Missoula County Public Schools Forward Thinking, High Achieving: 21st Century Initiative Phase 1: Review of Current Practices, Perceptions, and Perspectives

Missoula County Public Schools (MCPS), through its Forward Thinking, High Achieving: 21st Century
Initiative http://www.mcps.k12.mt.us/portal/Home/21stCenturySchoolsInitiative/tabid/3037/Default.aspx , is positioning its educational community to be among the best in the nation. MCPS seeks to
create a more engaging learning environment and context that will better prepare the children of
Missoula for the future. MCPS is using the contracted services of PCG Education to facilitate the
development of the initiative’s Master Plan.

Missoula County Public Schools (MCPS), through its Forward Thinking, High Achieving: 21st Century
Initiative, is positioning its educational community to be among the best in the nation. MCPS seeks to
create a more engaging learning environment and context that will better prepare the children of
Missoula for the future. Driven by local and global economic realities that require all students to reach
high levels of career preparedness, work collaboratively in teams, use technology, gain more
sophisticated reading, writing, and presentation skills, and be creative and critical thinkers, MCPS has
chosen to step forward to make certain that its K-12 educational program prepares all students to
succeed both in life and the world of work.

The guiding principles of the project are to generate broad consensus, secure support across
stakeholder groups, and mine the capacities of staff and community members to re-imagine an MCPS
educational system that will provide a motivating, achievement-oriented experience for all students,
staff, parents, and community members.

Prepared by PCG Education

Primary Authors:

Stephen Kutno, Ph.D.

Michelle LaPointe, Ph.D.

Elizabeth Chmielewski

Full Report: http://www.mcps.k12.mt.us/portal/Portals/0/21st%20century%20documents/MCPS%2021st%20Century%20Initiative%20Phase%201%20Report.pdf