There are periodicals and ample audio visual materials for teacher and student check- out. During 1996-97 students checked out over 11,800 books. The staff development program for the year is designed to meet the areas of need for instructional improvement and for the implementation of new frameworks and instructional materials. We implemented class size reduction at grades K-3. Inservice is provided for all staff at both the district level and individual school sites.
Categorical funds provide the opportunity for teachers to attend conferences.
Eleven staff development days have been scheduled by the district over a three-year period. The teachers provide leadership in curriculum improvement by serving on committees for curriculum revision, analyzing test results, studying frameworks, setting standards and expectations, textbook adoption and technology. In addition to classroom teachers, students at Stratford also receive services from a highly qualified non-instructional support staff, which includes a psychologist on campus one half day per week, a counselor on campus one day a week, a nurse on campus 1 day per week, a full time resource specialist , a speech language specialist on campus 1 day per week, and a Primary Intervention Program on campus 3 hours per day for 5 days a week. Students diagnosed to have special needs are provided specific services or programs to enhance their success. Parents are involved in all of these processes and are kept fully informed of their child's progress.