Seattle schools chief unveils academic goals in new "strategic plan"

Seattle Public Schools would more than double the number of students meeting college-entrance requirements and vastly improve performance in science and math under an ambitious plan unveiled Wednesday by Superintendent Maria Goodloe-Johnson.

The academic goals are part of a broader "strategic plan" that Goodloe-Johnson is rolling out this month. The superintendent Wednesday presented the School Board with a sweeping overview of the plan, which she also will present at three public meetings over the next two weeks.

Yet the overview was short on details. No timeline or costs were attached, either.

The full, 30-page draft plan, which likely will include specific recommendations on curriculum and testing, will not be presented to the School Board until May 21 — the day after the last of the public meetings. District staff said they believe the overview provides the public with enough details to allow meaningful input.

The School Board is to vote on the strategic plan June 4.

In its entirety, the strategic plan will be a litmus test for Goodloe-Johnson's 10-month tenure. It represents the culmination of months of internal audits and hundreds of comments from stakeholders. And it will, for the first time, allow the public to see details of the superintendent's vision for the 46,000-student district.

Goodloe-Johnson hinted at some of the details Wednesday. She said it made sense to have a singular math curriculum at all levels — something already under way at the elementary level — and to have regular testing throughout the year to ensure students remain academically on target.

She said the plan builds on basics: "It's not going to be glitzy, and it's not going to be exciting."

In the overview, Goodloe-Johnson outlines plans to increase the percentage of high-school graduates who are ready for college from 17 percent in 2006-07 to 40 percent in 2011-12. By then, the state would define college readiness as students who have a grade-point average of at least 3.0 and four credits in each English and math, as well as certain credits in other subjects.

The percentage of 10th-graders meeting standards on the science portion of the Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL) would increase from 33 percent to 80 percent over five years under the plan, while the percentage of 10th-graders meeting math standards would increase from 50 percent to 82 percent.

The overview appeared to be well-received by the School Board.

"It's a great start," said board member Michael DeBell. "I think it's ambitious and it's comprehensive. ... I do have to notice that it looks like we've got our work cut out for us in science."

Literacy — reading and writing — was not specifically addressed in the plan, Goodloe-Johnson said. That's because the district has done relatively well in that area, she said, and has bigger problems with math and science.

The overview also says that struggling schools receive inconsistent and inadequate support; that teachers and principals receive little guidance throughout their careers; and that outdated human-resources and information-technology systems are hampering progress.

It suggested the district track student progress more closely and use the data to drive improvements.

Goodloe-Johnson added that high-performing schools need to be better rewarded, while those that are not need more support. She said there needs to be a more streamlined system to hire and retain staff.

Teachers now typically apply to the school rather than the district — resulting in dozens of applications in some cases.

In the overview, Goodloe-Johnson also pointed out that most WASL scores in Seattle were above the state average; that some programs were succeeding very well; and that the district was on a relatively solid financial footing, with balanced budgets and a "rainy day" fund.

Goodloe-Johnson said she would stand by the academic targets.

"I'm holding myself accountable because I'm holding everyone else accountable," she said. "We are going to get there."

Nick Perry: 206-515-5639 or nperry@seattletimes.com