Reaching Our Students: One Kid at a Time Henry Clay Middle School January 15, 2008 Larry Tash Office of School Redesign

Outcomes Why Personalized Learning Environments? Why Personalized Learning Environments? How do We Plan for PLEs? How do We Plan for PLEs? What is the Planning Process for PLEs? What is the Planning Process for PLEs?

Why Personalized Learning Environments?

California Healthy Kids Survey Results Grade 5 Grade 7 Grade 9 Grade 11 Percentage of students who report high levels of caring relationships with a teacher or other adult at their school 64%27%22%28% Percentage of students that report high levels of school connectedness at their school (Total School Assets) 52%27%19%25%

California Healthy Kids Survey 2005 Grade 5 Grade 7 Grade 9 Grade 11 The percentage of students who report high levels of caring relationships with a teacher or other adult at their school 59%28%26%35% The percentage of students that report high levels of school connectedness at their school (Total School Assets) 55%28%23%32%

Johns Hopkins University’s 4 Powerful 6 th Grade Predictors of ‘Falling Off Track’ Attending school 80% or less of the time Attending school 80% or less of the time Receiving a poor final behavior mark Receiving a poor final behavior mark Failing Math Failing Math Failing English Failing English

Why Look in the Middle Grades? Students who enter high school two or more years behind grade level in math and literacy have only a 50/50 chance of on-time promotion to the 10 th grade. Students who enter high school two or more years behind grade level in math and literacy have only a 50/50 chance of on-time promotion to the 10 th grade. Ninth grade retention is the single biggest risk factor for dropping out of high school Ninth grade retention is the single biggest risk factor for dropping out of high school

Low Attending 6th Graders (students absent 36 to 54 school days) Have a 1 in 5 chance of making it to 12th grade on time

6 th Graders with Poor Behavior (students earning an unsatisfactory final behavior mark) Have a 1 in 4 chance of making it to the 12th grade on time

6 th Graders who Fail English Have a 1 in 8 chance of making it to the 12th grade on time

What Are Your Barriers to Improving Student Achievement?

Possible Barriers to Reaching Outcomes Parent Child's growing independence Poor home/school communication Passing educational values to child Uncomfortable being at school Unable to supervise child after school Student Lack of long-term goals Lack of motivation Feel anonymous at school Strong peer group not supporting school Poor attendance No relevance of content School Staff Lack of ownership for student outcomes Works in isolation Content driven Lack of communication with parents Unable to provide academic interventions Unable to engage students in learning

So? What Are the Fixes?

FIVE STEPS FOR SYSTEMIC CULTURE CHANGE Building vision, beliefs, and expectations Building vision, beliefs, and expectations Improving instructional practice Improving instructional practice Creating increased personalization Creating increased personalization Developing supporting structures Developing supporting structures Providing strong transitional support Providing strong transitional support

LAUSD ATTRIBUTES Personalization Unifying Vision/Identity Equity and Access Rigorous Standards-Based Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment Accountability & Distributed Leadership Professional Development Collaboration/Parent and Community Engagement

Personalization Structure Curriculum and Instruction Improved Student Achievement Culture Change is Systemic

PLE Planning In LAUSD

Components of the Middle School Plan Review of the middle school research, local school data, and identification of student needs in this community Review of the middle school research, local school data, and identification of student needs in this community Develop a school/community vision using the Guide to Middle School Redesign and the Superintendent’s Five Guiding Principles Develop a school/community vision using the Guide to Middle School Redesign and the Superintendent’s Five Guiding Principles Plan Personalized Learning Environments supported by the LAUSD Attributes Plan Personalized Learning Environments supported by the LAUSD Attributes Implement the PLE plans Implement the PLE plans

Fixing the Barriers (Staff Activity)

No One Cares How Much You Know Until They Know How Much You Care