Falls Church City Public Schools
2006 – 2012 Division Plan

FCCPS Mission and Values

The Falls Church City Public Schools, in partnership with our families and community, educates and challenges every student to succeed and become a responsible and contributing member of the global community.

We value our students and believe that

• decisions of the Falls Church City Public Schools must be based on the needs
  of students;
• students learn best in a secure environment that includes a rigorous and
  challenging curriculum and a climate of high expectations and academic
  excellence;
• measurable and achievable student goals must guide teaching and learning; and
• schools that value diversity and promote lifelong learning and responsible
  citizenship provide students with the foundation for success in a global
  community.

We value our staff and believe that

• a highlyskilled, experienced and dedicated staff is key to effective learning; and
• collegiality, collaboration and teamwork are essential.

We value our independent public education system and believe that

• small classes and small schools are the foundation for academic excellence;
• data must be used for continuous improvement in teaching and learning; and
• the necessary resources must be provided to support student achievement.
• We value our partnership with the community and believe that
• our schools must be responsive and accountable to the community; and
• community involvement strengthens our schools.

Goals and Objectives

Student Goals

Goal 1: The Falls Church City Public Schools will educate, challenge and support every student to succeed and become a responsible and contributing member of the global community.

Objective 1.1: To provide a written, integrated K12 curriculum that is relevant, rigorous, differentiated and aligned with the Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL’s).

Objective 1.2: To design and deliver instruction and program alternatives that will meet the needs of all students, with a particular focus on “kids in the middle,” underachieving students and atrisk students.

Objective 1.3: To use assessment data to inform and plan for instruction and to monitor student progress.

Objective 1.4: To develop strategies to address continuous improvement in all division programs including the College Preparatory (CP), Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) programs.

Objective 1.5: To provide appropriate support services so that all students experience academic success.

Objective 1.6: To develop strategies that will prepare FCCPS students to be citizens of the global society.

Goal 2: The Falls Church City Public Schools will sustain a culture that values diversity
and promotes positive and constructive student behavior.

Objective 2.1: To design and deliver a K12 character education program that addresses the needs of the FCCPS student population.

Objective 2.2: To provide a K12 counseling and guidance program that is responsive to the needs of the FCCPS student population.

Objective 2.3: To develop prevention and intervention strategies that address bullying.

Goal 3: The Falls Church City Public Schools will provide a wellrounded education that includes extra and cocurricular
activities and sports.

Objective 3.1: To offer a variety of developmentally appropriate extra and cocurricular activities.

Objective 3.2: To provide an athletic program that offers diverse, highquality experiences in athletic skillbuilding, healthy behaviors, competition, sportsmanship and citizenship.

Staff Goals

Goal 1: The Falls Church City Public Schools will attract, retain and develop a highlyskilled, experienced and dedicated teaching, administrative and support staff in a culture of continuous growth.

Objective 1.1: To recruit, retain and reward an excellent staff.

Objective 1.2: To support and evaluate teachers to promote effective instruction and professional growth.

Objective 1.3: To support and evaluate administrators to promote strong instructional leadership, effective school management and professional growth.

Objective 1.4: To support and evaluate support staff to ensure they meet work responsibilities and facilitate professional growth.

Goal 2: The Falls Church City Public Schools will create and sustain a culture characterized by teamwork, collegiality and collaborative decisionmaking.

Objective 2.1: To define and communicate expectations for teamwork, collegiality and collaborative decisionmaking.

Objective 2.2: To develop an action plan that includes training and other resources to address these expectations.

Goal 3: The Falls Church City Public Schools expects administrators to provide effective leadership and management.

Objective 3.1: To provide strong, supportive leadership throughout the division.

Objective 3.2: To manage carefully the resources provided.

Objective 3.3: To provide opportunities for ongoing staff development.

Objective 3.4: To provide protected time for teachers to collaborate, plan and deliver instruction.

Objective 3.5: To provide employees with clearly articulated job responsibilities and procedures that are communicated divisionwide.

Objective 3.6: To utilize, support and promote the use of data by school staff.

Environmental Goals

Goal 1: The Falls Church City Public School buildings will be safe, healthy and comfortable environments for students, staff and the community.

Objective 1.1: To ensure that FCCPS facilities and grounds are well maintained.

Objective 1.2: To ensure that FCCPS facilities and grounds are kept uptodate through the systems replacement, renewal and modernization schedule.

Objective 1.3: To pursue future planning that addresses ongoing building use, community use and future construction.

Objective 1.4: To provide a comprehensive environmental assessment in all FCCPS buildings on an annual basis.

Goal 2: The Falls Church City Public Schools will be prepared to respond to emergency
situations.

Objective 2.1: To ensure that all FCCPS facilities are secure.

Objective 2.2: To develop and practice plans that address emergency and crisis situations.

Community Goals

Goal 1: The Falls Church City Public Schools will actively involve families as partners in their child(ren)’s education.

Objective 1.1: To be responsive and accountable to FCCPS families.

Objective 1.2: To actively seek the involvement of families in our schools.

Objective 1.3: To communicate effectively with FCCPS families.

Goal 2: The Falls Church City Public Schools will actively involve the Falls Church community as a partner in the education of the city’s children.

Objective 2.1: To be responsive and accountable to the Falls Church community.

Objective 2.2: To actively seek the involvement of the Falls Church community in the schools.

Objective 2.3: To develop and cultivate relationships and partnerships to benefit the schools and community.

Division-Wide Goals

Goal 1: The Falls Church City Public Schools will design and deliver programs that address wellness and foster resiliency.

Objective 1.1: To promote student mental, emotional and physical health through a variety of educational programs and services.

Objective 1.2: To create opportunities for staff to participate in activities that promote wellness and resiliency.

Goal 2: The Falls Church City School Board will be a responsible steward of the community’s resources and an advocate for the FCCPS mission.

Objective 2.1: To conduct the board’s work in a manner that is transparent, defensible and consistent.

Objective 2.2: To develop and maintain the school board as a collaborative team.

Objective 2.3: To perform major functions of policy development and budget oversight efficiently and effectively.

Goal 3: The Falls Church City Public Schools will ensure that the division operates efficiently and effectively.

Objective 3.1: To develop divisionwide expectations and procedures for communication.

Objective 3.2: To use technology as an integral tool in data management, instruction and communication.

Objective 3.3: To develop clear and transparent standard operating procedures.