Sustaining Reform - We all have a role October 14, (James Starr, Executive Director – commentary at 10/14 State of schools address)

Our view to support reform 2

Observations on the 2009 HPS Results The Results are encouraging – Good signs of progress – More schools are moving up – The community should acknowledge results and their importance A good start toward the goal of closing the achievement gap – A second year of gains – Reading direction is particularly encouraging CAPT results are flat and below target – need to be monitored – Pipeline for 10 th grade measurement will be challenging – 9 th grade reading - 54% of students are 4 or more grade levels below 9 th grade Graduation rate is low at 42%, but improving Can not underestimate the journey – incremental gains impact lives 3

Large challenges remain Hartford is still a low performing district - this is reality Low income population – urban district A very difficult and fragile funding outlook Believing we can change 4

Large challenges remain Hartford is still a low performing district - this is reality Low income population – urban district A very difficult and fragile funding outlook Believing we can change 5

6 Reason to believe: accelerating progress Magnet SchoolsNeighborhood Choice Schools +2.0% Neighborhood schools are improving at a rate nearly 3x of magnets

Reason to Believe: Improved Graduation Rates 7 Hartford produced 278 additional graduates in 2009 based on the improved graduation rate from 2007

Reason to Believe: Improved Reading at all Levels 8 % At/Above Proficient in Reading What could this mean to us?

What this could mean: Closing the reading gap With a continued average annual increase of 4 points, the reading achievement gap can be closed in as little as 7 years 9 These type of gains correlate to increased graduation rates Reading ProficiencyGraduation Rate For every 1% increase at 8 th grade Expect a.8 pt increase (1) Extending this out, closing the reading achievement gap could equate to a 23 point (or more) increase in the graduation rate (1) Miley Gallo & Associates, SC oversight committee, March 2005

What this could mean: Graduation Rates 10 (1) Years normalized at 2005 entering 9 th grade cohorts By Closing the Gap The increase in reading could correlate to a 3.2% increase in graduation rates every year Graduation rates

What Could This Mean: Impact to Lives 11 A 65% graduation rate would result in approximately 480 additional graduates annually, or 53% more than today. Over a 10 year period, this implies that an improved system could result in nearly 5,000 more graduating seniors. Even more if the graduation rate continues to climb

What this could mean: The Economics Bureau of Labor Statistics: High School Drop Out $22,152 High School Graduate $30,732 4-yr College Graduate $50,856 The impacts are meaningful – to individuals and the community A high school graduate earns 39% more than those who do not graduate College graduates earn nearly 65% more than high school graduates Improving student achievement and sustaining Hartford’s reform impacts the community not only socially, but economically

We all need to be accountable and engaged The District – Execution of the Strategic Operating Plan – Parental engagement is growing – take it higher – Reform is complex – continuous, effective communication in all areas is crucial The Community – Understand the Strategic Operating Plan; have high expectations – Raise the dialogue about school issues and improving education – Remain involved – provide support The Parents – Stay involved and know your school. Make informed choices – Prepare your students – encourage excellence – Believe we can change – Embrace civic involvement – engage in issues; Vote 13

Our Focus 14

Our collective challenge While the district is rising, we have a long way to go – Multi-year improvement effort. – Progressing, but fragile The Community needs to adopt and sustain reform. We all have a role 15 Achieve Hartford! looks forward to advocating for long term reform and serving as a catalyst for community reform ownership

Following us and the reform