First Things First A Framework for Systemic High School Reform James P. Connell, Ph. D. Institute for Research and Reform in Education US Department of Education High School Summit October 8, 2003 Archived Information

Who Are We? Institute for Research and Reform in Education  IRRE is a not-for-profit organization  We developed First Things First, a comprehensive K-12 research-based reform framework

Who Do We Work With?  Urban Districts –Kansas City, KS (all 28 elementary, eight middle and five high schools) –Kansas City, MO (all four comprehensive high schools and one magnet high school) –Riverview Gardens, MO (one urban high school and two middle schools –Houston, TX (three large high schools and four middle schools) –New Orleans, LA (10 high schools)  Rural Districts –High schools in Greenville and Shaw, MS

Who Are Our “Sponsors”?  Public and private investors in educational reform –Private foundations  Carnegie Foundation  Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation  Gates Foundation –State and U.S. Departments of Education –Public school districts

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

 Over 150 SLCs now being implemented in comprehensive high schools  Implementation standards for SLCs –Small and tall –Thematic with student and teacher choice –Pure –Common planning time –Flexible allocation of resources –Collective responsibility  For student outcomes  For instructional improvement Small Learning Communities (SLCs)

Evidence of Effectiveness  From Kansas City, Kansas –Approximately 20,000 students  50% African American  25% Hispanic  20% Caucasian  5% Other ethnic groups  Over 70% free and reduced lunch –Completed third year of district-wide implementation of FTF in 2003

Student Commitment

Five Year Trend In KCK - High School Attendance Rate ALL COMPREHENSIVE HIGH SCHOOLS (N=4) Source data: Kansas State Department of Education All high schools implementing FTF

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

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

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

Family Advocate System (FAS)  What is it? –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

Family Advocate System (FAS)  What is it? –Structured training and ongoing support for all professional staff to:  Find and use one-on-one time with students effectively  Monitor student progress with an academic and behavioral profile  Establish regular and productive communication with parents  Conduct effective family conferences  Work with colleagues to ensure each student’s success

Parent Conference Attendance In Four SLCs At One Comprehensive High School school year

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

Instructional Improvement  Provide students who need it most –more instructional time in literacy and math, –lower student/adult ratios –attention to specific learning needs  Work with all teachers to actively engage all students with rigorous, standards-based instruction aligned with high stakes assessments

Student Performance

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

Trends In 8 th Grade Reading Assessment Scores: Kansas City, Kansas Middle Schools Source data: Kansas State Department of Education

Trends In 5 th Grade Reading Assessment Scores: Kansas City, Kansas Elementary Schools Source data: Kansas State Department of Education

Closing The Racial Achievement Gap In Kansas City, Kansas (Grade 5, 8 and 11) Source data: Kansas State Department of Education N=905N=3140N=896N=3313

Closing The Economic Achievement Gap in Kansas City, Kansas (Grades 5, 8 and 11) Source data: Kansas State Department of Education N=1338N=2721N=1291N=2918

Contact Information IRRE