SOUTH WHITEHALL TWP., Pa. — Parkland Schools students are excelling in English and science, but the district will look to improve math instruction, a new district comprehensive plan says.
Doing that may mean changes in student schedules, the plan says.
The district also will look to bolster mental health services and support offered to students across grade levels, the plan says.
Parkland School Board voted unanimously Tuesday to adopt the new comprehensive plan, setting out the district’s priorities for the next three years.Parkland School Board meeting
Parkland School Board voted unanimously Tuesday to adopt the new comprehensive plan, setting out the district’s priorities for the next three years.
Pennsylvania law requires school districts to create a comprehensive plan every three years.
The plan first lays out the district’s strengths and weaknesses. Parkland’s latest plan is the work of a steering committee more than 80 members strong.
The plan highlights the district’s success in English and science assessments, with Parkland students scoring higher than the state average on key standardized tests in the subjects.
Look to improve math scores
Parkland’s greatest challenges, according to the comprehensive plan, lie in middle and high school math instruction.
To improve math scores, the district plans to implement a “multi-tiered system of support” for middle school math students.
The district will begin exploring possible changes this year.Parkland Schools comprehensive plan
The framework will be composed of three levels of resources, coupled with screening and monitoring to evaluate whether interventions are working.
The district also plans to create more resources for Parkland High School’s Algebra I students, such as expanded access to its math lab tutoring and support program.
The schools’ schedules may need to change in the years to come to accommodate the new resources, according to the comprehensive plan.
The district will begin exploring possible changes this year.
With the additional support, district leaders aim to boost the number of students scoring proficient or better on middle school math PSSA tests and the Algebra I Keystone exam at least 6% by the end of the 2027-28 school year.
Mental health support
Parkland’s comprehensive plan includes a second priority: bolstering the mental health services and support offered to students across grade levels.
The district’s middle schools and high schools will offer “increased opportunities for mental health support” through the Pennsylvania Student Assistance Program.Parkland Schools comprehensive plan
In elementary schools, that means working to implement the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports framework for improving students’ academic, behavioral, social and emotional wellbeing.
The district’s middle schools and high schools will offer “increased opportunities for mental health support” through the Pennsylvania Student Assistance Program, a model for helping students through a specially trained team.
Starting with the next school year, Parkland will begin offering new student support groups at its middle schools and high school, according to the comprehensive plan.
