- Alexandria City Public Schools
- ACPS Focus Areas for 2020-21
ACPS Focus Areas for 2020-21

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The 2020-21 Areas of Focus provide the organization with a clear set of priorities for the current school year to advance the division forward in reaching the ultimate goal of empowering all students to thrive in a diverse and ever-changing world.
See the 2020-21 Areas of Focus School Board Presentation (PDF)
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Data Informed & Equity-Focused
Priorities identified through audits and evaluations:
- Communications - time study, project management system, customer response system, website, and professional learning
- Family Engagement - relationship building and expanded resource utilization
- Human Resources - long-term goals, enhanced processes, and employee onboarding
- Facilities - long-term facilities management plan, repair quality assurance system, and communication efficiency
- Students with Disabilities - address disproportionality in referrals and identification of “children of color,” or culturally and linguistically diverse students
- Talented and Gifted - address disproportionality in economically disadvantaged and minority students’ enrollment and participation rates, greater differentiation of the curriculum, instructional techniques, and related materials
COVID-19 response monitored through key drivers:
Impact of Dual Pandemics
- Social-Emotional: Trauma adversely affects students’ capacity to regulate emotions and control behaviors and inhibits relationships with both teachers and peers.
- Academic: Trauma causes lower levels of academic achievement. Trauma affected students are more likely to encounter learning difficulties, need additional supports, experience grade retention, and absenteeism, and drop out of school.
- Disproportionality: Trauma occurs across all segments of a community, but research has found trauma disproportionality impacts families with lower economic resources, higher parental stress levels, and those experiencing insecurity across critical areas (food, shelter, employment, transportation).
Areas of Focus
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Reopening of Schools
- SEAL
- Technology
- Meal Distribution
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Policy Equity Audit
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Strategic Plan Implementation
- Action Planning
- Monitoring Metrics
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Renaming of Schools
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Academic Disparities
- TAG
- PreK-2 Literacy
- SWD ED Black Males
- Hispanic Male
- Graduation Rates
Alignment
2019-2020 Focus areas
- Strategic Plan remains an area of focus, including the High School Project, and is founded upon Equity
- All audit action plans will be incorporated into Department and/or School Improvement Plans
2019-2020 Budget Priorities
- PreK-2 Literacy and Hispanic Graduation Rate remain areas of focus
- MTSS and PBIS is carried forwarded in Reopening Plan within SEAL
- Customer Service, Cultural Competence, and Staff Retention
- Highlighted within Strategic Plan Action Planning
- Students with Disabilities, Facilities, and Human Resources Audit
- Action Steps are carried forward through Department Improvement Plans