Glendale Elementary District

GESD is committed to closing achievement gaps by providing all students with equal access to high-quality education. While navigating the challenges of the pandemic, GESD focuses on measurable strategies to make up lost instructional time and support the social-emotional needs of students. In order to develop learning experiences that are relevant and engaging to a diverse student population, GESD will increase opportunities for evidence-based instruction through the implementation of afterschool and summer enrichment programs, the adoption of inclusive and research-based math, science and social studies textbooks for all schools and grade levels, and the continued integration of Social and Emotional Learning (SEL).

Summer learning and enrichment programs will be offered to students to address learning loss. The District will specifically focus on English learners, low-income students, students with disabilities, foster care youth, refugees and students experiencing homelessness as these groups of students faced the most challenges due to language, economic, and other general barriers. There will also be opportunities for students who are at risk in reading and in need of enhanced focus on phonics, high frequency words, and vocabulary.

GESD will conduct ongoing assessments to evaluate student learning and progress. Benchmark assessments, progress monitoring and summative assessments will be used to measure student learning. As a model Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) district, GESD will continue to support teams of teachers, administrators and staff in analyzing data to effectively meet the needs of all students.

GESD prioritizes the full scope of a child's development by creating educational experiences that integrate SEL programming to further strengthen the whole child approach to learning. SEL is a key ingredient to addressing various forms of inequity and empowering people to create safe and healthy communities. To cultivate school and work environments that support learning and social-emotional growth, GESD will allocate funds to develop and expand a structure for the teaching of SEL lessons to ensure meaningful curriculum and instruction. Infrastructure and operations including staffing, SEL curricula and technology to support the implementation of evidence-based SEL programs will be implemented. This student support will help students and families deal with the trauma and loss experienced over the course of the pandemic.