The Children S School in the 21St Century: a Strategic Plan

The Children’s School in the 21st Century: A Strategic Plan

Introduction

The Children’s School (TCS) is an independent, progressive school serving toddlers (beginning at 20 months) to eighth grade. The TCS mission is to inspire each child’s unique potential and desire for life-long learning through a strong academic, social and environmental curriculum.

TCS has a proud history as a pioneer in progressive education. It was founded in 1972 by a group of educators as a child-centered school focused on developing the whole child. The founders believed in accomplishing this through a hands-on curriculum rich in academics, social development, physical education and the arts. This approach to education distinguished the school from traditional public and private schools and remains a hallmark of the school to this day.

TCS is committed to implementing progressive and constructivist educational principles because TCS believes that students learn best—and develop key problem solving and critical thinking skills—by actively experiencing learning. TCS encourages students to guide their own learning by discussing what they know, what they want to know, and how they could best learn. The curriculum challenges students to ask questions, investigate and consider answers and learn from mistakes.

One of the cornerstones of a TCS education is what is described familiarly as the “social curriculum.” At its heart, the social curriculum is based on respect for others, civility in all behavior and interactions, and the deliberate use of communication to understand, clarify and compromise. At all levels, through deliberate teaching and modeling, students are encouraged to develop facility in working with others in a mutually respectful manner. Further, TCS has an unspoken expectation that all members of the community recognize the importance of the social curriculum and apply those principles to communication and interaction.

TCS’s size, facilities and 6-acre campus also reflect its mission and progressive values. The manageable size of the student body and individual classrooms allow students to know everyone and have a sense of what a human community is at its best. Children can develop personal and interpersonal skills, self-knowledge and experienceby being responsible and providing leadership in a loving and encouraging environment. The campus and classrooms deliver the message that the children are involved in creating their own knowledge and learning environment andreflect the many varied ways in which learning takes place.

Values

At TCS, we understand that children are:

Unique individuals with learning styles that reflect their distinctive personalities and abilities.
Holistic beings with intellectual, social, emotional, and physical capacities to learn and be creative.
Social beings who seek interaction and who are increasingly interested in engaging with a wider set of people as they mature.

At TCS, we maintain a school environment characterized by:

Faculty, administrators and staff who are committed to maintaining a safe, trustworthy, respectful, and inclusive environment for each child.
Experienced faculty who create a learning milieu where children anticipate joyful, positive and challenging experiences.
Diverse families who contribute to the inclusiveness and integration of multiple viewpoints and groups in the community.
Comprehensive technological and media resources to support learning.
Enrichment programs that extend opportunities for learning before, during, and after school.

At TCS, the integrated curriculum:

Stimulates academic and intellectual growth by providing opportunities to develop a strong knowledge base and critical thinking skills through developmentally appropriate project-based, hands-on, real world applications that integrate traditional academic disciplines.
Focuses on developmentally appropriate opportunities for social growth through deliberate instruction and modeling of respect, responsibility, teamwork and leadership.
Is robust and flexible to support differentiation of the learning experience for each child.
Fosters creativity through applications of music and art embedded in classroom learning.
Affords opportunities for physical education to foster sportsmanship and promote wellness and a healthy lifestyle.

At TCS, our graduates:

Demonstrate exceptional academic achievement and critical thinking skills.

Know how to learn and take responsibility for their learning.
Demonstrate the ability to use technology and adapt to technological change.
Demonstrate respect for all members of the community.
Demonstrate the ability to participate as a team member or leader.
Demonstrate knowledge and awareness of the importance of sustainability in the natural environment.

Goals and Strategies

2012/2013 – 2017/2018

Goal: Strengthen the TCS community by clarifying its

commitment to progressive education and an optimal learning environment.

Families who enroll their children at TCS find themselves in a community of advocates for a school that honors childhood, values social learning and facilitates the unique ability of each child to construct learning through a project-based curriculum. Such a distinctive school environment presents opportunities for close connections to emerge between parents and children and the faculty, staff, and administration. The differences between TCS and other schools oblige the school to explain its philosophy and mission so that school constituencies understand and appreciate the impact and relevance of a TCS education. Going forward, TCS can strengthen its impact by recognizing its potential as a community of learners and expanding its vision of community to include alumni and their families, its neighbors, and the businesses and non-profit organizations in its environs.

Strategies:

Provide relevant, thought provoking parent education program that actively engages the faculty and parents in a discourse regarding TCS’s application of constructivism and social curriculum.
Extend the learning environment through partnerships with local businesses and non-profit organizations.
Establish and maintain enduring ties with alumni and their families.
Strengthen the connections of the Parent Association with faculty, administration and Board of Trustees so as to enhance the positive impact of the Parent Association on the school community.

Goal: Provide a child-centered, project-based integrated curriculum with an emphasis on the

knowledge, skills, and competencies necessary tonavigate the complexities of the 21st Century.

TCS offers a distinctive curriculum that promotes creativity, character, critical thinking, communication and collaboration. We believe that a rich and well-considered curriculum is one that embraces the principles of constructivist learning, applies principles of developmental and learning sciences, and builds on the knowledge, skills, and competencies from one grade level to the next. Using comprehensive program review as a systematic process, faculty and staff can assess how to best deliver the core curriculum, specialty classes, enrichment programs, and new curricular initiatives. Assessment practices, environmental education, global awareness and articulation of the TCS program are critical components that will be examined in the review.

Strategies:

Conduct a comprehensive review of the school’s core curriculum and standards, with attention to specialty classes, to ensure alignment with the school’s mission and philosophy as well as with best educational practices in progressive education.
Establish competency benchmarks at each grade level in all curricular areas.
Clearly articulate the purpose, rationale and means of assessing student progress through authentic assessment and developmentally appropriate practices.
Develop and integrate an environmental education curriculum, including a scope and sequence, for grades PK-8.
Encourage students, faculty and staff to participate effectively as world citizens by creating “global classrooms” in order to encourage students to network across international boundaries and work on solving common problems.
Develop a Student Support Services programthat is consistent with the school’s mission and philosophy to address student academic, social and emotional needs.
Advance ongoing efforts to nurture an inclusive school community that welcomes diversity of people and cultures and actively applies principles of equity and justice.
Articulate an informed policy on homework that limits it to relevant, periodic, developmentally appropriate assignments, with feedback, preserving time for extra-curricular pursuits and interactive family time.

Goal: Foster a professional learning community that facilitates excellence in teaching.

TCS’sfaculty is a committed and devoted group of educators who are committed to child-centered, progressive education. They bring immense joy and passion to their work both in and out of the classroom. They serve as part of a vibrant community who work hand-in-hand with students and parents to create joyful classrooms and foster a love of learning. Faculty and parents demonstrate an interest in ongoing opportunities and conversations to better understand how students learn and how to provide optimal, positive learning experiences at school and at home. TCS will continue to build on the strength of the faculty through conscientious support of professional development.

Strategies:

Fundopportunities for meaningful professional development for faculty based on pertinent needs, individual interests and abilities, and curriculum initiatives.
Develop and implement a system of faculty evaluation that incorporates self-assessment, peer-assessment and administrative-assessment
Engage faculty in a variety of mentoring activities, drawing on the many talents within the school and the educational community.
Provide opportunities for faculty collaboration through resource enhancementand other means, such as creative scheduling and technology tools.

Goal: Recruit and retain students and families to sustain the school

financially and to strengthen the TCS culture and community.

TCS seeks children of families who share our philosophy of education and child development so that each child feels a consistency of values at home and at school. TCS also recognizes that a school community that is inclusive and diverse promotes a deeper understanding of, respect for, and perspectives on varying points of view and the world-at-large. TCS is proud of its history of graduating confident, self-motivated students who are prepared for success in high school and beyond.

Strategies:

Adopt an optimal enrollment model that is aligned with the school’s mission and values.
Increase the conversion rate of inquiries to applicants, and applicants to enrolled students.
Reduce attrition to a level comparable to NAIS and CAIS averages.
Continue to recruit diverse students and families.
Advance ongoing efforts to establish TCS as a beacon of progressive education and differentiate the school from others through an integrated approach to marketing and branding.

Goal: Strengthen the financial foundation of TCS by optimizing enrollment across all grades, with

particular attention to growing the Nelson Middle Years program.

As a small non-profit school, with a small endowment, TCS is dependent on tuition and annual giving to cover necessary operating costs, long term investments and to fund financial aid. Roughly 75% of revenue comes from tuition and an equal percent of costs goes to faculty and administrative salaries. This means that each year is a careful balance of predicting enrollment levels, setting faculty levels and compensation and operating on a small cushion.The TCS site is leased from the San Diego Unified San Diego. Generally rent increases by small amounts annually in line with Consumer Price Index increases; however, under the terms of the lease, we will experience a one-time, significant step increase in rent in 2013. Decisions to invest in facilities and other longer term needs are made thoughtfully and spread out over years.

The development of the Nelson Middle Years (NMY) program in 2009 has impacted the TCS operating budget by including obligations to make annual payments on a construction loan and to support significant faculty and facilities infrastructures. The operation of the NMY program currently depends in part on a generous annual gift from a middle school founding family and is not yet self-sustaining. Enrolling students in NMY grades to optimal capacities will in large part drive financial self-sustainability.

Strategies:

Formalize a 3-5 year budgeting plan that includes optimal enrollment numbers, loan repayment, and managing the 2013 rent increase.
Shift the costs of the NMY program from dependency on the middle school founding family annual gift to sustainability on revenue sources.
Allocate appropriate funds to support thoughtful, sustainable marketing and branding efforts.
Increase financial aid offerings to eligible families in line with NAIS and CAIS medians.
Evaluate and formalize the faculty compensation structure to ensure that faculty are compensated at appropriate levels in line with NAIS andCAIS medians.

Goal: Sustain the school’s financial foundation by acquiring operational and capital funds

through charitable giving and building an endowment.

Through its long-range development work with all school constituencies,TCS seeks to build community relationships and foster a culture of joyful giving. Major fundraising efforts at TCS that support the operating budget include the Annual Fund and the Fun Night auction and gala. Smaller events, such as the Great Scientists Golf Tournament and Fall Festival, raise restricted funds for specific programs.

Strategies:

Formalize a 3-5 year development plan that is consistent with the school’s fundraising capacity.
Develop a formal system for identifying, cultivating, tracking, soliciting, and stewarding major gift prospects and donors.
Systematically build an endowment fund.

Goal: Maintain and develop TCS’s indoor and outdoor campus facilities so that they

provide a safe, environmentally sensitive, child-centered learning environment.

Facilities at TCS have recently evolved into an asset and source of pride for the school. The three elementary tiers, main office, auditorium and original preschool classroom were constructed in two phases in 1954 and 1958. Later additions to the campus include the library, Kelly Field, additional preschool and toddler classrooms. The major addition of the Nelson Middle Years campus was completed in 2010, and renovation of the blacktop athletic area and the third elementary tier was completed in 2011. Renovations to the walkways, windows, and restrooms were completed by the San Diego Unified School District. In 2008, TCS renewed its lease for 25 years.

Strategies:

Develop a 3-5 year Facilities Master Plan.
Implement a long-term preventive maintenance plan.
Define facilities management responsibilities and assign responsibilities to appropriate individuals.
Evaluate and articulate terms ofand restrictions on use of TCS land and facilities.
Explore the viability of seeking Green School certification.

Goal: Provide TCS students, teachers, administrators, and parents with the technology tools and

learning resources necessary to create and maintain an ideal learning and working environment.

TCS provides students with guidance as they use technology tools and learning resources for collaboration, investigation, and creation. They are taught the ethics around what it means to be a "digital citizen" and are provided with opportunities to create and share their own digital work. The faculty and staff work collaboratively to coordinate the use of technology and learning resources with organizational objectives and long-term strategies. There are two primary areas of concentration: 1) ensuring the integration of technology and learning resources into classroom projects and student learning and 2) ensuring that employees of TCS are utilizing appropriate technology to work efficiently and productively towards accomplishing our mission. For both areas, it is essential that campus facilities and technology infrastructure are able to handle evolving devices and services.

Strategies:

Ensure alignment of technology benchmarks across grade levels.
Continue to integrate technology and other learning resources into the curriculum to promote the school’s mission and philosophy.
Facilitate collaboration among departments to identify needs and issues related to databases.
Identify ways in which the infrastructure and classroom space will support ongoing technology needs.
Offer professional development opportunities and training to faculty and staff, with regard to technology tools and services.

Goal: Collaborative leadership that govern together in the best interests

of the school to promote the mission and values of TCS.

The leadership and governance of TCS consists of the Head of School, supported by an administration team, and the Board of Trustees. The Head of School and supporting administration manage all aspects of the day to day operations of the school. The Board of Trustees, in collaboration with the Head, works to ensure the long-term well-being of the school by handling forward-thinking, strategic issues.

Strategies:

Formalize commitment to TCS’ social curriculum by ensuring that its principles guide the operations and programs of the school, and are understood by all TCS constituencies.
Evaluate and refine administrative roles and procedures, including operating systems and communication, to ensure that they are clear, in line with TCS’ mission and values and allow for accountability and transparency.
Foster open discussion, accountability, collaboration and integration of focus areas among administration team members.
Evaluate the Board’s size, composition and committee structure to reflect the expertise and perspectives relevant to the school’s ongoing and future needs.
Identify ways in which trustees can better serve as ambassadors, community-builders, friend-raisers and fund-raisers.