Cheltenham SD principals outline data-driven school improvement plans as district begins state-required comprehensive planning

Dr. Savage, chairing the Educational Affairs meeting, opened by reminding the committee that the district is in a Phase 3 PDE cycle and must submit a comprehensive plan by March 31, 2025.

"The comprehensive planning process is required by the Pennsylvania Department of Education," Dr. Savage said, and the district has aligned its strategic plan pillars with PDE's Future Ready framework.

Interim Principal Nelson (Elkins Park Intermediate School) said the school has implemented two-week clustered walkthroughs to monitor small-group instruction, introduced the FastBridge universal screener, expanded before- and after-school tutoring and redeployed encore teachers to run daily 25-minute support blocks. "We have a new walk through process...it allows us to spend really good quality time in the classrooms," Nelson said, describing peer walks and coaching to strengthen instruction.

Nelson also described a pivot in the school's continuous school improvement (CSI) plan: after early-year behavior data improved, the team shifted emphasis toward increasing students scoring proficient on assessments.

Principal Metcalf (Cedarbrook Middle School) emphasized data protocols and curriculum alignment. He said teachers use PLC time and common assessments to identify weak areas and retarget instruction, and noted curricular changes that include reinstating Diary of Anne Frank and adding They Call Us Enemy and I Am Malala to build culturally relevant reading. "If we don't move the kids at the bottom, you won't move the school," Metcalf said, describing a combination of direct instruction and small-group models to raise proficiency.

At Cheltenham High, Principal Hammond described a revamped MTSS process, weekly DNF (D/F/No grade) reports sent to families, expanded mentoring programs (Empower Him/Empower Her) and reintroduced after‑school homework clubs and outside tutors. "If we don't fix that culture piece, that climate, we're not gonna really make a lot of changes in the high school," Hammond said, linking climate improvements to academic outcomes and noting stricter vaping enforcement.

Dr. Savage credited central administration staff — Heather Scrimmon and Tracy Horn — for compiling data for the steering committee and said the committee will refine goals into action plans, bring a draft comprehensive plan back to Educational Affairs in January, open a public inspection period in February, and seek board approval after that.

Next steps include continuing subcommittee work (induction, professional development, gifted), drafting action plans at central administration, and presenting a full comprehensive plan to the committee in January. The public inspection period is required by state law; the district intends to publish materials and solicit family and staff input ahead of the board vote.

The meeting closed with principals released after their presentations.