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Upper Darby presents federally designated and Title I school plans; boards to vote in August
Summary
District staff reviewed federally designated school-level improvement plans tied to Title I funding, listed which schools carry CSI/TSI/ATSI labels, described exit timelines and supports, and said updated plans with expenditure tables will be posted and voted on at the August board meeting.
Dr. Masakowski, the district's new director of elementary education, told the Education and People Services Committee that each Upper Darby School District school develops an annual improvement plan and that the plans before the board carry federal designations and/or Title I funding and will be due to the state Aug. 31 and voted on in August.
The presentations explained the federal designation types that drive additional oversight and support: targeted support and improvement (TSI) for specific student groups, additional targeted support and improvement (ATSI) when multiple indicators are of concern, and comprehensive support and improvement (CSI) when schools fall below statewide achievement or graduation thresholds. "These plans act as a strategic roadmap," Dr. Masakowski said, adding that they include measurable objectives, evidence-based strategies and clear monitoring timelines.
District staff named the schools included in the submitted drafts: Beverly Hills Middle School (Title I and CSI); Drexel Hill Middle School (ATSI/TSI); Upper Darby High School (ATSI/TSI); and elementary schools identified for Title I or designation including Bywood Elementary (Title I), Highland Park Elementary (Title I), Charles Kelly Elementary (Title I and CSI), Stonehurst Hills Elementary (Title I and TSI), and the Kenter Center (Title I). Draft plans are available on each school's webpage and will be updated over the summer to include expenditure tables after funding allocations are finalized.
Presenters described the development process for each plan, which includes school planning teams made up of administrators, teachers, pupil-services staff, parents and community partners, and technical assistance from the Delaware County Intermediate Unit. Common priorities across plans include data-driven goals, targeted interventions for student subgroups, improving attendance through early identification within an MTSS framework, clearer instructional goals, and professional learning supports such as learning walks and coaching.
Staff cited several school-level highlights included in the plans: an almost 5% improvement in regular attendance at Beverly Hills Middle School; high-tier PBIS fidelity measures at Drexel Hill Middle School; industry-based learning achievements at Upper Darby High School; measurable ELA gains at Charles Kelly Elementary; and notable science growth for the Black student group at Stonehurst Hills Elementary.
District staff emphasized that designations trigger additional monitoring and supports and, in some CSI cases, defined exit timelines. For example, staff noted Beverly Hills Middle School and Charles Kelly Elementary may be eligible for early exit considerations in fall 2027 if they meet exit criteria. The committee had no objections to moving the plans forward to the August voting meeting for formal board action.
Next steps: draft plans will be posted and updated with budgets/expenditure tables; the board is scheduled to consider formal approval at the August voting meeting.
