Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Syracuse City School District was pursuing a more equitable, supportive, and impactful vision for its schools and students. Launched in the 2018-2019 school year, the Building Our Future strategic plan laid out five strategic priorities:

1. Engage families and communities.
2. Implement culturally responsive practices.
3. Recruit, develop, support, and retain the most
   effective diverse staff.
4. Personalize learning for students.
5. Provide dynamic, rigorous curriculum and instruction.

The interruption to learning and the mental and emotional distress caused by the COVID-19 pandemic threatened to halt or even reverse the district’s progress toward its goals. However, federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Funds have allowed the district to continue to pursue its strategic goals while also addressing the effects of the pandemic.