Level 4 and 5 Schools

1. Level 4 and 5 Schools An Update about Newly Identified Level 4 Schools, Schools Remaining in Level 4, and Newly Identified Level 5 Schools Presentation to the Accountability and Assistance Advisory Council December 12, 2013

2. Level 4 Schools Discussion Overview • Turnaround Operator Schools • Schools Designated • Level 5 • New Level 4 Schools • Schools Exiting • Level 4 Provide an update about newly identified Level 4 schools and next steps Provide an update about schools exiting Level 4 and next steps Provide an update about schools remaining in Level 4, including the monitoring protocol, and next steps Provide an update about newly identified Level 5 schools and next steps

3. 7 Newly Identified Level 4 Schools • Schools Exiting • Level 4 • New Level 4 • Schools District School Grade Level Athol-Royalston Riverbend Elementary Boston William Ellery Channing Elementary Boston John Winthrop Elementary Fall River Samuel Watson Elementary New Bedford New Bedford HS High Springfield HS of Science & Technology High Springfield Milton Bradley Elementary • Turnaround Operator Schools • Schools Designated Level 5

4. New Level 4 Schools: An Update • Schools Exiting • Level 4 • New Level 4 • Schools • Local Stakeholder Groups (LSGs): • All LSGs have convened. Each school’s LSG has made recommendations to the school’s superintendent about the contents of the turnaround plan. • Several districts are engaging in the collective bargaining process. • Next Step: Developing the Turnaround Plan • After considering the LSG’s recommendations and completion of bargaining process, each school’s turnaround plan will be developed by the superintendent. • ESE has provided a template and guidance for how to write the plans. • We expect plans to be submitted between January and February 2014. • Turnaround Operator Schools • Schools Designated Level 5

5. School Redesign Grant (SRG) • Schools Exiting • Level 4 • New Level 4 • Schools • All of the new Level 4 schools will have the option to apply for FY14 School Redesign Grant funds. • MA has approximately $9 million to award through competitive process; there will be 9 eligible schools (three-year awards). • Applications will be submitted in late March 2014. • The target award date is June 1, 2014. • For schools that receive awards, funding will begin September 1, 2014. • Turnaround Operator Schools • Schools Designated Level 5

6. 14 Schools Exiting Level 4 • Schools Exiting • Level 4 • New Level 4 • Schools • Exiting to Level 1 (5 schools): • Boston – Orchard Gardens K-8; Trotter ES • Fall River – Kuss MS • Lowell – Murkland ES • Springfield – Zanetti K-8 • Exiting to Level 2 (1 school): • Fall River – Doran ES • Exiting to Level 3 (8 schools): • Boston – Blackstone MS; Harbor MS; JFK ES • Lynn – Connery ES; Harrington ES • Springfield – Gerena ES; Homer ES • Worcester – Union Hill ES • Turnaround Operator Schools • Schools Designated Level 5

7. Next Steps for Schools Exiting Level 4 • Schools Exiting • Level 4 • New Level 4 • Schools • We have received “Exit Assurances Applications” from all of these schools, identifying ongoing sustainability supports, requesting continued flexibilities, and allowing ESE to monitor progress. • We are reviewing the Exit Assurances Applications in December, and hope to approve in January 2014. • In the spring of 2014, schools will be visited to ensure the conditions for success are continuing. • Exiting schools may participate in an ongoing network to support efforts and continue to learn about best practices. We’ve already connected one new Level 4 school with one that is exiting so that the newly identified school could learn from the other’s past three years of work. • Turnaround Operator Schools • Schools Designated Level 5

8. Schools Continuing in Level 4 Status Boston: • Burke High School • Dearborn Middle School Springfield: • Brightwood Elementary • Elias Brookings Elementary Worcester: • Chandler Elementary

9. Next Steps for Schools Continuing in Level 4 Status • Winter ‘13-‘14: By law, all Level 4 schools must develop and submit a new or modified Turnaround Plan (with reset MAGs aligned to PPI). • Spring 2014: All schools receive a Monitoring Site Visit to assess the extent to which Conditions for School Effectiveness are embedded. • Fall 2014: Based on SY13-14 data, Commissioner will revisit each school’s level designation.

10. Schools Working with Turnaround Operators • Schools Exiting • Level 4 • New Level 4 • Schools • Boston: • English High School • E. Greenwood Elementary School • Holyoke: • Dean Vocational Technical High School • Springfield: • White Street Elementary School • Chestnut Street Middle School • JFK Middle School • Kiley Middle School • Commerce High School • Turnaround Operator Schools • Schools Designated Level 5

11. Next Steps for Level 4 Schools Working with Operators • Schools Exiting • Level 4 • New Level 4 • Schools • Winter ‘13- ‘14: By law, all Level 4 schools must develop and submit a new or modified Turnaround Plan (with reset MAGs aligned to PPI). • Quarterly monitoring visits will be conducted with these schools throughout the year. • The first monitoring visits are happening this month; reports expected in January. • Spring 2014: All schools will receive Monitoring Site Visits to assess the extent to which Conditions for School Effectiveness are embedded. • Fall 2014: Based on SY ‘13-‘14 data, the Commissioner will revisit each school’s level designation. • Turnaround Operator Schools • Schools Designated Level 5

12. Schools Exiting • Level 4 • New Level 4 • Schools The Monitoring Process Has 3 Parts Monitoring Process 1. Evidence collection Turnaround Monitor requests evidence related to benchmarks or key questions (~2-3 weeks prior to meeting) District and operator submit evidence Turnaround Monitor reviews evidence Monitor requests additional evidence based on findings, as necessary Monitor holds conversations with ESE/district/operator/staff, as necessary 3. Gateway to next cycle 1. Evidence collection 3. Gateway to next cycle Monitor writes and submits report to ODST (~2 weeks after meeting) ESE uses evidence from monitor reports to determine if intervention and progress are sufficient for school to remain Level 4 2. Quarterly meeting District, operator, school leader and monitor meet to review evidence and discuss successes and areas of concern 2. Quarterly meeting • Turnaround Operator Schools • Schools Designated Level 5

13. Schools Designated Level 5 • Schools Exiting • Level 4 • New Level 4 • Schools • Boston: • Dever Elementary School • Holland Elementary School • Holyoke: • Morgan Full Service Community School • New Bedford: • Parker Elementary School • Turnaround Operator Schools • Schools Designated Level 5

14. New Level 5 Schools: An Update • Schools Exiting • Level 4 • New Level 4 • Schools Since our last meeting, three key steps in the Level 5 process have been completed for the four schools. 1) The school communities had an opportunity to meet with the Commissioner • Dever: October 9, 2013 • Holland: October 10, 2013 • Morgan: October 15, 2013 • Parker: October 24, 2013 2) The Commissioner officially designated all four schools Level 5 (October 30th) 3) All four schools’ Local Stakeholder Groups were convened (November 21st and 22nd) • November 21st: Holland, Morgan, Parker • November 22nd: Dever • Turnaround Operator Schools • Schools Designated Level 5

15. Key Next Steps for Level 5 Schools • Schools Exiting • Level 4 • New Level 4 • Schools • The Local Stakeholder Groups will submit their recommendations to the Commissioner (early January) • The Commissioner will develop a turnaround plan for each school (early February or early March; dependent on whether collective bargaining required) • Each school’s superintendent, school committee, and Local Stakeholder Group will be able to propose modifications to the plan (30 days later) • The Commissioner decides who will work with him to lead the turnaround effort in the district (January): • Send a targeted assistance team to the school to assist the superintendent with the implementation of the turnaround plan; • Require the superintendent to implement the plan; or • Select a receiver to operate the school and implement the plan. • Turnaround Operator Schools • Schools Designated Level 5

16. Panelists: District/Turnaround Operator Partners • Schools Exiting • Level 4 • New Level 4 • Schools • Holyoke: Dean Vocational Technical High School • Greg Oliver, Senior Vice President of Operations, GRAD USA; Dean Technical Project Director • Sergio Paez, Superintendent, Holyoke Public Schools • Lawrence: Oliver Partnership School • Doug Sullivan, Vice President, Lawrence Teachers Union; Member, Governance Council, Oliver Partnership School • Julie Albino, Deputy Chief Redesign Officer, Lawrence Public Schools • Lawrence: UP Academy Leonard; UP Academy Oliver • Scott Given, CEO, Unlocking Potential • Julie Albino, Deputy Chief Redesign Officer, Lawrence Public Schools • Turnaround Operator Schools • Schools Designated Level 5

17. Schools Exiting • Level 4 • New Level 4 • Schools Incentivizing innovative partnerships between districts and turnaround operators Council members and panelists will be asked to provide input and feedback around the following questions: • How can district leaders be incentivized to use turnaround operators voluntarily? Is this strategy something they should consider in Level 3 schools (not just Level 4)? • How can turnaround operators be incentivized to want to work with districts to turn around schools? • What is the Department’s role in building capacity for these kinds of partnerships between districts and turnaround operators? • Turnaround Operator Schools • Schools Designated Level 5