Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools will begin implementing a new five-year plan this school year, which includes addressing the achievement gap, along with improving teacher development and training. However, just having a vision doesn’t ensure that goals are met. It is a necessity that schools and teachers have the right tools to accomplish their objectives.
The new plan would be a great way to reemphasize the importance of equitable teaching. At times, the performance of the top students can overshadow the struggling performance of the economically disadvantaged and minority groups. By continuing to call for more actionable items like teacher development, the school district will position itself in a way that should lower the achievement gap.
However, in order to do this, training and development of teachers must be purposeful and beneficial. The plan calls for a new training plan that will allow teachers to receive raises based on training. This system incentivizes teacher development in a beneficial way.
But the proposal should be reconstructed, as it fails to comprehensively encourage teachers to truly seek greater development. For example, CHCCS stopped partially reimbursing teachers who took classes at nearby universities. If the district wants to see improvements, it should create an environment that encourages teachers to continue their higher education.
The plan provides foundation moving forward, but to guarantee greater improvements, the district needs to provide a wide-ranging tool kit for schools and teachers to succeed.
