Boston’s Efforts to Turnaround Underperforming Schools:Presentation to Turnaround Summit Participants

Frank Barnes, Chief Accountability Officer

October 15, 2011

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Our Turnaround Schools

1. Agassiz Elementary**

2. Blackstone Elementary

3. Burke High

4. Dearborn Middle

5. Dever Elementary

6. E. Greenwood Elementary

7. English High

8. Holland Elementary

9. Harbor Pilot Middle

10. Kennedy Elementary

11. Orchard Gardens Pilot K-8

12. Trotter Elementary

** - Closed at the end of the 2010-11 school year

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Our Students in Turnaround Schools

6,009 students

92% Black or Hispanic

86% Eligible for Free/Reduced Price Meals

40% Limited English Proficient

22% Special Needs

Nearly 2/3 live in Circle of Promise

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Existing research and BPS’s past experiences informed our school turnaround strategy

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• Reviewed several research studies on and related to school turnaround

• Examined BPS practices in schools whose students showed rapid academic improvement

• Analyzed a previous BPS initiative: “Superintendent’s Schools, ” an attempt to intervene in schools at risk of State intervention

Identified key lessons from this mix of research, initiatives, and successful school achievements that informed our turnaround strategy core components.

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Theory of Change: Seven Core Elements

1. Transformational school leaders

2. Effective classroom teachers

3. Culture of teamwork, high expectations, and ownership for results

4. Focus on instruction – time, data use, tiered supports

5. Social & emotional support for students

6. Family engagement linked to student learning

7. Accountability

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Four Phase Turnaround Plan

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Phase I: July 2009 – August 2010

• Changed Leadership: Replaced 5 of 11 school leaders

• Negotiated Flexibilities: Won agreements to increase school flexibility with staffing, scheduling, and paying for excellence

• Changed Teaching Staff: Replaced more than 50% of teachers in 7 of 11 schools

• Secured Additional Funding: Awarded $22.5 million over three years

• Extended School Day: Added 90 hours of instruction & 100 additional hours for professional development and teacher planning

• Established Partnerships: Initiated relationships with strategic partners and continued partnerships with community based organizations and other intermediaries

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Phase II: September 2010 – June 2011 • Overall Improvement: All schools met or surpassed some of

their student achievement targets, with 4 of 11 schools surpassing all of their student achievement targets.

• Better Than Average Growth : All 11 schools met or exceeded their student growth targets in math, with 5 of 11 schools achieved high growth (above the 60th percentile).

• Progress Toward Proficiency: 9 of 11 schools increased the percentage of students reaching proficiency in math. Another 9 of 11 schools increased the percentage of students reaching proficiency in ELA.

• Reduction in Failure: 9 of 11 schools reduced their percentage of students in warning/failing surpassing their annual targets in math. Five of 11 schools reduced their percentage of students in warning/ failing in ELA, surpassing those annual targets.

• Improved Attendance: All 11 schools met or surpassed their student attendance targets

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Phase III: Drilling Down on Instruction

• High Quality Teaching in every classroom, for every child, every day

• Progress Monitoring of student growth multiple times a year in6-7 week intervals

• Differentiated Supports during and after school

• Purposeful Use of time to maximize the investment and opportunity we have

Use of Time

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Strategic Collaboration: Data & Academic Supports

• Achievement Network

• Boston Plan for Excellence/Boston Teacher Residency

• Citizen Schools**

• City Year

• Mass 2020

• Research for Better Teaching

• Teach Plus

** - Approached late in the process

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New Systems and Structures

• Instructional cycles

• Predictable and timely data collection

• Monthly data analysis and data sharing

• Data-informed planning and strategic responses

• Quarterly progress reviews

Data for Action, Improvement, & Transparency

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Strategic Collaboration: Attendance & Chronic Absenteeism

• Boston Public Schools: FCOCs , Family Engagement Specialists, and Attendance Officers

• Boston Public Health Commission

• City of Boston – Circle of Promise and Mayor’s Office

• City Connects

• City Year

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Goal: Student and School Success

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