Annual Performance Report SY18 (2017-2018)
Thank you for making time to learn how Windham School District (WSD) is growing.
Windham School District programs, outlined in this annual performance report, support the ongoing transformation of our students as they transition out of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ). A strategic planning session five years ago sparked the diligent work Windham continues to do in order to upgrade the program offerings and enhance the learning opportunities for students.
The plan, developed by staff members, teachers, administrators, and stakeholders, created a vision of what Windham should be. We used extensive data analysis to determine where programs could improve with better outcomes. The implementation of the strategic plan required changes to curricula, new teaching materials, and expansion of program offerings. It also required significant restructuring to achieve set goals. Since recidivism is measured three years after release, the results have now started to appear, showing positive gains in all areas of programming.
Windham completely revised the Cognitive Intervention Program (CIP) and Changing Habits and Achieving New Goals to Empower Success (CHANGES) curricula to provide research-based strategies and assessments to measure student gains. In the past, these courses provided benefits over time, but with the new additions, individual behavior changes can be measured more accurately and in a timelier manner. The outcomes of the current programs, fully implemented in the 2017-18 school year, will begin providing beneficial proof of these revisions.
Academic gains in the 2017-18 school year continue to show some of the highest results in the nation among correctional education programs. Students can expect to see more than two years gain academically in literacy classes for every one year of study–630 hours of classroom instruction. Windham completed the implementation of computer-based testing for the High School Equivalency Certificate (HSE) in 2017-18, which allows students to test and receive results more quickly.
Extensive vocational programming continued to grow, reaching more students and providing essential credentials and skills needed for them to gain high-paying jobs after release. The program expanded the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) occupation training and provided more opportunities for female students. The continued expansion of Computerized Numerical Control (CNC) machining and telecommunications connectivity opened up new career paths for all students. In addition, the expansion of non-traditional job skills training for females in the 2017-18 school year included electrical trades, cabinetmaking, and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC). The number of female-offered trade certification courses has doubled to 22 programs over the past five years. During that same time, Windham programs saw a 470 percent increase in the number of industry-recognized certifications awarded to females, according to last year’s certification data. Windham continues to enhance programs in all areas and expand opportunities for employment by connecting with employers to obtain guidance on program changes and job connections for releasing students.
This report shows the progress of the change efforts occurring within Windham. This team effort from Windham staff, TDCJ, and external stakeholders fuels the continued improvement of our district and students. We are proud of the work everyone does to make Windham a top-performing correctional education program, and we look forward to continued improvement in support of our shared mission.
Dr. Clint Carpenter,
Superintendent, Windham School District
Current APR 2017 - 2018:
Printer Friendly Version - High Resolution (50.3 MB)