The Carroll County Board of Education reviewed the district’s areas of focus for the 2014­15 school year at the Board of Education Work Session on August 18, 2014. The nineteen items listed represent the main areas of work for the school district. These items are aligned to the district strategic improvement plan and will guide the work of the district for the coming year. The Carroll School District Strategic Improvement Plan contains four strategic goal areas to which all work in the district is aligned. The four strategic goal areas are; student achievement, stakeholder engagement and loyalty, efficient and effective organizational processes and continuous system and school improvement.

Included in the areas of focus this year is an emphasis on STEAM opportunities for students. The district has focused on increasing STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) offerings over the last year and this year will add an “A” to the equation ­ for the arts, making the acronym “STEAM.” Superintendent Scott Cowart stated that while the district will continue to foster STEM opportunities, adding an emphasis on the arts will promote student participation in creative opportunities.

The school district reports yearly areas of focus to the board of education prior to the October board planning meeting. The board uses the October planning meeting to review the district strategic improvement plan and align resources and supports as needed by the school district. The complete list of the 2014-15 focus areas are listed below.

Goal Area I - Student Achievement

· Improve math performance
· Improve graduation rate
· Implement Literacy Framework K-12
· Improve formative assessment practices
· Implement Advanced Academics and Advanced Engineering at CCA
· Implement High School Student Advisement Framework (AdvancEd recommendation)
· Develop Middle School Student Advisement Framework (AdvancEd recommendation)

Goal Area II - Stakeholder Engagement & Loyalty

· Continue to improve vertical alignment across school district
· Explore student drug testing policy
· Focus on improvement of STEAM opportunities for students
· Increase visibility and awareness of system initiatives and efforts

Goal Area III - Efficient and Effective Organizational Processes

· Move forward Performing Arts Center and CCA North facilities projects
· Start planning for 2018 SPLOST extension
· Implement outsourcing of substitute services

Goal Area IV - Continuous System and School Improvement

· Plan for June 2015 flexibility choice decision
· Improve CCRPI performance
· Create and implement district professional learning plan (AdvancEd requirement)
· Implement TKES teacher evaluation system
· Continue focus on improving high school performance via USDOE SLP grant work