Building Partnerships with Parents NAPCS National Conference - June 21, 2012 Perry White, Principal, Perry White Consulting Lyman Millard, Communications Director, Breakthrough Schools

Breakthrough Schools Founded in 2010 by 3 of Cleveland’s top-performing charters K-8, 9 Schools, 1,850 students Reversed Achievement Gap BreakthroughSchools.org

Citizens Academy Founded in students 99% African American, 82% NSLP ~ 75% Single Parents Median Household Income: $22,000

Success Indicators

ACADEMIC EMERGENCY EXCELLENT Performance Index Score Trends

Success Indicators 3 rd Grade Reading98% Math100% 4 th Grade Reading95% Math95% 5 th Grade Reading100% Math98% Science95% Preliminary Ohio Achievement Data, 2012

Success Cycle EngagementSuccess

Success Indicators Success is More Than Numbers

Strategy

How We Did It 1. Its Starts with People 2. Think Developmentally 3. Framework for Goal-Setting

Your People 1. People People 2. Problem-Solvers 3.Clear Expectations 4.Accountability

Stages of Engagement Formal Plan Ad Hoc Plan Regular Contact Limited Contact Limited Comfort and Trust

1.Do Not Feel Welcome in School 2.Do Not Trust Teachers or Staff 3.No Engagement

Limited Contact 1.Feel Welcome in School 2.Trust Teachers and Staff 3.Limited Interaction 4.Limited Change in Outcomes

Regular Contact 1.Feel Welcome in School 2.Trust Teachers and Staff 3.High Degree of Interaction 4.Limited Change in Outcomes

Ad Hoc Plan 1.Comfort and Trust Established 2.High Degree of Engagement 3.One or More Goals Established 4.Reactive Contact

Formal Plan 1.Comfort and Trust Established 2.High Degree of Interaction 3.Goals Established and Updated 4.Progress Regularly Evaluated

Framework for Goal Setting 1.Family’s Aspirations 2.Student’s Dreams 3.School’s Mission 4.Academic Standards

Make a Plan 1.Where the Student Is 2.Where We Want Them to Be 3.How Will We Get Them There 4.Roles & Responsibilities

Three Legs of Student Success Student Success StudentTeacherParent

Roles & Responsibilities Teachers: 1.Work with Families to Set Goals 2.Communicate Progress 3.Set Conditions for Success 4.No Excuses

Roles & Responsibilities Parents: 1.Get the Child To School Every Day Ready To Learn 2.Support the School 3.Advocate for Their Child’s Best Interests

Roles & Responsibilities Students: 1.Take Responsibility for Learning 2.Come to School Ready to Learn 3.Respect the Learning of Others

Tactics

Who’s Job 1.Everyone’s 2.All the Time

Engagement Tactics - Teachers 1.Phones 2.Home Visits 3.Conferences My Achievement Plan

Phones 1.In Every Classroom 2.Calls Home As a Consequence 3.Calls Home as a Reward

MAPs 1.Academic Outcomes 2.“At School” Plan 3.“At Home” Plan 4.Regularly Updated 5.Regularly Communicated

MAPs

Home Visits 1.Before School Begins 2.Teacher Team 3.Set Mutual Expectations 4.Complete MAP 5.Demonstrate “Whatever it Takes”

Conferences 1.Twice a Year 2.Week-Long Schedule 3.Onus on Teachers 4.Discuss Progress Toward Goals 5.Update MAP

Other Tactics 1.Volunteers 2.Parent Advisory Committee 3.Board

Volunteers 1.8-Hour Expectation 2.Track Hours, Follow-Up 3.Make Experience Meaningful 4.Recognition Ceremony 5.No Enforcement Mechanism

Parent Advisory Committee 1.Parent-Led 2.Monthly Meetings 3.School Business 4.Parent Concerns 5.Incentivize Attendance

Board 1.No More than Two Parents 2.Pick the Right Ones 3.Bring Parent Perspective into Governance 4.Make Decisions in Best Interest of ALL of the Students

Year-Long Cycle Summer 1 st Trimester 2 nd Trimester 3 rd Trimester JUL Class Assignments AUG Internal Goal-Setting Home Visits, MAPs SEP Initial Assessments PAC Meeting OCT Short-Cycle Assessments PAC Meeting NOV Conferences, MAPs Short-Cycle Assessments PAC Meeting DEC Short Cycle Assessments PAC Meeting JAN Retention Meetings Mid-Year Assessments PAC Meeting FEB Short-Cycle Assessments PAC Meeting MAR Short Cycles Assessments PAC Meeting APR State Assessments PAC Meeting MAY End-of-Year Assessments PAC Meeting JUN Final Report Cards Volunteer Recognition Preliminary State Scores

Questions? Lyman Millard Perry White

Resources & Materials PerryWhiteConsulting.com CitizensAcademy.org/sharing