What is ‘Dreams4RPS’ and what does it mean for Richmond Public Schools?

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- The Richmond School Board approved the final draft of the ambitious "Dreams4RPS" plan Monday night -- but what is it and what does it mean for the future of Richmond Public Schools?

"Dreams4RPS: Let's Keep Dreaming" is presented as a list of goals and an outline of priorities for Richmond's school district. It focuses on trying to improve student outcomes by enhancing school programming, improving facilities and providing more support for teachers, among a host of other "dreams."

On Monday, Oct. 7, its school board approved the plan nearly unanimously, with 3rd district representative Kenya Gibson abstaining. Gibson said she could not vote in favor of the plan because it does not have an accompanying budget as of yet.

Keep scrolling for a breakdown of Dreams4RPS.

Dreams4RPS' list of 10 main goals

Dreams4RPS outlines 10 main goals described as "research-based, ambitious and realistic targets for the next 5 years" within board documents. They are reportedly informed by data from the 2023-24 school year.

All 10 metrics are areas that the school division wants to focus on improving.

Dreams4RPS final plan approved on Oct. 7 by the Richmond School Board. (Photo: Richmond Public Schools)

The "3 Big Goals" outlined in Dreams4RPS are "School Ratings," "Graduation" and "Academics."

The "Other Key Goals," otherwise known as the 4th through 10th goals, are "Equity," "Teacher Retention," "Satisfaction," "Enrollment & Diversity," "Attendance," "Climate" and "Funding."

All of those items except for the "Diversity" item have a noted metric. Additionally, regarding "School Ratings," the board noted that the Virginia Department of Education's new accountability system will require the school division to establish a new baseline, as it fundamentally changes the way schools are assessed.

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Dreams4RPS' five priorities and their "Big Bets"

Then, Dreams4RPS describes five priority items, which are each accompanied by five so-called "Big Bets" -- or ways the school division plans to make these priorities happen.

These priorities go into great detail, describing "dreams" like staff raises, several new technologies, high school redesigns, literacy programs and much more.

Priority #1: "Exciting and Rigorous Teaching and Learning"

The first priority is "Exciting and Rigorous Teaching and Learning." Here's how Richmond Public Schools plans to make that a reality:

Dreams4RPS final plan approved on Oct. 7 by the Richmond School Board. (Photo: Richmond Public Schools)

Dreams4RPS final plan approved on Oct. 7 by the Richmond School Board. (Photo: Richmond Public Schools)

1. "Passion4Reading" Reading Program
   • Described as a "moonshot" effort to get 100% of Richmond's 3rd graders reading "proficiently and joyfully"
   • To involve comprehensive training, family workshops, investment in home libraries from preschool to 3rd grade and higher pay rates for expert reading teachers at Richmond's "highest need schools"
2. "Passion4Learning" High School Redesign Program
   • Described as the "complete redesign" of the school district's comprehensive high schools that will "[anchor] them in a rigorous theme-based programming" that focuses on collaboration, hands-on learning and post-graduation preparation
   • This will include Armstong High, Huguenot High, New Maury Street High, Richmond High School of the Arts, John Marshall High and Thomas Jefferson High
   • Themes vary by school
3. Special Education
   • Described as "[continuing] to prioritize meeting the unique needs of students with disabilities"
   • To involve additional training for both special and general education teachers, expanded training for families on the 504 and Individual Education Program (IEP) plans and specialized programming for students who have both learning disabilities and advanced abilities (or "twice exceptional" students)
4. Multilingual Learners
   • Described as "[continuing] to prioritize meeting the unique needs of [Richmond's] multilingual learners"
   • To involve hiring more Language Instruction Education Program teachers,, dual language programs at additional elementary schools and an expansion to middle and high schools, a new Spanish Immersion Center, a "Family Advocacy and Literacy Series" at high-multilingual population levels and "yearlong orientations" for recent immigrant families
5. Extended Learning Time (ex. RPS200)
   • Described as "[continuing] to prioritize extended learning time opportunities," including things like RPS200
   • To involve an independent research study of RPS200, additional after-school and weekend experiences for students and additional summer school programming

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Priority #2: "Skilled and Supported Staff"

The second priority is "Skilled and Supported Staff." Here's how Richmond Public Schools plans to make that a reality:

Dreams4RPS final plan approved on Oct. 7 by the Richmond School Board. (Photo: Richmond Public Schools)

Dreams4RPS final plan approved on Oct. 7 by the Richmond School Board. (Photo: Richmond Public Schools)

1. "Passion4Teaching," Zero Teacher Vacancies
   • Described as an effort to reduce teacher vacancies to zero
   • To involve leadership training, targeted outreach efforts to increase retention and the expansion of the division's recruitment team
   • Will also involve the expansion of the Supportive & Empowering Educator Development (SEED) program to help instructional assistants and long-term substitute teachers become fully licensed teachers
2. "RVAMenTeach" expansion
   • Described as a program meant to increase number of male teachers of color
   • To involve increased retention efforts for this demographic, expanded partnerships with Historically Black Colleges and Universities and a new program to help both Black and Latino male students interested in education become teachers
3. Leadership Development
   • Described as an internal leadership program that will train instructional coaches, assistant principals, principals and central office leaders
   • To involve residency experience for aspiring leaders and partnership with management and education graduate schools to provide graduate-level training
4. Compensation
   • Described as "[continuing] to invest in teachers to ensure they are the highest paid in the Commonwealth"
   • To involve expanded bonuses and base salary increases for teachers in "highest poverty and hardest-to-staff schools" and an external review of compensation and benefits to ensure competitiveness
   • Will also include advocating that the General Assembly funds the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC)'s K-12 education funding study
5. Customer Service
   • Described as "[continuing] to refine central office practices"
   • To involve developing clear customer service standards, annual feedback collection and review, commitment to a two-business-day response time and the elimination of as many paper forms as possible

Priority #3: "Safe, Healthy and Loving School Culture"

The third priority is "Safe, Healthy and Loving School Culture." Here's how Richmond Public Schools plans to make that a reality:

Dreams4RPS final plan approved on Oct. 7 by the Richmond School Board. (Photo: Richmond Public Schools)

Dreams4RPS final plan approved on Oct. 7 by the Richmond School Board. (Photo: Richmond Public Schools)

1. Student Mental Health
   • Described as the implementation of "evidence-based wellness and anti-bullying programs"
   • To involve emotional and stress management training for all students, age-appropriate training on bullying and adding additional clinical mental health services
2. Trauma Responsiveness
   • Described as the training and certification of all schools on trauma response practices
   • To involve training all school-based staff and relevant central office staff on "the nature of trauma, its prevalence among students and staff [and] its potential impact on teaching and learning," as well as how to support those coping with it
   • Will also involve the certification of and increased compensation for staff who become "expert" in these practices
3. 6th/9th Grade Transitions
   • Described as the development of "6th and 9th grade academies" to promote belonging and successes
   • To involve programming to ease shifting to a new school and instruction in time management, note-taking and study habits
   • Will also include "enhanced exposure to clubs, athletic and specialized supports"
4. Food
   • Described as an effort to "develop the most delicious, nutritious and culturally diverse meal program in the Commonwealth"
   • To involve having students participate in meal planning and collaborations with registered dieticians and nutritionists
   • Will also include partnerships with local restaurants to "adopt" schools and provide new meal options, as well as support the training of staff
5. Athletics and Activities
   • Described as "[ensuring] all Virginia High School League sports and activities are offered to all middle and high school students"
   • To involve expanding partnerships with local business to acquire sponsorships, potential upgrades and/or renovations for existing facilities, further allocation of funding and widely celebrating team achievements

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Priority #4: "Deep Partnership with Families & Community"

The fourth priority is "Deep Partnership with Families & Community." Here's how Richmond Public Schools plans to make that a reality:

Dreams4RPS final plan approved on Oct. 7 by the Richmond School Board. (Photo: Richmond Public Schools)

Dreams4RPS final plan approved on Oct. 7 by the Richmond School Board. (Photo: Richmond Public Schools)

1. Attendance
   • Described as an effort to "foster strong student attendance"
   • To involve giving schools additional money for attendance incentives, returning to the "teacher home visit pilot" that was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic and adding more family liaisons, especially bilingual ones
2. PTAs/PTOs
   • Described as supporting Parent Teacher Associations/Organizations and ensuring there is one at all schools
   • To involve training those interested in leadership roles, providing additional funding and "intentional involvement of [PTAs/PTOs] in key decisions of the school community"
3. Community Partnership
   • Described as an effort to involve community partners in "Passion4Reading" and "Passion4Learning" efforts
   • To involve engaging with college students, retired professionals and others interested in assisting with Passion4Reading
   • To involve paid internships, student learning experiences, access to industry professionals and employee pathways for Passion4Learning
4. Telling Our Story
   • Described as "[amplifying] stories about the greatness inherent in our students"
   • To involve creating more in-depth profiles of students and staff (ex. more video stories in RPS Direct and on social media), celebrating students more widely and enhancing school-based communications
5. Richmond/RPS History
   • Described as "[training] all staff on the history of Richmond and [the school division]"
   • To involve a "multi-part professional learning series," an "in-depth focus on the history of K-12 education access, funding and governance" and a spotlight on those who worked to create "a more just and equitable Richmond"

Priority #5: "Modern Systems & Infrastructure"

The fifth priority is "Modern Systems & Infrastructure." Here's how Richmond Public Schools plans to make that a reality:

Dreams4RPS final plan approved on Oct. 7 by the Richmond School Board. (Photo: Richmond Public Schools)

Dreams4RPS final plan approved on Oct. 7 by the Richmond School Board. (Photo: Richmond Public Schools)

1. Facilities
   • Described as creating a new master facilities plan
   • To involve alleviating overcrowding on the Southside (including ending the use of learning trailers), creating an annual maintenance schedule and adding "green" technologies
2. Building Safety and Maintenance
   • Described as "[continuing] to invest in building maintenance," especially cleanliness and safety
   • To involve investing further in things like cameras, intercoms, alarms and other safety infrastructures
   • Will also include adding additional custodians and "greater transparency" on supply availabilities in buildings
3. Systems
   • Described as implementing a new student information system
   • To involve procuring that system, providing extensive training and integrating it with already-existing technologies in the school division
4. Transportation
   • Described as "[continuing] to improve on-time arrival rate, enhance student and family experience and prepare for electric buses"
   • To involve a full implementation of a student ID system to track student ridership, adding both drivers and buses, developing a public-facing on-time arrival dashboard and creating "a new, larger transportation central depot" with electric vehicle charging
5. Technology
   • Described as updating technology standards across the district, including "a robust AI plan"
   • To involve developing an "artificial intelligence task force," training students on the policy that task force creates and investing in cybersecurity