Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Strategic Plan topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board reviews draft "Palo Alto Promise" goals including access, equity and belonging
Summary
District staff presented a draft 2025—26 "Palo Alto Promise" with five priorities (Academic Access & Excellence; Social Responsibility & Equity; Mental Health, Belonging & Well-being; Innovation; Serve & Celebrate Others). Trustees asked for a shorter set of high-impact KPIs, more site-level alignment and clearer metrics for access to advanced coursework and student belonging.
District staff presented a revised draft of the Palo Alto Promise on May 13, proposing five priority areas for 2025—26: Academic Access and Excellence; Social Responsibility and Equity; Mental Health, Belonging and Well-being; Innovation; and Serve and Celebrate Others.
The presentation described a strategy to prioritize outcomes and include data dashboards and attachments for detailed metrics. Staff proposed tracking cohort learning progress at transition grades (5th and 8th) using SBAC distance-from-standard data, measuring English-learner progress, monitoring indicators for college and career readiness (AP, dual enrollment, industry certifications), and using Panorama surveys and MTSS (Multi-Tiered System of Supports) to measure belonging, attendance and well-being.
Trustees urged focusing the Promise on a small number of high-impact goals rather than many granular measures. Several trustees asked staff to propose metrics that capture both supports for historically underserved students and access to advanced coursework, including math acceleration; trustees also recommended supplementing surveys with focus groups and participation measures (extracurricular participation and no-cut opportunities) to better understand belonging.
Student and community commenters on May 13 urged adding a dedicated sustainability goal and emphasized the mental-health and belonging components. Staff said sustainability work (a sustainability master plan) is planned and will be coordinated with the Promise, and committed to returning refined metrics and a revised Promise draft in June.
What's next: staff will refine goals, propose a smaller set of KPIs with attached measurement strategies, and return to the board for further feedback and likely a vote in June.
