1. Sustaining Reform - We all have a role October 14, 2009 1 (James Starr, Executive Director – commentary at 10/14 State of schools address)

2. Our view to support reform 2

3. 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

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 4

5. 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. 6 Reason to believe: accelerating progress Magnet SchoolsNeighborhood Choice Schools +2.0% Neighborhood schools are improving at a rate nearly 3x of magnets

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

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

9. 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

10. What this could mean: Graduation Rates 10 (1) Years normalized at 2005 entering 9 th grade cohorts By Closing the Gap 200920112013 2016 2015 The increase in reading could correlate to a 3.2% increase in graduation rates every year Graduation rates

11. 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

12. What this could mean: The Economics 12 1. Bureau of Labor Statistics: http://www.bls.gov/emp/emptab7.htmhttp://www.bls.gov/emp/emptab7.htm 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

13. 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

14. Our Focus 14

15. 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

16. www.achievehartford.org Following us and the reform