District Strategic Plan: 2000 - 2005
Goals and Objectives
Background

Strategic planning is a process that provides a framework for decision-making and managing an effective organization. The goal of strategic planning is to build a healthy school culture and to develop a sense of organizational community. It is a proactive method for dealing with change.

Strategic planning begins with involvement. The first step in the process used by Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) was to obtain opinions from public school stakeholders such as parents, Board members, local businesses, community representatives, school staff, and others. Stakeholders were given the opportunity to address strategic planning issues through telephone surveys, written questionnaires, and a strategic planning retreat.

The Strategic Planning Retreat was conducted October 22, 1999 on the campus of the University of Miami. The goal of the retreat was to provide the District with a set of measurable strategic planning goals and objectives. Approximately 125 individuals (e.g., six Board members, seventy-seven M-DCPS staff, and forty members of the local community) attended the retreat. The retreat began with opening remarks by Edward T. Foote, President of the University of Miami and Dr. Paul Sugrue, Dean of the UM School of Business. Dr. William B. Werther (Professor and Office Depot Management Scholar), also from the UM School of Business, served as facilitator for the meeting.

Parents, local business and community representatives, school staff, and other interested parties were invited to react to a set of proposed strategic planning goals. These goals and objectives were developed by staff after analyzing trends and school system needs. During the morning session, twenty-five speakers addressed issues related to strategic planning and future priorities to be addressed by the Miami-Dade County Public Schools. These opinions were used during an afternoon work session involving Board Members and senior staff. The three strategic planning goals and twenty-two objectives that follow were the result of this afternoon session as moderated by Dr. Werther. Revisions to the original goals and objectives were made, however, no change was made to the original wording of a goal or objective if consensus was not reached during the afternoon session.

These goals and objectives will be used to guide the District's Strategic Plan for the next five years (e.g., 2000 - 2005). District staff will design action plans or strategies aimed at successfully accomplishing each objective. These action plans will be implemented and their effectiveness determined through an evaluation, with findings reported to the Board on an annual basis. Objectives may be eliminated from the plan once they have been achieved as evidenced by the evaluation results. The strategic planning process is ongoing and will begin again in five years as a new plan will be developed for the years 2005 - 2010.

Goal I: School to Career

Focus:

Students will be prepared for graduation, employment, postsecondary education, and to become responsible citizens and lifelong learners.

Objectives:

Ia.

Improve student achievement emphasizing reading, writing skills, mathematics, and science.

Ib.

Monitor and assess the implementation of standards for students in the areas of academic, career, and personal/social development.

Ic.

Expand opportunities for students to participate in cultural and physical fitness experiences.

Id.

Decrease the number of schools receiving "D" and "F" grades and increase the number of schools receiving "A" and "B" grades on the State's School Accountability Report.

Ie.

Integrate technology and its proficient use for all students and faculty into the instructional program to facilitate learning, with the intent of producing technologically skilled graduates.

If.

Enhance vocational/technical programs and adult education programs to meet the demands of business and industry.

Ig.

Broaden the scope of civic, law, and character education programs offered in the district to provide all students with necessary skills.

Ih.

Narrow the achievement gap between minority and non-minority students.

Ii.

Increase the number of students and adults who are bilingual and biliterate.

Ij.

Increase public educational choice options.


Goal II: Effective Learning Environment

Focus:

Enhance the safety of students and staff, and increase the quality of the learning environment.

Objectives:

IIa.

Reduce the percentage of incidents related to violence, weapons, drugs, vandalism, and truancy.

IIb.

Strengthen counseling and academic programs for all at-risk students with particular emphasis placed on at-risk students located at alternative schools and juvenile justice centers.

IIc.

Reduce school overcrowding.

IId.

Increase skills, knowledge, and professionalism of school staff.

IIe.

Increase the number of educationally productive partnerships with the community.

IIf.

Increase opportunities for parents and guardians to become active partners in achieving educational success for all students.

IIg.

Promote the community focus of schools as neighborhood learning and cultural centers for both students and other members of the community.


Goal III: Efficient Management Practices

Focus:

Ensure that school system operations conform to the highest business and professional standards of effectiveness, ethics, and efficiency.

Objectives:

IIIa.

Improve the financial planning and management process to ensure that resources are allocated and expended according to district needs and priorities.

IIIb.

Decrease the average duration of new construction, additions, and renovations and ensure that Capital Outlay programs/projects are completed within budget.

IIIc.

Improve the delivery of services such as maintenance, classroom materials, and transportation.

IIId.

Ensure that personnel maintain professional standards and effectively fulfill their assigned responsibilities.

IIIe.

Improve the perception of the Miami-Dade School District for various stakeholders.

Revised September 25, 2000

Site Meter