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District outlines professional learning goals, coaching targets and data benchmarks
Summary
Vancouver Public Schools staff presented a two-year professional learning vision emphasizing student-centered instruction, job-embedded coaching (4,600 hours last year), Universal Design for Learning and measurable benchmarks tied to a new district dashboard.
District leaders told the board they aim to shift professional learning from isolated training to a system of job-embedded coaching, data-driven improvement and collaborative learning that directly supports student outcomes.
"Coaches engaged in over 4,600 hours of interactions with colleagues," said Kristen Copeland, leader of professional learning, noting that those hours equate to roughly 131 days of hands-on learning. Staff tied the work to measurable outcomes: each school will identify at least one schoolwide inclusive practice by the end of 2025, the district aims for 75% of classroom teachers trained in CHAMPS by 2026, and staff expect a 10% increase in students' sense of belonging as measured by Panorama surveys.
Jim Gray outlined the Guiding Coalition's role as a progress-monitoring body with building teams meeting twice monthly and co-leads meeting quarterly. Gray said interim assessment blocks aligned to state SBA measures will allow buildings to measure success against SIP goals after the first interim window closes in December.
Board members asked how inclusive practices would be integrated into SIPs and how staff will balance pushing practice change with teacher comfort; district staff emphasized the Guiding Coalition and building-level leadership will tailor implementation and provide supports.
Next steps: staff will monitor interim assessment data in December, return to the board with progress updates, and continue coaching and PLC supports tied to board-adopted success criteria.
