JData Community Report Chicago Early Childhood Centers and Part-time Schools May 10, 2016 Amy L. Sales, PhD Brandeis University Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies Data export March 16, 2016

©Brandeis University 2016Slide 2 Congregational Education in Metropolitan Chicago Numbers as a Springboard to Action

©Brandeis University 2016Slide 3 Another impressive response rate Community Catchment Participating in JData Reform2623 Conservative1210 Other117 Total4940

©Brandeis University 2016Slide 4 Enrollment by denomination NumberPercentAverage size Reform (23)5,48271%238 Conservative (10)1,71622%172 Other (7)5577%80 Total (40)7,755100%194 Number in parentheses is the number of responding schools.

©Brandeis University 2016Slide 5 Enrollment over time The 38 schools reporting data in both years show an overall 5% decline in enrollment -- from 7,852 to 7,469. TotalReformCons.Other Declined -2% to -25% Stable +/- 1% 4202 Grew +1% to +10% 8530 Number of schools Average % change-5%-6%-3%-9%

©Brandeis University 2016Slide 6 Enrollment over time by grade Number of schools= 32

©Brandeis University 2016Slide 7 Capacity utilization Average capacity utilization =74% Capacity UtilizationNumber of schoolsPercent of schools <50%38% 50-59%38% 60-69%822% 70-79%924% 88-89%719% 90% or more719% n=37 schools

©Brandeis University 2016Slide 8 Capacity utilization over time Number of schools Degree of change LowHighAverage Declined15-36%-2%-14% Stable2+1 Grew14+2%+69%+20% Average 3% improvement over last year

©Brandeis University 2016Slide 9 Attrition--Why do they leave? NumberPercent Other17729%33% Unknown17328%15% Scheduling conflicts10317% Moved away9816%25% Educational needs376%7% Fewer hours285%2% More hours5<1%0% Total621100% Number of schools= 40

©Brandeis University 2016Slide 10 Attrition--Where do they go? NumberPercent Unknown15932%9% Other13226%29% Nothing11323%38% Other part-time Jewish school469%11% Private tutoring398%7% Jewish day school133%5% Total502100% Number of schools= 37

©Brandeis University 2016Slide 11 Part-time Time Average Average National Conservative Other Reform Overall Chicago, number of schools= 40 National, number of schools= 372 Hours per Year

©Brandeis University 2016Slide 12 Part-Time Teachers Based on 40 schools reporting on 733 teachers. 9 schools have 1, 2 or 3 fulltime teachers. The rest have none (as far as we know).

©Brandeis University 2016Slide 13 Part-time Educators (top professionals) NumberPercent 1-19 hours513% hours821% hours924% hours1232% hours410% Total38100%

©Brandeis University 2016Slide 14 Professional development Number Yes Percent Yes Pays for outside PD or learning3592% Pays teachers for time spent on PD or learning2771% Trains teachers in the use of technology2463% Increases salaries to recognize additional development and learning 1437% Offers incentives for PD and learning1335% Pays teachers for planning time924% Number of schools=37 or 38 schools depending on item.

©Brandeis University 2016Slide 15 Training and Learning Priorities: Teachers Technology in the classroom (17) Classroom management and learning styles (8) Curriculum and educational resources (6) --new and innovative curricular ideas --how to invigorate a lesson --finding and using Jewish educational resources Hebrew instruction (6) --tools for teaching Hebrew in an engaging way Special needs (4) Varied other (8) --music programs for older students --midot --CPR and first aid --Jewish knowledge

©Brandeis University 2016Slide 16 Training and Learning Priorities: Top Educator Study with colleagues Text study Networking Lay leader development Effective use of the school board Curriculum development Staff management and supervision Energizing staff Methods for increasing parent involvement Fundraising Effective ways to mentor Alternative educational models ADVANCED technology Technology for administrators (on-line registration and report cards) Israel education Best synagogue school practices locally and nationally Evaluation techniques Any learning in the field of educational leadership at the graduate level

©Brandeis University 2016Slide 17 Volunteers 74 volunteer as teachers 68 volunteer as teacher aids 15 volunteer in other positions in the school 307 volunteer on schools boards or committees

©Brandeis University 2016Slide 18 Training and learning priorities: Volunteers, lay leaders Being a professional in a volunteer job Understanding of curriculum development How to be committed and carry through with assigned tasks Student learning styles Working as a board/PTO Strategic planning Technology Midot Fundraising Alternative educational models Trends in Jewish education Roles and goals for education committee Community building

©Brandeis University 2016Slide 19 Things are getting bigger.

©Brandeis University 2016Slide 20 Expenses over time Number of schools Degree of change LowHighAverage Declined17-2%-55%14% Stable2-1%+1% Grew14+3%+250%60% Based on 33 matched schools. Expenses increased an average of 18%.

©Brandeis University 2016Slide 21 Revenues over time Revenues increased an average of 10%. Based on 27 matched schools. Number of schools Degree of change LowHighAverage Decline13-35%-3%-16% Stable4 -1%+1% Grew10+5%+155%+48%

©Brandeis University 2016Slide 22 Average tuition was up by 6%. Tuition over time

©Brandeis University 2016Slide 23 Total financial aid reached almost $400,000 65% increase It went to over 820 recipients. 2% increase Financial aid over time n=34 schools; 17 matched cases.

©Brandeis University 2016Slide 24 From data to action 10 schools have a strategic plan --with goals and objectives --for the school’s direction and growth --over the next 3 to 5 years 28 do not

©Brandeis University 2016Slide 25 Considerations for School & Communal Planning Examine the data for what’s important and practical. Develop work plans for student recruitment and retention. Invest in professional development. Develop a cadre of lay leaders for the school. Create a strategic plan with goals and objectives for the school’s future educational direction. Learn from other schools. Continue to gather and use data.

©Brandeis University 2016Slide 26 Jewish Early Childhood Education In Metropolitan Chicago The Story as Told by JData

©Brandeis University 2016Slide 27 Number of programs= 31

©Brandeis University 2016Slide 28 Number of programs Percent of programs Community1337% Reform720% Conservative514% Orthodox514% Other39% Pluralist26% Total35100% Variegated system: denomination

©Brandeis University 2016Slide 29 Variegated system: parent organization Number of programs Percent of programs Synagogue1234% Jewish day school823% Jewish community center (JCC)720% Independent411% Board of Jewish Education411% Total35100%

©Brandeis University 2016Slide 30 Variegated system: size

©Brandeis University 2016Slide 31 Variegated: size by parent organization Number of programs: Synagogue= 11 JCC= 7 Jewish day school= 5 Independent= 4 BJE= 4 Number of children Percent of children Average program size Synagogue92132%95 JCC73425%141 Independent57920%158 Jewish day school40814%82 Board of Jewish Education2378%68 Total (31)2,87999%--

©Brandeis University 2016Slide 32 Variegated system: ages

©Brandeis University 2016Slide 33 Variegated system: hours NumberAverage hours per year Independent41,885 JCC71,848 Synagogue9900 Jewish day school7898 Board of Jewish Education4878

©Brandeis University 2016Slide 34 Human resources Number of programs= 31 FulltimePart-timeTotal Top administrators39443 Teachers Teaching aides Educational specialists43337 Support staff Other staff7916 Total

©Brandeis University 2016Slide 35 FulltimePart-timeTotal Top administrators39443 Teachers Teaching aides Educational specialists43337 Support staff Other staff7916 Total

©Brandeis University 2016Slide 36 Human resources: top pro years on the job n=31 programs Years on the jobNumberPercent One year413% Two years26% Three years413% Four years310% Five to nine years619% Ten to nineteen years929% Twenty years or more310%

©Brandeis University 2016Slide 37 MinimumMaximumMedianAverageTotal Program capacity ,356 Capacity utilization41%116%86%85%--- Indicator: capacity utilization Number of programs (capacity utilization)= places across the 31 programs went unfilled in

©Brandeis University 2016Slide 38 Indicator: Jewish population Number of programs Percent of programs Less than 50%13% 50-59%13% 60-69%310% 70-79%310% 80-89%26% 90-99%929% 100%1239% Total31100%

©Brandeis University 2016Slide 39 Indicator: loving tracking system NumberPercent Moved away10626% Public school program8521% Private school program7318% Jewish day school program6817% Program in another organizational setting 4311% Other Jewish-sponsored program164% Other72% At home or no early childhood program 41% Program in a home setting2<1% Don't know2<1% Total406100%

©Brandeis University 2016Slide 40 Opportunities: social media Number “Yes” Percent “Yes” Website29100% Facebook page2997% Monitoring/photo-sharing service 1657% Local search engines725% Facebook group517% Twitter414% Federation/CFJE website27% Instagram14% Number of programs= depending on item

©Brandeis University 2016Slide 41 Opportunities: teacher salaries Number of programs= 31 MinMaxMedianAverage Lowest$10$35$14$17 Highest$12$62$24$27 Number “Yes” Percent “Yes” All teachers619% Fulltime only1753% Do no offer benefits928% Benefits for Teachers Number of programs=29 for lowest; 30 for highest;

©Brandeis University 2016Slide 42 Questions to ponder School population Recruitment and retention Incentives Financial aid Governance Accreditation

Amy L. Thank you— For contributing to the development of measurement in Chicago For adding your data to the mix For inviting me to Chicago For being here today For being willing to learn For thinking about what it all means For working to make Jewish education all that it can be ©Brandeis University 2016Slide 43