Strategic Plan
Empowering every student to achieve their unique potential
Mission & Vision
▾Mission: Empowering every student to achieve their unique potential through an equitable and personalized experience that supports post pre-K–12 pathways.
Vision: We foster an environment of continuous improvement and student success and are recognized for our excellence. Our graduates will be curious, resilient, empathetic, and productive contributors to society.
Theory of Action
▾If we:
- Implement rigorous, evidence-based reading instruction in all classrooms and provide targeted interventions aligned to student needs,
- Embed social-emotional learning (SEL) practices throughout the school day to cultivate a supportive and inclusive culture,
- Manage resources responsibly and prioritize student-centered investments,
Then we will:
- Increase student proficiency and growth in reading across all grade levels,
- Foster students’ well-being, resilience, and sense of belonging,
- Sustain financial stability that enables continuous improvement,
Because:
- Research-based literacy instruction and data-driven interventions address academic gaps and propel all learners forward,
- SEL integration strengthens engagement, motivation, and overall academic performance by supporting the “whole child,”
- Sound fiscal stewardship ensures the district can invest consistently in high-impact strategies that benefit students and staff.
To enhance teaching and learning we will utilize evidence-based instructional strategies, such as differentiated instruction, formative assessment, and project-based learning, to meet diverse student needs.
Goal 1.1: Improve Student Growth
Increase the percentage of students meeting growth targets on MAP assessments in math and English language arts.
Goal 1.2: Improve College Readiness
Increase the percentage of students meeting ACT college and career readiness benchmarks in math and English language arts.
Notes:
- District leaders will monitor progress toward these goals, with particular attention to closing achievement gaps. Information on student group performance will be shared with the Board of Education.
- Illinois started using the ACT in 2025. Since past data was based on the SAT, targets may be adjusted after baseline ACT results are available.
- More data is available on the Illinois Report Card.
1.1 Enhanced Literacy Instruction: Implement evidence-based literacy programs across all grade levels to improve reading skills and academic performance.
1.2 Read-World Learning Applications: Integrate project-based learning and real-world problem-solving into the curriculum to increase student engagement and knowledge retention.
1.3 Personalized Learning Pathways: Utilize adaptive technologies, differentiated instruction, and college and career pathways to meet diverse student needs and enhance motivation and outcomes.
1.4 Collaborative Professional Learning: Ensure professional learning communities (PLCs) for educators share best practices and innovations, leading to higher student achievement and improved instructional quality.
1.5 Continuous Feedback Mechanisms: Develop robust feedback systems for both students and teachers to support continuous improvement and academic success.
1.6 Ongoing Professional Development: Provide targeted professional development focusing on curriculum, equity, and cultural competence to enhance teaching effectiveness and student outcomes.
Implement comprehensive social-emotional learning (SEL) programs and create equitable learning environments that address the needs of all students.
Goal 2.1: Strengthen Student Belonging
Increase the percentage of students who report feeling a sense of belonging at school, based on Panorama Survey results.
Goal 2.2: Increase Family and Staff Satisfaction
Increase the percentage of families and staff who report being satisfied with their overall experience in BPS101, as measured by the Panorama Survey.
Note: Data collection for this goal will be first collected during the 2025-26 school year and targets set thereafter.
2.1 Amplifying Student Voice: Create formal channels for student feedback and participation in decision-making to increase engagement and a sense of ownership.
2.2 Equity Audits and Action Plans: Conduct regular equity audits and develop action plans to address disparities, promoting better academic and social outcomes for all students.
2.3 Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Programs: Implement comprehensive SEL programs to support students' emotional and social development, which is linked to improved academic performance and behavior.
2.4 Family and Community Partnerships: Strengthen engagement with families and community organizations to enhance student learning and well-being.
2.5 Diverse Staff Recruitment and Development: Focus on recruiting and retaining a diverse teaching staff and developing future educators through programs like Grow Your Own. This will positively impact student achievement, especially for students with diverse backgrounds.
Demonstrate effective and efficient operations and ensure excellent stewardship of public resources and our physical learning environments.
Goal 3: Sustain Strong Financial Standing
Maintain the highest Financial Profile Rating—“Recognition”—from the Illinois State Board of Education each year.
3.1 Facility Maintenance and Upgrades: Implement a comprehensive schedule to keep all facilities warm, safe, dry, and conducive to learning.
3.2 Alignment with Educational Needs: Ensure facilities and resources support current and future curricular and extracurricular programs.
3.3 Enhanced Extracurricular Support: Provide robust support for extracurricular activities, linking participation with higher academic and social development.
3.4 Comprehensive Safety Programs: Collaborate with local agencies to develop safety training and preparedness programs.
3.5 Technology Integration: Enhance technology infrastructure and cybersecurity through regular updates and training.
Our Progress
▾We report twice a year to the Board of Education on our strategic goals, maintaining transparency and accountability. Under our new plan, we have seen meaningful gains:
- Academic Growth: Students show strong math growth, outperforming benchmark districts.
- Targeted Needs: Gaps remain in reading proficiency and growth for certain subgroups—now a focus for targeted support.
- School Climate: Student surveys indicate a strong sense of belonging and inclusion, ranking above national averages.
- Financial Health: The District maintains a balanced budget, healthy reserves, and a strong ISBE Financial Profile score, positioning us to sustain investments in student learning while protecting taxpayers from undue burden.
Overall, we are making steady, measurable progress and remain committed to accelerating improvement in every area.
Plan Development
▾Our strategic plan, developed in 2024, reflects the collective input of our community—students, families, educators, and stakeholders—who helped shape our vision for the future.
Grounded in research and best practices from the District Management Group, this plan establishes clear priorities and measurable goals to ensure student success, foster well-being, and sustain responsible resource management.
We remain dedicated to refining the plan as we learn from data and ongoing community feedback.
