A New Architecture for a New Education Ball State University

CASE STUDY: SAinT PAUl, Mn

JohN A. JohNSoN

A New ModelJohn A. Johnson is not a charter school, but a new model for public schools in St. Paul, Minnesota that participates in the Achievement Plus initiative. This educational reform initiative unites students, school, family, and community through public-private partnerships. The partnerships for John A. Johnson include family resources, health and wellness services, tutoring and counseling, and housing and employment needs services. Additionally, John A. Johnson is fortunate to have the East YMCA attached to its building.

A Community SchoolThe original site of John A. Johnson (JAJ) was small and did not fit the wishes of the community stakeholders. At the same time, the district was looking to develop an elementary school in this area. The East YMCA was looking for a home. Community leaders then put forth

Playground

Figure 1.7.1: John A Johnson (green) is located adjacent to a new YMCA (red) on a site which is in close relationship to the community they serve.

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Land Acquisition: Total Number of Properties Acquired: 61 Number of Properties Acquired by “Quick Take”: 4 Tax-forfeited Vacant Lots acquired from State: 2 Number of Owner Occupied Properties: 31 Number of Tenants: 56 Acquisition/Closing Costs Paid: $4.07 million Relocation Benefits Paid to Date: $1.06 million

Funding Sources: State Grant (Original) - $9,450,000 Ramsey County - $650,000 ISD 625 Match Capital Bonds - $3,294,702 ISD 625 Match Alt Bonds and H&S - $4,077,814 ISD 625 Match Operating Capital - $71,620 Unknown Funding Source - $5,200,000 TOTAL: $22,744,136

the idea of purchasing properties that possessed dilapidated houses near the abandoned former John A. Johnson High School. In doing so, the new YMCA and renovated school could be combined on one site, bringing a new look to the worn down east side. In the process, the state purchased 61 properties surrounding JAJ in order to create an outdoor play area that would be secure for students to enjoy. To the east of JAJ, the YMCA was constructed, providing the community with a pool, gymnasium, work out facility and classes on family development and healthy living. Students also enjoy the amenities of a full-scale health facility where they participate in physical education and swimming lessons.

CASE STUDY: SAinT PAUl, Mn

Charter School Patterns of Innovation A Building Better Communities Project

JohN A. JohNSoN

Figure 1.7.4: The Main level of the building houses the school administration spaces (green), the various community support services, and has a physical connection to the YMCA.

Figure 1.7.5: The lower level of the building houses the cafeteria and the southwest entrance as well as mechanical spaces and loading dock service areas. It also serves as an entry point from the southwest corner of the site.

Circulation

Community Offices

Parent Resources

Preschool

Gal

lery

Exhibition

To YMCA

Circulation

Cafeteria/Kitchen

Mechanical

Figure 1.7.2: The East Side Learning Center provides support to students who have fallen behind in core learning competencies.

Figure 1.7.3: This image shows the renovated John A Johnson Elementary School in the foreground and the new YMCA in the background.

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Adaptive Re-useJohn A. Johnson Achievement Plus Elementary is a renovation and re-use of John A. Johnson High School. Over time the neighborhood began declining in its health and well being, closing the high school in the process. In 2000, John A. Johnson Achievement Plus Elementary opened its door, with more than $22 million dollars in land acquisition and renovation costs. The facility is now a state of the art community school and center for all residents of the east side of St.. Paul.

A New Architecture for a New Education Ball State University

CASE STUDY: SAinT PAUl, Mn

JohN A. JohNSoN

Classroom w/ shared space

Circulation

Figure 1.7.6: The fourth floor houses the upper grade classrooms and specialty classrooms with teacher support, breakout, or storage space between each classroom.

Figure 1.7.7: The fourth floor houses the upper grade classrooms and specialty classrooms with teacher support, breakout, or storage space between each classroom.

Circulation

Classroom w/ shared space

Achievement Plus offices KindergartenLibrary

Figure 1.7.9: In wide corridors with niches, a variety of spaces are provided for group and individual learning.

Figure 1.7.8: Maria J. Lamo Library opens up to the two story atrium which brings daylight into the core of the third and fourth floors.

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Facility FundingSince John A. Johnson is a public school they received state support in establishing their facility. This support came in the form of state and local government grants and bonds to cover the cost of land acquisition and construction.

Spatial PlanningThe success of the school could be determined, in part, by the ability of the facility to be a “one stop shop” for community and family support services for residents of the East Side. The goal of the community and the schools planners was to provide residents with all the

CASE STUDY: SAinT PAUl, Mn

Charter School Patterns of Innovation A Building Better Communities Project

JohN A. JohNSoN

Figure 1.7.12: Shared flex space with view windows and doors as connection between two classrooms.

Figure 1.7.11: The Public Entry immediately greets the community with the commons area and the administration space. Additionally all the community services are housed on this level of the building.

Figure 1.7.10: Displaying words of instruction and encouragement.

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amenities needed to educate students of all ages and assist in meeting their basic needs (food, clothing, shelter). John A. Johnson has committed resources and efforts for all students to reach high academic standards and become contributing members of society.

The first floor of John A. Johnson is mostly dedicated to meeting the needs of the community by providing such amenities as a Family Center, Dental Clinic, Daycare Facility, and YMCA, as well as the administration offices to serve the elementary school. The classrooms and learning areas are organized on the second and third floors, away from the commotion of the community areas.

Classrooms are placed in groups of two in order to create shared working environments for students and teachers. The school follows a looping system where students receive instruction from one teacher for two years in a row, rather than a different instructor each year. The classroom layout assists the teachers that instruct the same age group to discuss and collaborate on various activities as well as share space and informally survey each other’s children and classroom activities.

Mission“At John A. Johnson Achievement Plus Elementary School we are committed to every child reaching high academic standards and demonstrating social responsibility.”

Demographics2007-2008 School Year300 students (K-6) 49% African American 20% White 16% Hispanic 13% Asian/Pacific Islander 3% American Indian

93% of students qualify for free or reduced • lunch

23% of students are limited in English • proficiency

94% Attendance Rate (largely attributed to • increased social services provided to family and students)

A New Architecture for a New Education Ball State University

CASE STUDY: SAinT PAUl, Mn

JohN A. JohNSoN

Figure 1.7.14: Private one-on-one tutoring space in the East Side Learning Center.

Figure 1.7.13: A diagram of the Achievement Plus model.

District Name: ST. PAUL PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTSchool Name: JOHN A.JOHNSON ACHIEVEMENT PLUS EL.

Selected Analysis Options

School Year: Trend Test Name: Accountability Tests (included tests - MCA-II,MTAS )

Subject:Mathematics

Grade: All TestedGrades

Score Type:Proficiency

Analysis Results*

Proficient

Proficiency (for current school year)

Not Proficient Proficient Number TestedJohN A.JohNSoN AChIEVEMENT PLUS EL. 45.39 % 54.61 % 152ST. PAUL PUBLIC SChooL DISTRICT 55.17 % 44.83 % 18996STATE (MN) 39.63 % 60.37 % 424669

* Due to unknown status of some test takers, student group totals may not match with state totals.

MDE - Print Test Results http://education.state.mn.us/tranalysis-sa/test-results-print.jsf?IsPrintPage=yes

Figure 1.7.15: John A Johnson mathematics scores.

District Name: ST. PAUL PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTSchool Name: JOHN A.JOHNSON ACHIEVEMENT PLUS EL.

Selected Analysis Options

School Year: Trend Test Name: Accountability Tests (included tests - MCA-II,MTAS )

Subject:Reading

Grade: All TestedGrades

Score Type:Proficiency

Analysis Results*

Proficient

Proficiency (for current school year)

Not Proficient Proficient Number TestedJohN A.JohNSoN AChIEVEMENT PLUS EL. 56.49 % 43.51 % 154ST. PAUL PUBLIC SChooL DISTRICT 48.51 % 51.49 % 19073STATE (MN) 29.27 % 70.73 % 426568

* Due to unknown status of some test takers, student group totals may not match with state totals.

MDE - Print Test Results http://education.state.mn.us/tranalysis-sa/test-results-print.jsf?IsPrintPage=yes

Figure 1.7.16: John A Johnson reading scores.

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12:1 Student to Licensed Teacher and Support • Staff Ratio

Source: Minnesota Department of Education

Achievement Plus“Achievement Plus community schools are the foundation of a comprehensive urban education reform model that integrates the school, community, families, and the resources of public and private organizations to ensure academic achievement for all students.”

Curriculum Focus AreasAchievement Plus aims to impact the student in multiple ways. They utilize instructional, supporting, and management strategies to impact the community, the school, the family, and ultimately the student. The goal is not to just lift the student out of the socio-economic concerns in the community but to lift the entire community.

Achievement Plus has five areas of focus for their curriculum. The first is to fully implement the standards based curriculum and assessment from Saint Paul Public Schools’ Project for Academic Excellence. Second, the school provides the student with consistent instruction and assessment for reading, writing, and math from one grade level to the next. Third, the school provides teachers with resources, materials, and Professional Development on the implementation of the curriculum and the instructional model. Fourth, the establishment of summer programs to help with literacy and

math. Fifth, providing additional professional development to teachers on the Reader’s and Writer’s Workshops and the math programs.The curriculum is also based on the 9 principles of learning which is developed by the Institute for Learning at the University of Pittsburgh.

1. Organizing for Effort2. Clear expectations3. Fair and Credible Examinations4. Recognition of Accomplishments5. Academic Rigor in a Thinking Curriculum6. Accountable Talk7. Socialized Intelligence8. Self-Management of Learning9. Learning as Apprenticeship

Additional ProgramsJohn A. Johnson also has early childhood programs which focus around family literacy, school readiness, and early childhood special education programs. These programs were developed to address and overcome some of the education obstacles faced by children in the surrounding community before they are the traditional school age.

The new John A Johnson campus also houses 6 additional community organizations. The Center for Working Families is comprised of a number of non-profits to provide a variety of financial management services to the community. Eastside Family Center provides a variety of services ranging from providing school supplies to law clinics for the local Spanish and Hmong speaking community members. The Children’s Dental Service’s goal is to improve the oral health of the low income population by removing the barriers of treatment and providing education. Saint Mary’s Health Clinic provides a medical services to the uninsured or under insured individuals in the community once a week. Wilder Services provides therapist to individuals, families, and groups to address concerns and teach confidence building tools. The Eastside Learning Center provides one-on-one tutoring for any student who is below grade-level in reading.

CASE STUDY: SAinT PAUl, Mn

Charter School Patterns of Innovation A Building Better Communities Project

JohN A. JohNSoN

Figure 1.7.17: Indoor play space for children in the elementary school and the YMCA’s after school program provides a transition space between the school and the YMCA.

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PerformanceJohn A. Johnson has seen almost a doubling of proficient mathematics test scores over the past three years. They have also seen a gradual increase of proficient reading test scores over the same time period.

AwardsRichard W. Riley Knowledge Works Foundation Award 2004: given to schools that serve as the center of their community, as well as the “best community school in the nation”

Sen. Mark Dayton Education Award: John A. Johnson is among 46 schools in Minnesota to receive the award for going above and beyond expectations in students’ education and enrichment.

SourcesVisit to John A. Johnson Achievement Plus School

Interview with Director

Video on John A. Johnson Great Schools By Design Community

www.designshare.com