1.     Red Bank schools should secure and/or maintain strong, consistent leadership.  School leaders should have excellent professional qualifications and should have a track record of school improvement success in a culturally and economically diverse setting.

5.     Schools should implement excellent coordination and collaboration across K-8 grade levels, and should employ the same school design or reform model throughout the K-8 grades.  Administrators and staff should meet regularly to coordinate activities.

9.     The Red Bank community, in partnership with its schools, should establish a family resources organization to deal with children’s needs that may not be fully met in the home, and to provide a higher level of help and support to parents.  This organization should include a counseling component that will advise students and families in both academic and non-academic areas.  Counseling and guidance topics should include academic performance, recreation and cultural enrichment opportunities, and physical and mental health.

13.   The borough, with the support of community organizations, should conduct a study of the transportation needs of Red Bank families as they relate to participating in after-school/out-of-school activities.  The objective should be to ensure that children have a safe and effective way to travel to activities, whether on foot, bicycle, automobile or public transportation.

2.     Red Bank schools should strengthen teaching and learning by establishing and maintaining a culture of high expectations and professionalism.

6.     Red Bank schools should establish and institutionalize a practice of regular effective communication between teachers and parents.  Each school should accomplish deliberate and regular family contact through building trust and providing support.

10.   Community organizations, in cooperation with schools and borough government, should create a comprehensive set of high-quality after-school, weekend and summer programs that are available to all Red Bank children.  These programs should address, among others, the areas of recreation, cultural and arts enrichment, academic tutoring and mentoring.

14.   The borough, in cooperation with community organizations, should assess the availability of “affordable” housing and determine housing strategies that will encourage families to stay in Red Bank.

3.     Red Bank schools should devise, document and maintain an improvement plan that will determine how students will move from current performance levels to the desired performance levels.  In addition to other items, this plan should identify and document the characteristics for effective staff, as a guide to recruiting and retention.

7.     Schools should implement a program of on-going, year-long professional development.  This program should start with a needs assessment that is driven by teachers.  The program should be delivered to all K-8 staff, with teachers from all grade levels participating together.  The professional development plan should also be designed to help teachers and administrators deal more effectively with issues of culture, race and economic disadvantage.  Teachers should have the opportunity to meet and collaborate with colleagues from other local school systems.

11.   Schools and community organizations should partner to implement a consistent and effective program of parent involvement, education and support.

15.   Community organizations and borough government should regularly assess “customer satisfaction” and participation of all segments of the Red Bank community.  Staff should be “connected” to the community, and should be effective in dealing with all citizens regardless of race, culture or class.

4.     Schools should devise and maintain effective intervention for under-performing students.  Intervention methods should address in-classroom, out-of-classroom, and summer time periods, and should include coordination between classroom instruction and after-school and summer school learning programs.  Resources should be put in place to intervene early, often, and effectively.

8.     Schools should develop and implement a comprehensive plan to guide application of technology to enhance student learning.  The plan should address professional development, student performance expectations, user policies, and integration of technology with curriculum.

12.   Community organizations should collaborate to ensure the delivery of quality support services to Red Bank families.  Special emphasis should be placed on family counseling, child-care services, and health care/health maintenance services.

16.   Community stakeholders should seek and encourage the involvement of local businesses, colleges and universities with Red Bank schools and community organizations to make more resources available to children at low cost.