IRRE Overview of Secondary School Reform Framework New Jersey Department of Education Meetings James P. Connell, Ph. D Institute for Research and Reform in Education New Jersey Department of Education Meetings James P. Connell, Ph. D Institute for Research and Reform in Education

IRRE Who Are We? Institute for Research and Reform in Education  IRRE is a not-for-profit organization  We created and developed First Things First  We provide technical assistance to districts and schools  We are working with NJ Department of Education and participating districts and schools to support implementation of Abbott Secondary Regulations

IRRE A comprehensive reform framework... developed to raise students’ academic performance... to levels required for post-secondary education and high quality employment. What Is First Things First?

IRRE Who Do We Work With?  Diverse school districts serving large proportions of low-income students and families – Kansas City, KS (all 28 elementary, eight middle, four comprehensive high schools and one selective high school) – Kansas City, MO (all four comprehensive high schools and one magnet high school) – Riverview Gardens, MO (two middle schools and one high school) – Houston, TX (three middle schools and one high schools) – New Orleans, LA (eight high schools) – High schools in Greenville and Shaw, MS – Norristown, PA (three middle schools and one high school) – Sarasota, FL (five high schools) – Milwaukee, WI (two high schools) – Los Angeles, CA (two high schools)

IRRE Evidence Of Effectiveness  Data from Kansas City, Kansas –Approximately 20,000 students –Majority of children minority –74% free and reduced lunch –Four comprehensive and one selective high schools –Completed fifth year of district-wide implementation of FTF in 2005 –Data presented is from an independent external evaluation and the Kansas State Department of Education

IRRE KCK Graduation Rate – Six Year Trend ALL COMPREHENSIVE HIGH SCHOOLS (N=4) Source data: Kansas State Department of Education All high schools implementing FTF

Trends In 11 th Grade Reading Assessment Scores: Kansas City, Kansas High Schools Source data: Kansas State Department of Education - all students tested *Preliminary data

Trends In 11 th Grade SpEd Reading Assessment Scores: Kansas City, Kansas High Schools Source data: Kansas State Department of Education - all students tested

Closing The Racial Achievement Gap In Reading In KCK

IRRE Percentage Of Students Achieving Proficient Or Above In Reading (Grades 5, 8 & 11) Source data: Kansas State Department of Education - all students tested N= 2149 N= 2150 N= 2123 N= 2124 N= 951 N= 903 N= 894 N= 779

IRRE Percentage Of Students Achieving Proficient Or Above In Reading (Grades 5, 8 & 11) Source data: Kansas State Department of Education - all students tested N= 656 N= 760 N= 917 N= 947 N= 951 N= 903 N= 894 N= 779

Closing The Economic Achievement Gap In Reading In KCK

IRRE Percentage of Students Achieving Proficient or Above (Grades 5, 8 & 11) N= 1325 N= 1276 N= 1117 N= 2716 N= 2906 N= 2940 Source data: Kansas State Department of Education - all students tested

IRRE Components Of Reform Framework PROCESS OUTCOMES STRATEGIES

IRRE Outcomes  For Students –Successfully complete elementary, middle and high school –With academic skills required for next level of education

IRRE Outcomes  For Schools –Change relationships –Improve quality of teaching and learning –Focus all resources on these two things

IRRE Components Of Reform Framework OUTCOMES STRATEGIES

IRRE Reform Strategies  Small Learning Communities  Family Advocate System  Instructional Improvement

IRRE Small Learning Communities (SLCs)  Small, tall and pure  Themes  Common planning time  Flexible allocation of resources  Collective responsibility

IRRE Strategies  Small Learning Communities  Family Advocate System  Instructional Improvement

IRRE Family Advocate System (FAS)  What is it? –In high schools and middle schools with SLCs  A commitment by all professional and other qualified staff –To work with approximately 15 students and their families –For as long as they are in the school –To ensure academic success for those students

IRRE Family Advocate System (FAS)  What do advocates get trained to do? –Use one-on-one and small-group time with students effectively –Monitor student progress with an academic and behavioral profile –Establish regular and productive communication with families –Conduct effective family conferences –Work with colleagues to ensure each student’s success

IRRE Strategies  Small Learning Communities  Family Advocate System  Instructional Improvement

IRRE Instructional Improvement Activities  Embracing shared instructional goals – engagement, alignment and rigor (EAR)  Assessments of instructional goals used as learning tools  Getting common planning time and using it effectively  Training and real time coaching of instructional leaders and teachers around EAR

IRRE Summary  Small Learning Communities  Family Advocate System  Instructional Improvement

IRRE Components Of Reform Framework PROCESS OUTCOMES STRATEGIES

IRRE Planning Year Highlights June – Oct Constituency Building Meetings Select School Improvement Facilitators – begin training Sept – Nov Continue school data collection Fall Kickoff Meeting Jan – Mar Introduction to Instructional Improvement & Curriculum Enrichment Nov – Dec Conduct student survey Select SLC themes Determine school schedule & staffing plan Begin school data collection School Roundtable Conduct staff survey Analysis of faculty & student profiles SLCs formed

IRRE Planning Year Highlights Mar – Summer SLCs begin to meet Instructional Coaches selected by district & schools Ongoing System Leadership Development Jan – June Initial Instructional Training: Engagement, Alignment and Rigor Enroll students in SLCs Develop schedules for SLCs, teachers & students Summer Curriculum Enrichment Training New teacher orientation SLC and Family Advocate trainings Fall ‘06 Full School Implementation of Reform Strategies

Questions & Discussion

IRRE IRRE National Office 1420 Locust Street, 7Q Philadelphia, PA www.irre.org IRRE NJ Team Melissa Brand Laurie Levin