We have several district actions designed to serve the needs of our diverse learners.

We recognize that: 

• Learning is best supported in school climates based on respect, responsibility, and repair of harm.  
  • We are implementing restorative practices in our schools, promoting positive discipline focused on the power of relationships and the community. 
• Students need multiple opportunities to demonstrate learning. 
  • Inclusionary learning environments make this possible, empowering student engagement, learning, and growth. Inclusionary practices such as Universal Design for Learning ensure variability in instruction, so all students can succeed.  
• Strengthening early literacy skills gives students an essential foundation for academic success. 
  • The MTSS-R Reading Study helps teachers develop effective reading instruction and interventions across all first- and second-grade classrooms. 
• Clear communication, responsible decision-making, practical problem-solving, and relationship building can directly impact academic achievement.  
  • Social-emotional learning provides students with a foundation for positive and safe learning and success in school and life.     
• Consistent classroom evaluation practices and reliable family communications about student performance improve student outcomes. 
  • Revised secondary grading practices will ensure students have fair and consistent grading measures across all classes, expanding their capacity to demonstrate their learning and ensuring families are aware of their student's progress. 

Some examples of our district's daily efforts: 

Services & Supplies 

1. We provide free breakfast and lunch at eight district schools (for all students) and free and reduced lunch options for qualifying students at all other NTPS schools. More about school meals >> 
2. The annual Stuff the Bus event gathers community donations of school supplies, backpacks, toiletries, food, books, and more to distribute to NTPS families in need.  
3. We work with the Little Red School House to provide free backpacks and school supplies to thousands of NTPS families.
4. Our NTPS Navigators, members of our Student Support department, and other NTPS staff provide one-on-one guidance for our students who are experiencing homelessness and help them mitigate food, housing, and transportation insecurities. Learn more >>

Postsecondary success 

1. Our partnership with five of the state’s four-year colleges provides guaranteed admissions to eligible NTPS students. We also partner with Pacific Lutheran University and Saint Martin's University on similar programs. More about guaranteed admissions >> 
2. The Give Back program provides academic assistance, long-term coaching, and support services to students experiencing foster care, homelessness, or the incarceration of a parent. Mentors help Scholars build a career-based educational plan and pursue postsecondary education. More information on our Mentoring program page >>

Partnerships 

1. We partner with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Washington to provide mentor support for NTPS students. More about Peer Mentoring >>
2. The North Thurston Education Foundation provides support in the form of scholarships, family resources, and classroom grants.

Extracurricular supports 

1. NTPS secondary students have an opportunity to join other students across Thurston County at Pizza Klatch, an LGBTQ+ teen support group that meets weekly. More about Pizza Klatch >>
2. Our free Summer Scholars program helps elementary students advance their skills and knowledge through small-group instruction. Secondary students receive support to catch up on credits and prepare for the coming year. More about Summer Scholars >> 
3. Students serviced through special education can receive extended-school-year services, with individualized support to maintain their skills over summer break. 
4. The Power-Up! program provides supplemental before/after school instruction to more than 1,100 NTPS students. More about Power-Up! >> 

Other supports

• Fee-waiver programs empower students to participate in extracurricular activities and athletics, regardless of financial limitations. More about waiving fees >> 
• The Family & Youth Resource Center provides resources and support to families and students in need. More about the FYRC >> 
• Our student Chromebook program ensures all NTPS students have equal access to online instructional materials. We also offer mobile hotspots to help NTPS students who need internet access. More about student technology >> 
• Our Native Student Program supports American Indian and Alaska Native students with academic support, family engagement, and culturally relevant curriculum and resources. More about the Native Student Program >>
• The Since Time Immemorial curriculum, taught at all grade levels, recognizes the sovereignty and history of our Washington State tribes. More about Since Time Immemorial from OSPI >> 
• AVID Programs in all NTPS middle and high schools help close opportunity gaps and improve college and career readiness for those traditionally underrepresented in higher education. 
• A dedicated Spanish-language bilingual liaison and translation helpline helps families access NTPS information. More about language services >>

• Several staff-based committees and groups drive our work forward:  
  • The Multicultural Action Committee (MAC) helps our schools plan and host multicultural celebrations & activities.  The MAC is open to community members and staff! Grants are awarded annually to schools to help support their multicultural education efforts.
  • The Equity Advisory Team and its subcommittees guide several components of the district's equity work. 
  • The Dual Language Advisory is growing and developing our Dual Language Program, currently offered at Lydia Hawk and Mountain View elementary schools.
• All NTPS elementary schools are participating in the One School, One Book program throughout the 2023-24 school year. Elementary students at all grade levels read and discuss a unique book each month as a school. The chosen books explore our social justice standards and help build a sense of school community. 
• River Ridge High School and Chinook Middle School recently completed the Embracing Equity Leadership Residency, which cultivates the skills and capacity needed on an anti-bias, anti-racist journey for organizational change. The program includes a robust equity audit, goal setting, coaching, and communities of practice to build and sustain organizational change. The District Office is participating in the program for the 2023-24 school year.

Here are a few recent examples of NTPS actions designed to remove barriers for students. 

• We held a Community Café series to explore different groups' perspectives in our community. Thank you to everyone who attended and our volunteers who supported these events! 
  
  • Latinx Community Café - April 21, 2022
    • See the Harvest from the Café >>
  • Native American Community Café - May 19, 2022
    • See the Harvest from the Café >>
  • LGBTQIA+ Community Café - June 2, 2022
    • See the Harvest from the Café >>
  • Black/African American Community Café - January 11, 2023
    • See the Harvest from the Café >>
  • Multiracial Families Community Café - February 28, 2023
    • See the Harvest from the Café >>
  • English Language Learner Families Community Café - May 23
• Sharing our work through the 2022-23 Lunch and Learn webinar. Superintendent Clemens is joined by various district experts to help inform families about programs and other work happening around our district.
  • SEL & Mental Health Supports Webinar - September 21 
  • School Construction Webinar - April 25

Meeting the needs of our students is a team effort. We invest in our educators and leaders so they are prepared to support our diverse community of students.

NTPS PAUSE is a framework for decision-making and problem-solving utilized by our staff in our district. More information >>

Administrators and District Leaders – 2023-24 Training Highlights

• Universal Design for Learning – Principles of inclusive learning practices; examples of successful classroom integration. 
• Least restrictive environment and inclusion – Maximizing opportunities for all students to benefit from high-quality instruction. 
• Social-Emotional Learning as the foundation for educational success – Practices to ensure students understand their dignity and honor the dignity of others.  
• Restorative Practices – Redefining discipline to shape behavior, foster stronger learning communities, and minimize instructional disruption. 
• Cultural Appropriations – Understanding the complex relationships of recognition, celebration, and cultural sensitivity. 
• MTSS-R (Reading Instruction Study) – Examining the impact of effective reading instruction and interventions in the early grades. 
• Elementary Grading Practices – Exploring the benefits of consistent and fair grading practices on student learning.  
• Teacher Clarity – Empowering students with clear learning intentions and explicit success criteria. 

Instructional Staff – 2023-24 Training Highlights 

• Universal Lesson Design – Developing practices for an inclusive classroom. 
• Ensuring social-emotional learning is the foundation of our instructional efforts. 
• Advancing equity – Examining opportunities to engage in ethnic studies across grade levels and curriculum. 
• Social justice standards – Recognizing core values of identity, diversity, justice, and action to build relationships and develop solutions in our schools and community. 
• Restorative practices – Using a community approach to support positive and inclusive classroom behaviors.
• Ongoing optional professional development courses including recognizing racism, cultural appropriation, ethnic studies, a restorative approach to discipline, supporting students who carry behavioral challenges, and diversity in the workplace.