How Do We Prepare ALL Students for College?

I attended the Silicon Valley Leadership Group's annual Education Leaders Summit on September 4, 2013.  The following notes on turning around failing public schools I gathered during the opening keynote address by Wendy Kapp, Founder of Teach for America, the panel, "Moving the Needle Forward on PreK-12:  Local Innovation", and a new report presented by Matt Hammer from Innovate Public Schools.  I also looked at the report on Denver Public Schools which has received national recognition for their Turnaround Program.

We do not have to solve poverty

Failing public schools are being turned around today.  We do not have to wait to solve poverty to make a difference now.  Public schools are getting students ready for college who had little chance of that just 10 years ago.  

Change is happening now

Charter schools like Rocketship's Mateo Sheedy in San Jose's Alum Rock district and Aspire Phoenix Academy in East Palo Alto have led by example on how to turn around public schools for students who had little chance of entering college.  But, can school districts with the constraints of history and teacher's unions do this too?  Yes, they have.  "The Status Quo is a huge magnet and we all wear metal suits," said Vincent Matthews, Superintendent of San Jose Unified.  San Jose has worked hand in hand with their teacher's union to provide innovative public schools such as Renaissance Academy in the Alum Rock district in San Jose.  

And in Denver Public Schools with 79,000 preK-12 students enrolled, $10,250 per pupil funding, 73% of students in the Free Lunch program, 12% with Special Education needs, 31% English Learners, they decided to use all the tools in their toolbox. "We are systematically looking at schools and deciding whether to turnaround, replace, phase out, or close down. Next, we determine which schools should be district-run, innovation – a district-run school with much more flexibility in programming and staffing, or charter. This approach provides a hybrid of flexibilities that will provide us new models for improving," and create high quality options for all students within DPS’ choice system.

What are the early indicators of college readiness?

1. High quality pre-school at ages 3 and 4 for Kindergarten readiness.
2. Reaching third grade reading level by the end of third grade.
3. Success with algebra by end of eighth grade.
4. If a student wishes to enter a STEM college program, they need to be on a path to complete calculus by end of twelfth grade.

What have the success stories in common?

• Measurable outcomes.  A plan with measurable results so decisions can be made about failures and successes.
• Leadership.  Someone to drive the plan with autonomy over personnel decisions.
• More money.  In each of these success stories, additional funding was provided through public grants and/or private donations.
• Increased instructional time.  A longer instructional day was needed to ensure student success - as long as 8 hours of school with a longer school year.  And in some cases, enrichment programs like art and music were cut from the program to provide more instructional time for core subjects.
• Small School Size.  Often times large, ineffective schools were broken up into smaller schools based on neighborhoods.
• Parent participation.  Required parent participation such as each family signs up for a minimum of 30 hours volunteer commitment for the school year.
• Cooperation with Teachers.  Relaxing of union rules were necessary through a school's charter or via special district-run schools.  Teach for America supplies many teachers for periods of two years at a time for the Oakland school district.
• Individual student attention.  Small-group tutoring and instruction was also key to student success.
• Teacher retention.  Realistic expectations on staffing - living wage for pre-school teachers, cannot expect extended hours for staff otherwise they burn out and leave teaching after two years.
• Teacher training.  Back-up support for the teachers so they can do their best in the classroom.  Teachers are also life-long learners.

Progress being made locally

Alum Rock in San Jose and Oakland in Alameda are both examples of progress.  In the case of Denver Public Schools, California can learn from their example.

California lags behind other states

Colorado is doing much better than California according to the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP).  For low income students, California ranks at number 48 and Colorado at 17.  For higher income students, California ranks at number 43 and Colorado at 4.

Want to learn more?

Innovate Public Schools highlights local success
School Turnaround In Denver Public Schools
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