2025-2030 SPS Strategic Plan


The district's 2025-2030 Strategic Plan focuses on four major priorities, including excellence in academics, promoting equity and access, fostering wellness and joy among both students and staff, and proactively engaging SPS families and the Somerville community at large. 

Under the direction of Superintendent Carmona, the plan was shaped through the collaborative efforts of our students, staff, and families, and builds on our district’s longstanding commitment to ensuring that every child has the opportunity to achieve academic excellence and experience the joy of learning in a safe, welcoming environment.
 


DOCUMENTS

Download the Strategic Plan
Strategic Plan Dashboard 
Strategic Plan School Committee Presentation (9/24)
Strategic Plan Launch (12/24)
Early Plan Findings
2025 Progress Report (December 2025) (coming soon)


AREAS OF GROWTH (summary)

Students, families, and staff shared broadly positive feedback, highlighting a joy in learning, the expertise of educators, and a strong sense of community across SPS. Families and students expressed appreciation for the district’s focus on social-emotional learning, student well-being, out-of-school-time opportunities such as clubs, athletics, child care, and the strength of Career and Technical Education programs, while also noting a desire for continued investment. 

Staff valued the structure and quality of professional development, coaching, and leadership opportunities, as well as robust interpretation and translation services that support family engagement. Overall, respondents celebrated SPS’s diverse student population, neighborhood feel, and the meaningful relationships that define its culture.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVEMENT (summary)

Staff identified a need to strengthen the use of evidence-based curricula, effective instructional practices, and MTSS, while students and families called for a more diverse and representative staff. There was also a shared desire for expanded out-of-school-time programming and youth spaces, particularly for middle grades, along with concerns about access to CTE for multilingual students due to language barriers. 

Staff and families emphasized the need to better engage and amplify the voices of multilingual, diverse, and underrepresented families, with some families reporting feelings of invisibility and a need for clearer school- and district-level communication. Finally, while many appreciated updated facilities, members of the Winter Hill and Brown school communities expressed ongoing facility needs.


Read a quick, 2-page summary of the plan in English, Spanish, Portuguese, or Haitian Creole. 

 

Priorities and Progress

 


Priority 1 is centered on Academic Excellence, with the goal of implementing high-quality curriculum, increased instructional rigor, providing targeted support for students, and creating the “portrait of an SPS learner.” 

Key accomplishments in Year One included:

  • Appointing a full-time MTSS Specialist to align & strengthen systems.
  • Engaging Sonday Systems multi-sensory reading training for special ed and ESL educators.
  • Creating a regular cadence of Principal meetings, which drive improved practice through instructional rounds.
  • Establishing Common Planning Time, a meaningful collaboration for educators to plan for their students.
  • Participation in the Lynch Leadership Academy for all principals, APs, and other administrators. 

 


Priority 2 involves Equity & Access, focused on strengthening workforce diversity, increasing access to out-of-school time programs, CTE. and SCALE programs, and ensuring access to safe and welcoming facilities.

Key accomplishments in Year One included:

  • Addition of a new district production kitchen, AFA classroom, and Accessibility ramp at Winter Hill
  • Issuance of a Cummings MOU for use and District swing space planning
  • Conducted annual walkthroughs of school facilities with City departments (DPW, ISD, IAM)
  • Appointment of a new Facilities Coordinator
  • Hosted an Annual Diversity Recruitment Fair
  • Established strategic partnerships with local universities (e.g. HGSE student teacher)
  • Increased OST, SCALE, and CTE enrollment
  • Enhanced SCALE programming including:
    • High school equivalency programming;
    • Bridge to College
    • Added ESOL Certified Nursing Assistant and Early Childhood
    • Facilities Maintenance and HVAC
    • Pre-apprenticeship program

 


Priority 3 emphasizes Wellness and Joy by implementing high-quality curriculum that promote wellness, proactive response to students’ social emotional needs, increasing clubs, athletics, and out-of-school time offerings, and celebrating SPS educators and leaders.

Key accomplishments in Year One included:

  • Fully implementing Second Step PreK-8 curriculum
  • Placement of SEL Specialist in every PreK-8 building to support all SEL Programming
  • Establishing a SEL Block on schedule in every building (including SHS)
  • Creation of a Social Emotional Behavioral Support team
  • Addition of two full-time Prevention and Intervention Specialists districtwide
  • Expanded mediation team (80 middle and high school)
  • Launched Annual Staff Recognition Ceremony
  • Expanded club offerings at many schools
  • Fostered Community Circles in every school (daily or weekly)
     


Priority 4 enhances Family & Community Engagement by streamlining communication with families, partnering with families to support student success, and aligning with local universities, businesses and community members. 

Key accomplishments in Year One included:

  • Coordinated second annual Get Ready for School Fair
  • Advocated for and secured funding to support additional food resources
  • Presence at monthly markets for community partners to share key resources with families
  • Collaborated with PTAs to distribute grocery gift cards to families impacted by food insecurity
  • Partnered with Food for Free and the Healey School community to launch a third monthly food market
  • Strengthen partnerships with the Growing Center, EPH, Strategies for Children, SPL, C2C, Bullpen
  • Launched Family Listening Sessions to promote community feedback
  • Developed a Kindergarten Transition roadmap

 

LOOKING AHEAD...

The district will continue to:

  • Implement aspects of the Strategic Plan, including: School Improvement Plans, Professional development, and Progress monitoring
  • Use data to drive decision-making with bi-annual updates to the School Committee, including: Data dashboard, Open Architects
  • Engage students, staff, families, and community partners through: Listening sessions, Website updates, Working groups