Annual Report of Progress The Public Schools of Jersey City Dr. Charles T. Epps, Jr. State District Superintendent of Schools January 4, 2006

Priority Area 1: Accountability and Compliance Goals: 1.1 Meet Student Performance Standards 1.2 Improvement in Lowest Performing Schools 1.3 Reduce “Achievement Gap” for ELL and Special Education Students

1.1Performance for Total Students, GRADE/AREA DIFFERENCE Gr. 3 LAL Gr. 3 Math Gr. 4 LAL Gr. 4 Math Gr. 8 LAL Gr. 8 Math Gr. 8 Science Gr. 11 LAL Gr. 11 Math

Student Performance, th Grade LAL +10.4%; Math % 8 th Grade LAL +7.4%; Math + 3.7% 12 th Grade LAL + 4.3% Math +10.5% Continue to Exceed State Standards in Student Attendance at 93.3% for 2005 Continue to Exceed State Standards in Student Dropout Rate at 8.3% for 2005

1.2 Improvement in Lowest Performing Schools, 2004 to 2005 Students in Lowest Performing Schools improved in… 4 th Grade LAL, by an average of 8.5% vs 5.6% for the District 4 th Grade Math, by an average of 15.0% vs 7.4% for the District 8 th Grade LAL, by an average of 11.3% vs 6.1% for the District 8 th Grade Math, by an average of 3.4% vs.2% for the District 8 th Grade Science, by an average of 7.6% vs 6.6% for the District

1.3Closing the Achievement Gap with General Education for SPED and ELL Students, Special Education Grade 4 LAL, 51.0% to 43.0% Grade 4 Math, 31.9% to 25.7% Grade 8 LAL, 56.8% to 56.1% Grade 8 Math, 50.1% to 44.3% ELL Grade 4 LAL, 34.6% to 31.0% Grade 4 Math, 27.5% to 20.6% Grade 8 LAL, 52.5% to 63.5% Grade 8 Math, 31.9% to 40.4%

Priority Area 2: Professional Effectiveness Goals: 2.1Implement “Job-Embedded” Staff Development Program 2.2Recruit, Retain, Support Highly Qualified Staff 2.3Identify, Mentor, Train School Leaders

2.1 Job-Embedded Staff Development “Every Teacher a Specialist” Focus on Teacher Mastery of Content in Literacy, Math and Science Continuous and High Quality Training for Staff at All Levels From August Anticipation to September Survival to Faceoff and Project PREP Minimize Loss of Student Instructional Time

“Coaching” in Real Time: Every Day An Occasion to Learn Language Arts, K-3: 1,444 Days of Aussie Coaching, Plus 900 Days for Reading First and 2,366 Days by District Coaches Math: 120 Days of Aussie Coaching, K-2, Plus 2236 Days by LL Teach in Grades 3-6 Integrated Curriculum: 238 Days of Co-Nect coaching in Grades 4-5 IDE: 72 Days by District Coaches in Grade 9

2.2Recruit, Retain, Support Highly Qualified Staff 90% of Teaching Staff is Highly Qualified 98% of Teachers Completed 100 Hours of Cycle I Professional Development Of Concern: Recruitment of Math, Science and Special Education Teachers Of Concern: Retention of New Teachers

2.3Identify, Mentor, Train School Leaders ECLIPSE: Educational and Collaborative Leadership Institute for Principals and Supervisors Over 188 Completions Since Alumni Placed in Administrative Positions I LEAD: Institute of Legal Education for Administrators Advances Equity and Achievement in Schools 40% Reduction in Cases Filed (From an average of /Yr to 72)

Priority Area 3: Foundations for Learning Goals: 3.1 Provide a Well-Planned, High Quality Pre-School Program 3.2 Implement Intensive Early Literacy Program and Mathematics Initiative 3.3 Establish Smaller Learning Communities at Secondary Level

3.1 Pre-School Program, Ongoing Community Outreach and Family Support 2183 Three Year Olds and 1848 Four Year Olds Served, for a Total of 4031 Students Services Provided at 93 Locations, Including 27 District Sites and 66 Provider Sites Follows High/Scope Educational Model Provides Inclusion, ELL, and Transition Services

3.2 Intensive Early Literacy Program and Math Initiative Early Literacy “Balanced Blocks” Instructional Framework Individualized Assessment Practices Extensive Staff Training and Support Move to MG Literacy Mathematics Standards Based, Inquiry Focused Now 60 Minutes for Grades K-2, and 90 for Grades 3-5 Restructured Middle Grades Curriculum Algebra in Grade 8

3.3 Smaller Learning Communities Participate in NJDOE Secondary Initiative Already Moving Toward SLC; Freshman Academies in all 4 Comprehensive HS Currently, 20 Magnet Programs Serve 1,965 Enrolled Students at 4 High Schools Academic Program in Each Comprehensive HS; Enrollment Now at 101; All Taking Honors Courses

Priority Area 4: Student Support Goals: 4.1 Increase Student 4-Year Retention Rate in Grades 9 Through Provide an Integrated Social/Behavioral Support System to Address Issues that Impact Student Learning and Adjustment to School 4.3 Develop “All Inclusive” Schools

4.1Student 4-Year Retention Rate in Grades 9 Through 12 Rises from 49% to 69%

4.2 Integrated Social/Behavioral Student Support System School Uniform Policy at 98% Compliance 15 Together, Jumpstart, Carpe Diem and STARS Provide Transition and Support Services Character Ed National Demonstration Site Diversity as Strength: 75 Different Language Groups…Each with Something Important to Say

4.3 “All Inclusive” Schools All District Schools are AIS 1661 Special Ed Students % -Spend 80%+ of Time in General Ed Classes 1363 Special Ed Students % - Spend % of Time in General Ed Classes Out-of-District Placements Reduced by 38 Students 21 Students Returned From OOD Placements Since 2004

Priority Area 5: Systems and Operations Increase Capacity of District and All Schools in Data-Driven Decision Making Develop and Implement a Facilities Master Plan Based Upon Identified Student Need and School/Community Vision

5.1 Capacity to Access, Use Data The Co-Nect Data Project: Tools and Training for the Analysis and Use of Data to Inform Instruction in the Classroom; “Data Teams” in all schools, with 206 Days of On-Site Coaching Provided The Data Warehouse: Collection and Storage of Student/Staff/District Information in a “Relational Database” Application of Web-Based “Business Intelligence” Solutions to Support the Educational Enterprise

5.3 Facilities Master Plan, Five New High Schools: Liberty, Medical Arts, Construction Trades, Visual/Performing Arts, SLC Comprehensive; Renovate Five Six New Middle Schools; Renovate Three Replace Seven Elementary Schools; Renovate Twenty Thirteen New Early Childhood Centers