Priority Statement
Worcester Public Schools is committed to providing and sustaining environments in which all members of our school communities (students, faculty, staff, and families) grow and thrive in environments where they feel value, they feel safe, and they belong.
Aim 1
Increase all school community members’ feelings of value, safety, and sense of belonging across all schools and grade levels.
Goal 1
By the end of the 2027-28 school year, schools will fully implement the WPS Health and Wellness Roadmap to ensure all families feel welcomed, included, and have a sense of belonging in their school community.
Key Performance Indicator 1.1: Percentage of students, faculty/staff, and families self-reporting a positive sense of belonging.
Key Performance Indicator 1.2: Percentage of self-reported positive perceptions of school safety (students, faculty/staff, families).
Key Performance Indicator 1.3: Percentage of student attendance rates for chronic absent.
Students arrive for their first day of kindergarten at Jacob Hiatt Magnet School in late August 2023.
Aim 2
Enhance the use of culturally responsive pedagogy to connect learning to students’ backgrounds, experiences, and interests.
Goal 2
By the end of the 2027-2028 academic school year, schools will implement the WPS Instructional Framework to ensure that historically underserved students feel connected to the learning environment.
Key Performance Indicator 2.1: Percentage of students self-reporting that they see their backgrounds and culture represented in their learning and school community.
Key Performance Indicator 2.2: Percentage gap of students’ and teachers’ perceptions of cultural awareness so they are more aligned with one another.
Aim 3
Expand the use of restorative practices to create a more equitable learning environment for all students.
Goal 3
By the end of the 2027-2028 academic school year, schools will implement a restorative practice model to ensure that school communities grow and thrive.
Key Performance Indicator 3.1: Total number of out-of-school student suspensions.
Key Performance Indicator 3.2: Number of teachers being trained in restorative practices.
Key Performance Indicator 3.3: Recidivism rate of bully intervention program(s).