Polk County School District

The Polk County Schools' Strategic Plan outlines a commitment to preparing students for a challenging world through quality education. Its seven core goals focus on educating and caring for the whole child, ensuring academic excellence for all students, and recruiting and retaining top educators. The plan also emphasizes responsible financial stewardship, initiating a comprehensive facilities development program, prioritizing the safety of students and employees, and fostering stronger community relationships.

This document is an annual accountability report for Polk County Public District for Fiscal Year 2026, mandated by the Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement (TISA) funding formula. It outlines the district's progress and plans towards achieving student achievement goals. Key goals include reaching 70% 3rd-grade ELA proficiency by 2028, achieving 50% or more student proficiency in 3-8 ELA and Math TCPA/EOC tests by 2028, and ensuring 70% of graduating students meet the TISA high school outcome goal by 2028. The report details strategies and budget allocations to meet these objectives, emphasizing early literacy, tiered interventions, instructional coaching, and post-secondary readiness.

The board meeting included discussions and approvals on several key items. The principal of Benton Elementary School thanked the board for their support and highlighted additions of art/music programs and Chromebooks. The agenda included approval of the 2018/2019 school calendar, the 2017/2018 textbook adoption committee, and an overnight trip for the Benton Elementary School Jr. Beta Club to Nashville, TN.

This needs assessment for ESSER 3.0 funding focuses on addressing learning loss and improving student outcomes resulting from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Key areas of concern include academic achievement, particularly in literacy and math; student readiness, encompassing transitions between grade levels and post-secondary preparation; educator well-being and retention; and equitable access to technology and high-speed internet. The plan prioritizes investments in additional interventionists, guidance counselors, technology coaches, and classroom teachers to reduce class sizes and provide targeted support. Other key investments include upgrading facilities, providing 1:1 devices for all students, strengthening CTE programs, and enhancing mental health services. The plan aims to improve student achievement, address learning loss, and ensure equitable access to resources and opportunities for all students.

The Polk County Schools Foundational Literacy Skills Plan focuses on improving literacy in grades K-5 by emphasizing foundational skills instruction (phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension). The plan details daily instructional time allocations, curriculum alignment with TN Standards, and the use of approved instructional materials (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Into Reading, supplemented by Heggerty, SPIRE, FCRR, and Tennessee's Best for all Central resources). It outlines a multi-tiered intervention system (RTI) using the Tennessee Universal Reading Screener, iReady, and aimswebPlus for assessment and progress monitoring. The plan also includes provisions for parent notification of student progress, professional development for teachers on foundational literacy skills and dyslexia interventions, and ongoing data analysis to inform instruction and support.