Future Vision of Education at Francis Walsh Intermediate School

1. Future Vision of Educationat Francis Walsh Intermediate School EDU505: Future of Education

2. Francis Walsh Intermediate SchoolBranford, CT • Public middle school housing grades 5 through 8 • Built in 1972 using the open school concept, characterized by classrooms with no walls and opening gathering spaces • School Demographics • Serves approximately 1,050 students • Some racial/ethnic diversity • 87.5% of student population identifies as White/Caucasian • 3.5% of student population identifies as Asian American • 1.6% of student population identifies as Black/African American • 5.6% of student population identifies as Hispanic • Average median household income in Branford, CT is $70,376; the No Child Left Behind 2010-2011 Report Card indicates that neither Francis Walsh Intermediate School nor the Two of Branford fall within the high or low quartiles used to determine economic ranking • 12 students currently attend the school through the Open Choice Program • Approximately 15% of students are identified as Students with Disabilities and 3% of students are identified as English Language Learners • Mission Statement: “Francis Walsh Intermediate School believes that everyone has the potential to learn and be successful. We should support each other’s efforts to do well as we celebrate the diverse and unique qualities of all individuals. Tolerance, kindness, and community service are the cornerstones of the Walsh community.”

3. Current State of Francis Walsh Intermediate School

4. FuturingWhat is it? Why use it? How does it impact education? The What… Futuringis the systematic planning process that enables organizations to proactively prepare for what lies ahead, thus turning worries and reservations about lies ahead into opportunities for growth, and bringing the future into better focus. The Why Futuring identifies several possibilities, or scenarios, by looking at the organization’s environment (consumers, competitors, & community) and anticipating how changes in these may impact its future practices. This better prepares the organization to adapt to change and continue to grow. The Impact Engaging in futuring exercises will help educational leaders/organizations develop curriculum that maximizes instruction on skill sets that will be important to future jobs thereby better preparing our students for life beyond the classroom.

5. The Role of Environmental Scanning in FuturingEnvironmental scanning is a method used to assess an organization’s environment (i.e. its consumers, competition and community) and help the organization develop scenarios and the strategies necessary to reach the organization’s identified vision. • External Environment: • Consumers (students) • Competition (charter or private vs. public school) • Community (tax payers, stakeholders, etc.) Environmental Scanning to collect data on performance, trends, etc. Organization’s use of futuring & development of scenarios • Internal Environment: • School mission & vision • Strengths • Weaknesses Strategic plans to prepare for scenarios

6. Educational Technology The trend Distance learning, or online learning, via mass open online courses using learning management systems Current Impact Approximate enrollment rates of students, enrolled in full-time online education, is 250,000 with rates constantly growing Potential Future Impact Special education students will participate in distance learning programs that allow for supported instruction in an inclusion model that allows them to learn along side their peers

7. Economics, Demographics & Public Policy 2013 2018

8. Francis Walsh Intermediate School 2018 The Scenario: Francis Walsh Intermediate School will have a steadily developing distance learning program that incorporates the use of tablet learning, the Blackboard Learn learning management system and academic analytics to provide academic instruction and assessment. The distance learning program’s targeted population will be those students whose disabilities impact their ability to access the curriculum in a traditional brick and mortar school building. The Rationale: As the population of Special Education students continues to steadily grow it will require increased spending to support it. This increased population will not only increase the number of special education students in the school’s classrooms, but also has the possibility of increasing the number of outplaced students in the school. The cost of providing Special Education services will continue to rise at a rapid pace. At the same time, the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 has drastically decreased funding to Special Education nationwide. These two opposing forces will collide, forcing school districts to find cost effective alternatives to out of district placements for Special Education students who cannot participate in a traditional brick and mortar school building.

9. Preparation for the 2018 Francis Walsh Intermediate School- 5 Steps

10. Call to Action- 3 Immediate Steps

11. References • Impact of sequestration on federal education programs. (2013, February 05). Retrieved fromhttp://www.nea.org/assets/docs/Impact_of_Sequestration_on_Federal_Education_Programs_02-05-13.pdf • Powell, J.W. (2004). Special Education and the Risk of Becoming Less Educated in Germany and the United States. CES Germany & Europe Working Papers, no. 05. 1. •  Kittle, C., & Gill, M. (2012, February 19). Costs drop 5 percent for Nashua’s special education out-of-district placements. The Telegraph. Retrieved from http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/news/950639-196/costs-drop-5-percent-for-nashuas-special.html