Stewart Hicks

The meeting included recognizing Dr. Tim Parrott as the Superintendent of the Year for the East Tennessee District. Updates were provided on the new Claxton construction, CTE completion date, and budget. Policies were reviewed for the first reading, covering topics such as school district records, goals, student board member roles, surplus property sales, emergency preparedness, threat assessment, instructional programs, virtual education, interscholastic activities, library materials, internet use, student progress reporting, personnel goals, compensation, employment of retirees, family and medical leave, discrimination/harassment, substitute teachers, attendance, student conduct, wireless device use, student wellness, and student records. Budget appropriations and transfers were also approved.

The ELLevate Learning English Language Development Program of Anderson County Schools outlines its strategic direction to compassionately educate, empower, and support multilingual learners in their linguistic, academic, and social development. Key goals for the 2025-2026 period include increasing student growth on the ELPA 21 assessment, reducing the number of Long Term English Learners, and ensuring adequate yearly progress on TNReady assessments. The program employs a multidimensional educational approach guided by principles like student potential and cultural diversity, offering comprehensive services for student identification, program placement, and robust parental involvement to foster an inclusive environment where multilingual students can thrive.

Successful Start is a literacy initiative focused on closing the literacy achievement gap for Kindergarten and first-grade children from low socio-economic backgrounds, including those learning English as a second language. The program achieves this through intensive teacher professional development, equipping educators to design effective literacy lessons. Its core components, delivered in small group settings, include Instructional Writing, Instructional Reading, Word Work, and Reading To. The initiative's primary goals are to increase the number of children achieving expected literacy levels and significantly reduce the need for intensive intervention in first grade.

The strategic plan for Anderson County Public District outlines five key goals aimed at significantly improving student proficiency in English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics across all grade levels (3-12). Specific targets include achieving 70% proficiency in 3rd-grade ELA by 2030, and 50% proficiency in 3-8 ELA, 3-8 Math, 9-12 ELA, and 9-12 Math by 2028. The district plans to achieve these objectives through continued implementation of action plans, focused professional development for educators, utilization of high-quality instructional materials (HQIM), and strategic intervention software, emphasizing a comprehensive approach to enhance student outcomes.

This Foundational Literacy Skills Plan for Anderson County Schools outlines a comprehensive strategy for K-5 students, emphasizing daily dedicated instructional time, evidence-based curriculum (Amplify CKLA, Wit & Wisdom), and robust support systems. It details universal reading screeners, a tiered RTI2 intervention structure, family communication, and continuous professional development to ensure high-quality literacy instruction and improve student outcomes.