1 Schools That Operate in Difficult Contexts: Sinking and Struggling National Research University – Higher School of Economics Moscow Sergey Kosarezky Berlin, 2011

2 First study of school differentiation in Russia Socialist legacy – all schools are the same Today there are three types of schools by outcomes: low performing, unstable, high performing Majority of low performing schools are working in difficult social contexts (sinking) Are there schools in difficult contexts that successfully compete with high performing schools?

3 The research data base Three regions of Russia, 2,000 schools. Timeline: Statistical analysis: data (60 variables ): Finance Equipment Staff Performance data Socio-economic background Continent Qualitative analysis School leadership Instruction practice School culture (interaction with parents, cooperation, expectations)

4 National school leaving exams. Concentration of low results % 64% 68% 18% 7% 3% 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% % schools

5 Profiles of clusters Characteristics Ongoing low performanc e Low national exam score High performance Average results in language on national exams Average results in math on national exams Low scores in language on national exams 0,5%1%0,1% Low scores in math on national exams 1%2%0,3% Difference between high and low results in language Difference between high and low results in math Students with good results in primary school 41%43%53% Students with good results in high school 32%33%45% Students with good results in middle school 32% 47% Students repeating grades in primary school 0,7%0,3%0,1% Students repeating grades in secondary school 0,6%0,2%0,1% Students finishing high school with high grades 24%28%37% Students finishing middle school with high grades 32%33%49%

6 Distribution of school Type Outliers 7%3%1% Low performance 29%26%36% Low national exams scores 25%24%30% High performance 21%18%17% No data 18%29%16%

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8 Sinking schools Social status of students Social context Underperforming schools Successful schools Region 1Region 2Region 1Region 2 One or both parents are unemployed 13%4%7%0% Both parents have university degree 15%4%22%31% Families speaking non- Russian native language 1,3%9%0,6%2%

9 Sinking schools Limited resources CHARACTERISTIC Underperforming schools Successsful schools Share of highly qualified teachers 34%55% Schools provided with special education teachers 6%36% Share of students in programs with advanced subjects 19%71%

10 Culture of sinking No extra work with highly motivated students Lack of social activities No partnership with parents Low expectations Care instead of teaching

11 STRUGGLING – PROVIDING HIGH QUALITY IN DIFFICULT CONTEXT

12 Struggling schools Scho ols Student sBroken homes % Highly educated parents % Large families % Workers % Low- income families % School School School ,565150,5 School

13 “ Struggling” : effective strategies High expectations for students and challenging educational objectives Careful monitoring of curriculum implementation and quality of outcomes Collaboration and professional development Partnership with parents and community Positive culture and supportive environment Strong leadership and cooperation

14 Policy questions Support to the leaders or to the losers? How to support sinking schools? Could we return to the socialist social bengineering in education?

15 Sergey Kosarezky