand and Promote Student Leadership Opportunities

• Enhance Unified Communications Systems

Goal 3: Building Equitable Systems and School Environments 

• Enhance Internal Communication Protocols and Tools

• Align School and District Improvement Processes

• Strategic Plan Accountability and Reporting

Goal 4: Investing in a Diverse Workforce and Inclusive Workplace Cultures 

• Expanding Affinity-Based Opportunities and Supports

• Creating Inclusive Spaces and Schools

• Central Office Leadership Evaluation Form

• (GOAL 1) Core Resource Implementation for CKLA/Caminos

  • Implement elements from the science of reading utilizing core resources for English Language Arts through the Core Knowledge Language Arts (CKLA)/Caminos (Spanish) curriculum. The outcome of this initiative is implementation of the science of reading instructional practices through the rollout of curriculum materials and teacher supports, including aligned professional development opportunities, common instructional practices, and routines.

• (GOAL 1) Integration of Academic & Behavior Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS)

  • Develop a cohesive and holistic multi-year implementation plan for a multi-tiered system of support (MTSS) that integrates academic, behavior and social-emotional learning supports. The outcome of this initiative is the development of a shared vision, common definitions, guiding principles, best practices, and aligned resources for all tiers.

• (GOAL 1) Expand STEM and CTE-Focused Partnerships

  • Implement new STEM and CTE-focused partnerships through the City of Kent. The outcome of this initiative is increased student participation in experiential learning opportunities (field trips, internships/apprenticeships, work-based learning, etc.) with particular focus on opportunities to build student digital and media literacy. 

• (GOAL 2) Evaluate Mental Health Partnerships 

  • Evaluate the implementation of partnerships for student mental health services. The outcome of this initiative is a recommendation on sustained investments into mental health services that are demonstrated to provide the greatest positive impact to students. 

• (GOAL 2) Expand and Promote Student Leadership Opportunities

  • Develop and curate student leadership opportunities that further empower students to share their ideas and perspective in decision-making. The outcome of this initiative is the development of a student voice toolkit for students, schools and teams to utilize when making student-centered decisions.

• (GOAL 2) Enhance Unified Communications Systems 

  • Evaluate and implement enhanced tools for unified communications to ensure all stakeholders receive timely and relevant information. The outcomes of this initiative are changes to the platforms used for school and district websites, mobile app, social media, robocalling and text messages, and teacher communication with families to increase engagement and the accessibility of information. 

• (GOAL 3) Enhance Internal Communication Protocols and Tools 

  • Refine communication practices and tools adopted by schools and district teams to ensure consistent and clear expectations for information sharing. The outcomes of this initiative are consistent expectations, practices, and tools for communication and collaboration between schools, and between schools and district teams to increase standardization and efficiency of information sharing. 

• (GOAL 3) Align School and District Improvement Processes 

  • Align district and school improvement processes to promote Strategic Plan implementation fidelity and coherence. The outcome of this initiative is an updated school improvement plan (SIP) template and process that aligns school improvement planning to action planning for Strategic Plan implementation. 

• (GOAL 3) Strategic Plan Accountability and Reporting 

  • Publish a dashboard for Strategic Plan accountability to highlight the progress and impact of implementation. The outcome of this initiative is an interactive dashboard and narrative on the website. 

• (GOAL 4) Expanding Affinity-Based Opportunities and Supports

  • Create affinity-based opportunities to promote Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) employee retention. The outcome of this initiative is the launch of affinity-based mentoring and networking opportunities, and allocated resources to sustain strategies.

• (GOAL 4) Creating Inclusive Spaces and Schools 

  • Create a framework to designate classrooms and schools as inclusive spaces in partnership with the Equity Council. The outcome of this initiative is the development of a shared vision, common definitions, criteria, and strategies to qualify classrooms and schools as inclusive spaces. 

• (GOAL 4) Central Office Leadership Evaluation Form

  • Develop an updated Central Office Leadership Evaluation form aligned to best practices from the American Association of School Administrators (AASA). The outcomes of this initiative are updated evaluation forms for