Toombs County Schools Equity Plan

Toombs County's goal is equitable access for all students to the best instruction possible, provided by highly qualified teachers who are able to meet the diverse learning needs of all students. The Toombs County School System is committed to the following:

1. Implement best practices in all classrooms to improve the achievement of all students
2. Differentiate instruction to meet the needs of all students
3. Recruit and retain highly qualified teachers and paraprofessionals in core academic areas
4. Provide all students access to instruction by teachers who have equivalent teaching experience
5. Maintain comparable class sizes in all schools, regardless of student demographics
6. Provide instructional coaches to support teachers and improve student learning
7. Provide GACE test fee reimbursement for passing scores in core academic areas

A system level committee consisting of central office program directors and principals meet periodically to review progress in meeting these goals.

Toombs Countys equity plan focuses on the collaboration of all stakeholders including central office administrators, school administrators, teachers, paraprofessionals, parents and business partners. The needs assessment and planning process addresses equitable access of all students to highly qualified teachers and paraprofessionals, equity in teacher experience, equity in teacher training to meet the diverse needs of all learners, equity in class sizes, and recruiting and retaining highly qualified teachers which results in full equity for all students, regardless of the demographics of the students served. The LEA addresses class size equity in the annual needs assessment by analyzing the individual class sizes within each school and across schools where grade levels are shared. If inequities are identified, the principal, along with the Title IIA system contact, will determine if students need to be moved to another class within the school to make the class sizes equitable or if a teacher must be hired to correct the discrepancy within the school or among the schools sharing common grade levels. School personnel complete an annual needs assessment, and parent and business partners are surveyed to gain input for planning. Once stakeholder input is complete, the school leadership team prioritizes needs at the school level. Each schools prioritized needs assessment is reviewed by central office program directors and a single consolidated and prioritized system level needs assessment is developed which targets improved student achievement and all equity components. All initiatives in the Toombs County School System are designed to assist in meeting our goal of providing a quality education for all children.

One of the most important factors in increasing student achievement is a highly qualified teacher. No Child Left Behind requires all teachers of core academic areas to be highly qualified. Toombs County actively recruits highly qualified teachers. Teachers are recruited at job fairs, by posting vacancies on-line and through local board of education members who actively recruit teachers. When a teacher is hired who holds an NT certificate, a HiQ plan is developed and closely monitored to ensure the teacher meets the plans goal for obtaining a clear renewable certificate within the first three years of the five year NT certificate. Teachers are also notified they must immediately enroll in a program of study to maintain their highly qualified status during the first three years of the NT certificate.

All students deserve access to instruction by teachers who have equivalent experience. Toombs County strives to ensure continued equal access to experienced teachers for all students regardless of the demographics of the students served. New and inexperienced teachers are placed throughout the system to ensure that low income and minority students are not taught more frequently than other students by inexperienced teachers. The Title I comparability report is used, as well as data from teacher assignments, to help in analyzing and monitoring that minority and low income students are not taught at higher rates than other students by inexperienced and unqualified teachers.

In order to meet the diverse needs of our students, teachers are selected for employment based upon several factors including their ability to relate to the population of students we serve. Toombs County has a growing Hispanic/ELL population, and a very large economically disadvantaged population. Teachers participate in professional learning activities designed to better equip them to teach the students they serve. Ruby Paynes work has been the basis for county-wide training for students of poverty. All teachers in the Toombs County Schools are in the process of being trained in differentiated instruction to enable them to meet the needs of all the students in their classroom. If it is determined that a teacher is not using the differentiation strategies necessary to meet the needs of the students, the instructional coach will observe the teacher and give them strategies to implement. Instructional coaches will follow-up to make sure students are progressing in the acquisition of skills.

Retaining highly qualified teachers is a goal of the Toombs County School System. Teachers are given a local supplement based on training and experience, and they are provided free life insurance and free dental insurance. Teacher transfers from one school to another are granted within system if at all possible as a way to retain highly qualified teachers. Teachers may earn extra income by teaching extended day, after school and/or summer school. They may also coach extra curricular activites to supplement their income.

PUBLIC NOTICE

Students, parents, employees and the general public are hereby notified that the Toombs County Board of Education is an equal opportunity education institution and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, handicap and/or age in its activities, programs or employment practices [including Career, Technical and Agriculture Education (CTAE) {Vocational} Programs] as required by Title VI, Title IX and Section 504.  Lack of English language skills will not be a barrier to admission and participation in CTAE programs.

For information regarding civil rights or grievance procedures, contact Mrs. Sabrina Woodruff, Title VI and Title IX Coordinator or Carmen Roberts, 504 Coordinator at 117 East Wesley Avenue, Lyons, GA 30436, Telephone:
912-526-3141.

NOTICIA PUBLICA

A los estudiantes, padres, empleados y al público en general se les notifica que el Consejo de Educación del Condado de Toombs es una institución de igualdad en oportunidades educativas y no discriminará en base a raza, color, nacionalidad de origen, sexo, minusvalía y/o edad en sus actividades, programas, o prácticas de empleo [incluyendo Programas de Career, Technical and Agriculture Education (CTAE)- Educación de Carrera, Técnica, y Agricultural- {Vocacional} ] como es requerido por Título VI, Título IX y la Sección 504. Falta de destreza en el lenguage inglés no será una barrera para la admisión y participación en programas de CTAE.

Para información en cuanto a derechos civiles o procesos de quejas, contacte al Mrs. Sabrina Woodruff, Coordinador de Título VI y Título IX o Carmen Roberts, Coordinadora de la Sección 504 en 117 East Wesley Avenue, Lyons, GA 30436. Teléfono 912-526-3141.

This page last updated 02:57 pm Tuesday, September 7, 2010