This another in a series of articles about the REIMAGINING EDUCATION initiative at Des Moines Public Schools, looking at various aspects of this work, from why it is underway in the first place to how it could improve education for our students and community. In this article we look at how DMPS is already reimagining education, from piloting K-6 schools to expanding expanding preschool is part of this effort, to help more students and families have a great start to their academic journey at Des Moines Public Schools.

As work continues to look at ways to improve outcomes in the future for students while addressing the district’s declining enrollment, Des Moines Public Schools is already moving ahead with innovative programs designed to help current students and reimagine education.

Today, you can see efforts underway to improve learning outcomes for students:

Piloting a K-6 Elementary School
Findley Elementary is the first school in DMPS to try a new grade configuration that goes from kindergarten through sixth grade, starting with the current school year. Research shows that adding sixth grade to the elementary school can lead to academic and social benefits for students.

The district is partnering with the Findley staff to learn from sixth graders and their families about how to best expand this grade configuration to other schools in a way that leads to greater success for students.

Increasing Access to Preschool
The data is clear that students who get to experience preschool do better in kindergarten and throughout their educational careers. This is why DMPS is working to increase families’ access to this important opportunity for their children.

This school year, DMPS added new locations for preschool and started piloting a new program to provide transportation for students at selected locations. The hope for these programs is to learn from them and be able to apply those lessons as DMPS continues to expand preschool in the future, with the goal of providing early childhood education for all Des Moines children.

Expanding Access to Montessori Programs
For years, Cowles Montessori School in DMPS, which is Iowa’s first Montessori school, has educated students from kindergarten through eighth grade with an empowering learning environment centered on collaboration and exploration of the world around them.

Cowles also provides Montessori preschool classrooms, and this year, DMPS expanded its Montessori preschool to include Pleasant Hill Elementary. Now DMPS is looking to expand this popular option to other elementary schools.

This year, Findley Elementary introduced Montessori education for its students from kindergarten through fifth grade, and the lessons that staff learn from this pilot program will help guide future program expansions.

Developing Diploma Plus
DMPS wants to motivate and inspire students from preschool through graduation, while preparing them for success after graduation. That is why district leaders are working hard to develop the Diploma Plus program.

Diploma Plus would give every DMPS student a clear pathway to explore their interests and prepare for career, college or whatever is next for them. The learning would start in preschool with important life skills and build throughout all the grade levels. By the time they graduate, students would have multiple opportunities to help them prepare for the future, resulting in special Diploma Plus distinctions.

In Summary
The work of the Facility Planning Committee’s Reimagining Education will build on this work already underway in DMPS schools, expanding on these efforts to give each student access to innovative, inspiring opportunities.

For the educators working on these opportunities, the work is thrilling. As she considered the programs she is piloting at her school, Findley Principal Dr. Barb Adams said in our recent podcast, “I have never been more excited being in the public school system.”

Read more about Reimagining Education at Des Moines Public Schools

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