South Bend Empowerment Zone
In the spring of 2019, The Indiana State Board of Education developed an agreement with the South Bend Community School Corporation to create the South Bend Empowerment Zone. The South Bend Empowerment Zone is comprised of Wilson, Warren, Harrison, and Coquillard Elementary schools, and Navarre Middle school. Our charge from the SBOE is to dramatically transform student achievement and growth at our schools over the course of a five-year intervention.
The South Bend Empowerment Zone and its Empowerment Zone Chief are directly accountable to a non-profit Board. The Board consists of both local independent and SBCSC members, allowing community voice a critical role in the process of transforming our neighborhood schools.
Vision
A system of schools that eliminates academic and social/emotional opportunity gaps and nurtures the greatness that exists within each child to confidently thrive in our city, nation, and world.
Mission
The Empowerment Zone nurtures the mind, body, spirit of each child by harnessing the power of community and empowering every student with a high quality public education.
Refining Deeper Learning — Reimagining schooling
Year 1 (2019-2020)
Establishing a Vision/Building a Strong Foundation
Year 2 (2020-2021)
Building Systems of Support & Developing Community
Year 3 (2021-2022)
Developing a Robust Enrichment Model (including NAEYC-Accredited Early Childhood Education and gifted/talented education)
Year 4 (2022-2023)
Pursuing Deeper Learning/Reimagining schooling
Year 5 (2023-2024)
Refining Deeper Learning/Reimagining schooling
The central philosophy of the South Bend Empowerment Zone
The centering of the student- and family- experience via the empowerment of leaders and educators at each school to respond to their needs in service to stronger academic, social, and emotional outcomes for our students.
For more information regarding our strategic plan and current progress towards our goals, see SBEZ’s 2019-20 Annual Report.
