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Cincinnati Public Schools began the 2026-27 school year as district leaders previewed a proposed strategic plan. The Cincinnati strategic plan centers on the CPS Promise and 2030 Commitment, with priorities covering instruction, postsecondary opportunities, whole-child support and district systems. The plan remains unfinished and must receive approval from the Cincinnati Board of Education.
Cincinnati strategic plan discussions are shaping the start of the 2026-27 school year for Cincinnati Public Schools.
The Cincinnati strategic plan remains a draft, with district leaders preparing to present it for a future board vote.
Cincinnati Public Schools welcomed students for the new school year Wednesday as district leaders previewed a proposed strategic plan focused on goals through 2030.
Superintendent Shauna Murphy discussed the plan during a back-to-school address, according to FOX19. She stressed that the district has not finalized or approved the plan.
The district’s calendar shows Tuesday, Aug. 18, as a professional development day. Wednesday, Aug. 19, marks the first day of school for K-12 students. Preschool students begin Aug. 24, according to the Cincinnati Public Schools calendar. (Cincinnati Public Schools)
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Cincinnati strategic plan focuses on 2030 goals
The Cincinnati strategic plan centers on the district’s CPS Promise and 2030 Commitment.
The proposed framework sets a long-term vision for students, educators and district operations. CPS says every student should feel known, valued and supported by 2030.
The district also wants students to receive instruction that prepares them for college, careers and other postsecondary opportunities.
The proposed plan identifies four major strategic priorities:
- Equitable access to high-quality instruction
- Postsecondary opportunities for students
- Whole-child supports
- Stronger district systems
District leaders say the fourth priority includes efforts involving chronic absenteeism and mental health support.
FOX19 reported that the plan will roll out in phases if the school board approves it. Board President Brandon Craig said the board remains focused on preparing students for the future.
The proposed goals also reflect concerns that have affected CPS students and families in recent years. Attendance, academic performance, student support and teacher preparation remain major issues for the district.
Cincinnati strategic plan follows months of community input
CPS has spent months collecting feedback before moving toward a final strategic plan.
WCPO reported in July that the district held town halls to gather final community input on the draft. The sessions included parents, educators, students and other community members.
The district worked with Bellwether and Rice Education Consulting during the planning process. According to WCPO, more than 1,500 parents, educators, students and community members contributed to the plan.
The feedback process focused on whether the proposed priorities addressed the needs of Cincinnati students and families.
Community members also raised concerns about how CPS would put the goals into practice. Some questioned whether the district has enough resources to meet the plan’s expectations.
Those concerns come as CPS continues to face financial pressure.
The district has been developing the strategic plan while also working through budget challenges and major changes to its school system. Those issues could affect how quickly CPS implements the plan.
For more background, see our coverage of Cincinnati Public Schools’ budget challenges and proposed changes.
CPS strategic plan addresses student support
Student support represents one of the central themes in the proposed framework.
The whole-child priority calls for students to receive support that helps them stay engaged and ready to learn. That includes attention to attendance, social-emotional development and mental health.
Chronic absenteeism remains a significant challenge for CPS. The Ohio Department of Education’s state report card data previously showed that 43.5 percent of CPS students were chronically absent.
The proposed plan also calls for stronger access to community resources and mental health support.
That approach would make student support part of the district’s broader academic strategy. CPS would not focus only on classroom instruction but also on factors that affect whether students can participate successfully.
The district has already expanded some student support services. Its 2024-25 impact report highlighted programs involving homelessness support, resource coordination and whole-child services.
The new plan would provide a broader framework for those efforts if the board approves it.
Cincinnati strategic plan puts teachers at the center
The proposed plan also places greater emphasis on educators.
One priority calls for every student to have access to skilled and well-supported teachers. The plan includes professional development, instructional coaching and stronger support for classroom educators.
WCPO reported that educators participating in the community feedback process wanted teachers treated as partners in developing the district’s direction. Some also questioned how the district would define high-quality instruction.
Teacher staffing remains important as CPS works to improve academic outcomes.
The district’s previous strategic plan included a separate priority focused on equipping educators. Its 2023-27 plan also emphasized student support, community connections, innovation and district operations.
The proposed framework would shift those priorities into a new structure tied to the CPS Promise and 2030 Commitment.
That change could affect how the district measures progress over the next several years.
CPS strategic plan includes postsecondary pathways
Preparing students for life after high school is another major part of the proposed strategy.
CPS wants students to have clear pathways toward college, careers or other postsecondary options. The district’s approach includes opportunities that connect classroom learning with future goals.
The proposed plan also calls for students to experience a coherent education from kindergarten through graduation.
That could include stronger connections between grade levels and more consistent academic expectations across schools.
CPS has already expanded career and technical education, dual enrollment and other school options through its broader school redesign efforts. Its latest impact report says students can choose from neighborhood schools, Montessori programs, career and technical education and dual enrollment options.
The strategic plan would place those opportunities within the district’s longer-term vision.
For Cincinnati families, the postsecondary priority could become one of the most visible parts of the plan.
District systems could shape how the plan works
The fourth priority focuses on how CPS operates.
District officials say stronger systems should help schools address attendance, mental health and other student needs more consistently.
The plan also calls for clearer decision-making and better use of district resources. WCPO reported that the draft emphasizes directing resources toward student needs and improving communication with families.
That priority could become especially important as CPS manages financial constraints.
The district has already considered significant spending reductions. WCPO reported earlier this year that the board was weighing budget pathways as CPS worked to reduce spending for the 2026-27 fiscal year.
The proposed strategic plan therefore comes at a critical point for the district.
CPS will need to align its long-term goals with the resources available to schools and students.
Cincinnati strategic plan still awaits board approval
The proposed framework remains subject to approval by the Cincinnati Board of Education.
Murphy told staff that the plan was still incomplete when she presented its concepts. FOX19 reported that the board expects to vote on the strategic plan at a future meeting.
CPS has discussed the strategic plan publicly since at least late 2025. A December 2025 board agenda included a strategic plan discussion as part of the district’s business meeting.
The board’s decision will determine whether the proposed priorities become the district’s formal direction through 2030.
Until then, the four priorities remain part of a developing framework rather than an approved policy.
For Cincinnati families, the next stage will be watching how the board responds to the draft and whether additional changes emerge before a final vote.
The district’s strategic plan could ultimately guide academic programs, student services, educator support and district operations for years.
FAQs
What is the Cincinnati strategic plan?
The Cincinnati strategic plan is a proposed framework that would guide Cincinnati Public Schools through 2030. It centers on the CPS Promise and four priorities involving instruction, postsecondary opportunities, whole-child support and district systems.
Has Cincinnati Public Schools approved the new strategic plan?
No. Superintendent Shauna Murphy said the plan remains incomplete and has not yet received approval. FOX19 reported that a board vote is expected at a future meeting.
What are the four priorities in the CPS strategic plan?
The proposed priorities cover equitable access to high-quality instruction, postsecondary opportunities, whole-child supports and stronger district systems. The district says the systems priority includes issues such as chronic absenteeism and mental health support.
When did Cincinnati Public Schools students return for the 2026-27 school year?
CPS lists Wednesday, Aug. 19, as the first day of school for K-12 students. Tuesday, Aug. 18, was a professional development day, while preschool begins Aug. 24.
