Board Update: May 29, 2026

Testing & Accountability 

The DIBELS8 spring testing window closed in mid-May. This assessment is given in the fall, winter, and spring to students in grades K-3. It measures the acquisition of literacy skills. A higher percentage of students met the end-of-year benchmarks compared to the fall. Results are used to determine which students qualify for the Summer Academy. Spring results identified approximately 20% fewer students compared to winter results.  

Students in grades 9-11 completed the spring PSAT and SAT. A comparison of average gains in scale scores between grade 9 and grade 11 were made for three student cohorts: grade 9 2022 to grades 11 2024, grades 9 2023 to grade 11 2025 and grade 9 2024 to grades 11 2026. Each group made higher gains over the three-year period. Grade 11 SAT results are used to calculate the ELA and math performance indices for the Next Generation Accountability reports. 

Research & Analytics  

School Improvement Planning work continues, and schools have received updated templates for the 2026–27 school year. The Action Plan and Professional Learning Plan, which were previously separate documents, have now been combined into a single streamlined template. This new format shifts the focus from lengthy lists of tasks to a clearer articulation of the key action steps and the aligned professional learning that supports each school’s identified change ideas. Schools will receive completed examples of the template, along with additional training and support during this summer’s leadership sessions. Once final SBAC results are in, we will generate calculations to determine whether this year’s goals were met. Data analysis sessions are also being scheduled with schools to wrap-up this year’s SIP and kick off the needs assessment for next year.  

Portrait of a Graduate Phase III launch planning is underway, including preparation for the upcoming Summer Leadership Retreat. In support of the Phase III focus on developing self-directed learners, the district recently conducted a needs assessment to better understand the systems and supports currently in place for providing students with feedback on their Portrait of a Graduate skill development. Findings from the assessment indicated strong interest across schools in learning more about the use of student portfolios as a tool for both ongoing feedback and showcasing growth in Portrait of a Graduate competencies. To further inform this work, student and educator focus groups were conducted to identify current practices, successes, and opportunities related to portfolio implementation across schools. 

School Spotlight

Every year, CMS K-8 partners with Silvermine Arts Guild for various integrated activities. The 6th graders just completed their Creative Connections cultural enrichment unit.  Through this opportunity, CMS students had the opportunity to connect with students in Nigeria and India. The focus was centered on sharing our personal experiences through art. The teachers led discussions on what makes us unique. The children eventually came to the same conclusion: “We may look different, and our stories are varied, but we are all one people. We all deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.”  The children were asked to create artwork, focused on “My Story” which they shared with their international partners on Zoom.  

School Improvement Plans

This is an important time of year in the School Improvement Plan process.  After analyzing various mid-year data sets, Instructional Leadership Teams check in on the progress they are making towards their School Improvement Plan goals.  This process allows school leaders to identify any adjustments they need to make or supports they require to have an impactful second half of the year.

Facilities 

Facilities is actively preparing for the upcoming summer deep cleaning of all schools, with additional cleaning supplies and equipment already ordered to support this effort. Several capital projects are also scheduled for the summer, including student locker replacements at Ponus and Nathan Hale, as well as milling and paving of parking areas and drives at Brookside. In addition, a vendor has been selected for the air conditioning and electrical upgrades project at Wolfpit, which has been added to the June 2 Land Use meeting agenda for City approval. Planning for the underground storage tank (UST) removal project at 46 Concord will begin once written approval is received from the State.

School Safety

Mr. Goñez attended the CEN Conference on May 6–7, where valuable insights and strategies related to school safety and security were explored. As a result, the safety team is now evaluating new and innovative approaches to further strengthen the physical security of NPS buildings. Planning for summer school security has been completed, and updates to the RAPTOR emergency notification system are underway to ensure teachers, administrators, and staff working outside their home schools this summer are included. In preparation for graduation ceremonies, appropriate staffing arrangements have been made with Norwalk Police Department officers and EMS personnel. Additionally, a comprehensive review of the District’s Relocation/Reunification Plan is in progress, including the exploration of an alternate relocation site that would provide a more functional and secure campus in the event of a relocation or reunification situation.

School Health 

On May 14, all audiometers used for the annual state-mandated hearing screenings were serviced to ensure they remain in proper working condition. On May 15, School Health Services received a replenishment supply of Naloxone (Narcan), an opioid antagonist used to rapidly reverse or reduce the effects of opioids, along with additional opioid overdose rescue kits. Every school throughout the district remains stocked with Narcan for use in the event of a suspected opioid emergency. In addition, interviews are currently underway to fill the full-time school nurse vacancy resulting from a recent nurse retirement. The state-mandated asthma survey has also been completed and successfully submitted.

Transportation 

We are rolling out!  The Transportation Office will relocate, along with the Family Center, to 46 Concord St effective Monday, June 1!  If you are attempting to reach us during the move, please send an email to transportation@norwalkps.org , we should be cozy in our new home at the end of next week. Thank you for your patience during this transitional time.   

Transportation is also preparing for Summer Programming to begin July 6.  Bus routes will be available via NPS website the week of June 22nd. Routes are scheduled specifically for summer programming and based on student enrollment; your student may be assigned to a different stop than the regular school year.   Extended School Year information will be mailed out to families once available. 

Grants

Upcoming Grant Possibilities:   

Project A.W.A.R.E and Trauma-Informed Schools Grant. Both grants will not be active until May 29th, with a 30-day turnaround time. We will be working with Mid-Fairfield staff on these grant possibilities.   

Innovative Approaches to Literacy is another grant that is being pursued. We sent a letter of intent to apply 

High Quality Special Education Incentives Grant-This grant has not become active, but review materials have been sent and are currently being viewed. 

Nellie Mae Theater Grant is a grant the Team is looking to pursue again

Humanities

Our middle school winners and honorable mentions from the Words in Transit Poetry Contest in collaboration with Norwalk Transit were presented with their poem and artwork designs at the City Art Show last week. A winning poem from each middle school will be installed on the back of a Norwalk Transit bus this week and will run throughout the summer.

STEM

The science pilot in grades K-5 is continuing with another Building Blocks of science unit.  Kindergarten students are learning about forces and motion through hands-on learning activities and students in grade 4 are learning about plant and animal structures through investigations of squids.  The feedback collected and the academic vocabulary being used in piloting classrooms is reinforcing the decision to roll out a new science resource across the district next year.

Elementary math coaches are collaborating with CO this week to continue to strengthen and refine math pacing guides.  This includes adding unit letters for parents about goals, ensuring there are hand on centers to reinforce learning, and adjusting and adapting assessment questions to align with goals and major work of the grade, in alignment with achieve the core.

Family Center

The Family Center will be moving to our new location at 46 Concord Street and we are excited to welcome you to our new space on Monday, June 8th!

Marine Science

It has been an incredibly busy and rewarding spring for the Brien McMahon High School Marine Science Academy. Our students are getting out of the classroom, getting their hands dirty, and applying what they learn to real-world projects.

Our students are learning the ins and outs of aquaculture firsthand! Partnering with The Maritime Aquarium and Copps Island Oysters, they are building small-scale oyster beds at Veteran’s Memorial Park. Guided by a fourth-generation oyster farmer, students are raising oysters that will eventually be moved offshore to rebuild natural reefs. While doing this, they are also collecting valuable field data for the city on oyster growth, vegetation, and shoreline erosion.

School Counseling & Workforce Development

The CT MTSS-SEB Committee, RISE, and Social Emotional Health Planning Meetings continue at the district for the School Counseling Department Head, as well as attendance at the Talk Tuesday Attendance series. School Counselors in Grades 8 - 12 are finishing up their Scholar Meeting Trackers with an end date of June 1st, 2026. A scholar and family support tool has been developed by RISE and shared with all high school counselors to share with their senior community relative to the opportunity for Free Community College. Our School Counselors in our transitional grades had an opportunity to attend School Counselor Articulation Meetings in person as we think forward to next year. In partnership with NPS, provided by CT State Norwalk, and sponsored by the Norwalk Education Foundation (NEF), we will host three College & University Workshops for current Juniors who have indicated a 2- or 4-year College & University plan in their Class of 2027 RISE Survey. Our first Junior Workshops will be hosted at Norwalk High School/P-TECH and Brien McMahon/Center for Global Studies in the Career Center in June. The Superintendents’ Student Council is hard at work on their Spring Projects. The College & Career Specialists are supporting the Class of 2026 Post-Secondary Plans, and the Class of 2027 College & University Workshops, to name a few.

The Red Fashion School has offered another two classes in May for our scholars to apply for free, if they wish. One class is for scholars interested in Printmaking and Sewing, while the other class is for Photography, Production, and Styling. The CT State Norwalk College for Kids course catalog is available for Grades 1-11, and the classes are more exciting than ever! Seats are limited, so call or email today to reserve your seat! We are piloting an OSHA 10 Construction Online Training Course. Junior and Senior Scholars have been invited to enroll based on their RISE Survey Tier 2 Post Secondary Planning data. Interested scholars should check their NPS Emails for an invitation. The OSHA 10 Hour course is designed to teach entry-level workers how to identify, avoid, and prevent on-site hazards. It focuses on construction standards and rules, such as fall protection, scaffolding, and electrical safety.

Interested Juniors, who have selected Trade/Technical School on their Junior RISE Survey, should check their NPS Emails for more information, as there are limited seats available. At NPS, we have always centered our Workforce Development work around the 16 National Career Clusters. The State Department of Education has adopted the newly updated 14 National Career Clusters, which we will use district-wide. The School Counseling Scheduling Guide is being created for school counselors to assist them in scheduling our scholars in the various career clusters. For all NPS Workforce Development Opportunities and more, visit www.norwalkps.org/careertraining. Please be sure to bookmark the site and check back regularly for new and exciting opportunities!

Early Childhood Education

As part of the Norwalk Public Schools Early Childhood Special Education program, compliance with the Connecticut State Department of Education requires our Pre-Kindergarten teams to complete an End-of-Year Early Childhood Outcomes (ECO) summary for all students under an Individualized Education Program (IEP).

The primary purpose of the ECO framework is to provide a standardized, longitudinal measure of a child's developmental and functional growth. It provides progress by comparing the student's baseline performance data established at program entry against their summative performance data captured upon exiting the NPS Pre-Kindergarten program.The NPS Early Childhood team utilized the Brigance Early Childhood Screen, structured classroom observations, and ongoing progress monitoring to evaluate student development across three critical functional domains:

• Development of Positive Social-Emotional Skills.
• Acquisition and Use of Knowledge and Skills.
• Use of Appropriate Behaviors to Meet Personal Needs. 

The data provides student progress within their natural, inclusive Pre-Kindergarten environments. The team establishes the necessary foundation to document student growth and assist in designing seamless transitions into public school kindergarten.

Specialized Learning

The Specialized Learning Department offered its fourth professional learning opportunity for staff on May 26, 2026.  The offerings included how to triangulate data from assessments to justify reading interventions, explaining complex scores to parents, as well as a presentation on Sped law and procedures.  It was well attended by staff and they had a great learning experience.

The final Parent Advisory Group will be held on June 3, 2026 at 6:30 in Central Office Room 330.  It is in person, but there will also be a virtual option available for all to attend.  We are looking forward to a great meeting! 

 Enterprise Software

This month, the AI vendor-vetting agreement was updated, polished, and combined with the Data Privacy Agreement required for any new digital product. This will help ensure that new tools are reviewed consistently and meet district expectations for privacy, security, and responsible use.

Work is also continuing on moving Staff Portal content into the Google Workspace environment. As part of this transition, the content is being reviewed and cleaned up to make it more concise, organized, and useful for staff.

In addition, daily support continues to be provided to end users across the district, with a current focus on end-of-year testing login issues and platform access. This support remains a priority to help ensure staff and students can access the tools they need during this busy time of year.

Digital Learning

Fox Run’s Technovation girls tackled a pressing real-world challenge and set out to devise a solution aimed at assisting others. In light of the increasing prevalence of violence, these fifth graders developed an app designed to facilitate communication, reporting, and coping strategies during emergency situations. They achieved 2nd place in the Technovation competition at Brookside Elementary.

During the Library Media Specialist PD on May 27th, the high school Library Media Specialists (Beverly Boyd and Janet Caiola) gave accolades to the elementary and middle school LMS’s for preparing students with a strong foundation in the research process, noting that the freshmen this year are demonstrating a clear understanding of research skills, academic inquiry, and knowledge of research platforms utilized in the district.

Jefferson Elementary School GT and LMS teacher Maria Paris recently was awarded funding to send four marine science teachers to participate in intensive California Coastal Marine Ecology professional development programs. This week-long field research experience along California's coast will provide them with authentic scientific expertise in kelp forests, coral reef ecosystems, island biodiversity, and marine mammal behavior, enabling them to model genuine inquiry for students and strengthen the K-12 marine science pathway that begins at our school. Funding of $20,000 was granted through the Mary Fitch Grant as well as the Fund for Teachers Fellowship.  This funding follows other grants she has applied for and received, providing an additional $20,000 dollars for such initiatives as their Community Garden as well as an USA Swimming program.

Budget

This week in Budget, the 25–26 GL Summaries were updated and distributed for schools and central office departments. Meetings were also held with schools and departments to discuss 25–26 remaining year expenses. In addition, special education invoices, district-wide journal entries, and budget transfers were processed, while open purchase orders were reviewed to determine whether they can be decreased and closed.

Grants

This week in Grants, several final fund requests were reconciled and submitted to close out the year. Current school-year funding was also analyzed and reconciled to determine projected year-end balances, identify funds that still need to be expended, and determine which funds will need to be carried over into next year.

Additionally, meetings were held with the SPED team to support the IDEA grant preparation process by pulling salary and benefits data and providing updated staff rosters to assist with next year’s IDEA grant submission.

Purchasing & Accounts Payable

This week in Purchasing & Accounts Payable, purchase orders for all schools and Central Office departments were reviewed to support year-end budget monitoring and identify purchase orders that can be decreased or closed before the fiscal year-end.

The department also distributed the End-of-Year Closeout and Final Purchase Order memorandum to schools and departments, providing guidance on important purchasing deadlines, final purchase order requirements, and year-end accounts payable procedures.

Payroll & Benefits

This week in Payroll & Benefits, Open Enrollment continued for all staff, with the exception of NFT members. Employees are encouraged to review their benefit options and submit any necessary changes within the enrollment period.

The department also continued development of the new Google platform, which will provide employees with easier access to payroll and benefits forms, resources, and important information in one centralized location.

In addition, work continued on goals and initiatives for the upcoming school year to further improve services and support for all staff.