Innovation School Plan

Overview

John J. Duggan Academy is seeking designation as an Innovation School under Massachusetts General Law (M.G.L. c.71, §92) as part of the Innovation Schools of Springfield Public Schools (ISSPS) initiative. This plan describes how Duggan Academy will use approved autonomies and flexibilities to strengthen academic programming, expand post-secondary pathways, and sustain the partnerships and instructional practices that have driven student achievement.

Mission & Vision

Mission: John J. Duggan Academy will provide a rigorous academic program that fosters character, inquiry, reflection, and a mastery of learning standards with a focus on literacy in content and building a positive school culture.

Vision: Duggan Academy is a community dedicated to upholding high academic expectations through authentic learning experiences. Duggan students are prepared for the next step in their education and careers by attaining academic success and demonstrating exemplary character. Our graduates are responsible, inspired, and compassionate contributors to our ever-changing world.

Why Innovation School Status?

Duggan Academy seeks Innovation School status to preserve and strengthen the instructional structures, partnerships, and autonomies that have been critical to advancing student achievement and expanding post-secondary pathways. A central pillar of Duggan's success is the intentional integration of enrichment partnerships that extend learning beyond the traditional classroom, allowing students to engage in authentic, real-world applications of academic content.

Additionally, Duggan's Early College program provides structured access to college-level coursework while students are still enrolled in high school — reducing barriers to higher education and fostering a college-going culture. Innovation status ensures the scheduling, staffing, and instructional design flexibility needed to sustain and grow these programs.

Community Partnerships

Duggan Academy partners with a range of organizations to enrich student learning and build real-world skills, including the Community Music School (arts and cultural engagement), NFTE – Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (entrepreneurial skills), Signing Basic (ASL and deaf community engagement), Cooler Communities (civic leadership), and Western New England University School of Law Mock Trial (trial advocacy and competition).

Key School Autonomies

As an Innovation School, Duggan Academy will exercise carefully defined autonomies in the following areas, all consistent with district accountability requirements and Massachusetts state law:

Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment — School-level flexibility to select instructional materials, sequence curriculum, and design assessment practices aligned to Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks and student needs. Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) guide instructional decisions using real-time student data.

Scheduling — Autonomy to design the school schedule to include longer instructional blocks, embedded intervention periods, shared teacher planning time, and professional development structures that directly support student achievement.

Staffing — Flexibility in recruitment, hiring, and role design to ensure that staff are uniquely positioned to meet both student needs and the school's instructional priorities.

Professional Development — School-tailored PD aligned with identified student achievement data and instructional priorities, rather than a one-size-fits-all district model.

Budget — School-based budget flexibility to direct resources toward school-specific improvement strategies and respond swiftly to emerging student needs.

Policy — Limited flexibility to implement district policies in ways responsive to school-specific context, while remaining fully compliant with all applicable laws and Springfield Public Schools requirements.

Measurable Annual Goals

Duggan Academy has established the following state-required annual goals to track progress and maintain accountability: a 92.2% student attendance rate (grades 6–12); a 91.3% graduation rate; and a 55th Student Growth Percentile (SGP) target on MCAS across student achievement, subgroup performance, and reduction of achievement gaps.

Stakeholder Engagement

The Innovation Plan was developed through a collaborative process involving school leadership, teachers, parents, and district representatives. The Innovation Plan Committee includes Principal April Robinson (Chair), Superintendent Designee Michael Calvanese, School Committee Member Rosa Valentin, parent representative Kaine Compton, and several teachers nominated by the Springfield Education Association and Teacher Leadership Team. Community input was gathered through parent focus groups, family surveys, staff Insight Surveys, and Advisory Board meetings.