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Bethel School Board Priorities 2026–27
Priority 1: Relevant and Responsive Education — Literacy
Ensure every Bethel student has access to high-quality, relevant and responsive literacy instruction that supports strong academic growth, achievement, and success across their educational experience. For 2026-27, the Board will place particular attention on early literacy in grades K–2, recognizing the importance of strong foundational literacy skills to future learning and success.
Key Performance Indicators & Board Monitoring Data
- K–2 district literacy assessment data, including growth throughout the school year
- Literacy outcomes and growth disaggregated by student group
- Districtwide literacy achievement and growth data, including OSAS/ELA results
Priority 2: Joy and Wellness — Staff Experience
Foster a workplace where Bethel staff feel valued, connected, supported, and able to do their best work on behalf of students. Staff experience data will be used to understand strengths, identify opportunities for improvement, and strengthen the conditions that contribute to a positive experience working in Bethel. For 2026-27, the Board will place particular attention on the experience of staff who have moved to a different building or program during the 2026–27 school year.
Key Performance Indicators & Board Monitoring Data
- Upbeat Staff Survey results, including measures of engagement, belonging, support, communication, and overall staff experience
- Staff experience data for employees who moved buildings or programs, compared with districtwide staff experience
Priority 3: Belonging and Engagement — Student Belonging
Ensure every Bethel student experiences a strong sense of belonging, connection, purpose, and voice in their school community, with particular attention to the experiences of students and student groups who have historically experienced lower levels of belonging in our schools. For 2026-27, the Board will place particular attention on the belonging and engagement of middle school students who are receiving special education services.
Key Performance Indicators & Board Monitoring Data
- Student Experience Survey results, with a focus on belonging and engagement
- Middle school belonging and engagement data, including trends throughout the year and comparing trends from year to year
Priority 4: Strong Systems, Strong Schools — Attendance
Strengthen district and school systems that support regular attendance so that every Bethel student is consistently connected to the learning, relationships, and opportunities that contribute to success in school. The Board will focus on attendance across grades K–12, with particular attention to consistent practices, early identification of attendance concerns, and effective supports for students and families experiencing barriers to regular attendance.
Key Performance Indicators & Board Monitoring Data
- Regular attendance and chronic absenteeism rates across grades K–12
- Attendance trends by school and grade level
- Attendance data disaggregated by student group
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Each year, the Bethel School Board establishes a focused set of priorities to help align the district’s work around the areas most important to student and staff success. These priorities provide a common direction across the district and connect the Bethel Blueprint to the day-to-day work of our schools and classrooms. Board priorities help frame individual school priorities and scorecards and are reflected in teacher goals, creating alignment from the Board level to schools and classrooms.
The Board’s priorities apply to all Bethel students, schools, and staff. Within each priority, the Board may identify an annual area of focus that provides an opportunity for deeper learning and monitoring during the school year. For 2026–27, those areas include early literacy, the experience of staff who have moved buildings or programs, middle school student belonging, and K–12 attendance systems.
The first three priorities maintain a consistent focus from year to year on academic success, staff experience, and student belonging and engagement. The fourth priority, Strong Schools-Strong Communities allows the Board to identify a districtwide system that warrants particular attention based on the current needs of the district.
For each priority, the Board has identified key performance indicators (KPIs) that will be monitored throughout the year. Data connected to these indicators will be presented and discussed during four Board work sessions, allowing the Board to monitor progress, identify trends and disparities, and better understand the impact of district and school improvement efforts. -
The Board will review progress on these priorities through four work sessions during the 2026–27 school year. Each work session will provide an opportunity to examine current KPI data, consider progress over time, identify areas of strength and concern, and understand how district and school improvement efforts are influencing outcomes.
The annual areas of focus provide the Board an opportunity to examine specific populations or systems more deeply; they do not limit the scope of the priorities themselves. The four Board priorities represent commitments to all Bethel students, staff, and schools and provide a common framework for aligning improvement efforts across the district.