What is Atypical about Schools that Achieve Atypical Results?

1. What is Atypical about Schools that Achieve Atypical Results? Joseph F. Johnson, Jr., Ph.D. Executive Director National Center for Urban School Transformation FASFEPA/ECTAC Conference February 22, 2008

2. National Center for Urban School Transformation Dedicated to identifying, studying, and promoting the best practices of America’s highest achieving urban schools in a manner that supports urban districts in transforming teaching and learning http://www.ncust.org 3rd Annual Symposium: May 8th & 9th, 2008 in San Diego

3. Typical Schools Get Some Students to Achieve Challenging Standards • Students from affluent families • Students who speak English at home • Students with parents who have high levels of education • Students who are White • Students who do not have disabilities • Students whose families rarely move

4. Often However, Typical Schools Have Difficulty Ensuring the Success of: • Students from low-income families • Students who speak languages other than English at home • Students whose parents have little education • Students who are Black or Latino • Students with disabilities • Students from highly mobile families

5. Most Title I Schools That: • Use typical programs • Provide typical instruction • Teach typical curricula, and • Relate to students and parents in typical ways Achieve Typical Results!

6. NCUST Studies Schools that Achieve Atypical Results • Majority of students meet low-income criteria, no selective admissions criteria, and in an urban district; yet: • Higher achievement than state average and higher than 90 percent of similar schools • Small or no achievement gaps • Exceed AYP criteria for at least two years • Low suspension/expulsion rates • High attendance rates • High graduation rates • No disproportionate racial/ethnic enrollments in gifted or special education • Other evidence of high achievement

7. Recent NCUST Award Winners • Community Day Charter, Lawrence, MA (2006) • Ginter Park Elementary, Richmond, VA (2006) • Linwood Elementary, Oklahoma City, OK (2006) • Muller Elementary, Hillsborough County, FL (2006) • Whittier Primary School, Peoria, IL (2006) • Cecil Park Elementary, Mt. Vernon, NY (2007) • Columbus Alt. High School, Columbus, OH (2007) • Detroit Edison Academy, Detroit, MI (2007) • Edison Elementary, Long Beach, CA (2007) • Gideons Elementary, Atlanta, GA (2007) • Pillow Elementary, Austin, TX (2007) • Rancho Cucamonga Middle, Cucamonga, CA (2007)

8. Gideons Elementary SchoolAtlanta, GA • Enrollment: 550 • 96% African American • 88% Low-Income • 96% proficient in reading/language arts • 94% proficient in mathematics • 48% EXCEED state standards in reading/language arts

9. Cecil H. Parker ElementaryMount Vernon, New York • Enrollment: 450 • 99% African American • 78% Low-Income • 91% proficient in reading (increased from 27% to 91% over six years) • 96% proficient in mathematics

10. Thomas Edison ElementaryLong Beach, CA • Enrollment: 1,000 • 95% Latino • 88% Low-Income • 808 Academic Performance Index (state target is 800) • 802 Academic Performance Index for English learners

11. Columbus Alternative High SchoolColumbus, OH • Enrollment: 611 • Grades 9-12 • 60% African American • 59% low-income • 97% proficient in reading • 95% proficient in mathematics • 82% proficient in science

12. 2008 Finalists • From Bakersfield, Birmingham, Cleveland, El Paso, Ft. Lauderdale, Houston, Long Beach, Miami, Newark, Norfolk, Philadelphia, Richmond, Sacramento • 13 elementary schools • 4 middle schools • 3 high schools

13. Schools that Achieve Atypical Results Do So: • Not by accident • Not simply by hard work • Not by gaming the system • They develop programs, systems, and structures that are resulting in atypical -- • Curricula (rigor) • Instruction (relevance) • School cultures (relationships)

14. Every High-Performing School is Different • There is no simple formula • There is no checklist • Their strengths vary, but they generally include characteristics that are atypical for Title I schools (particularly related to curriculum, instruction, and/or school culture)

15. What is Atypical About Curriculum and Instruction in High-Performing Title I Schools?

16. Most Title I Schools with Atypical Results Don’t Try to Teach Everything • Many Title I schools have used curriculum alignment processes and pacing charts to ensure that all standards are covered well. • In contrast, many high-performing schools reduce the number of objectives that are the focus of instruction. Educators identify critical standards and focus attention on teaching them well.

17. Most Title I Schools with Atypical Results Don’t Try to Teach Everything • Schools with atypical results establish objective ways to determine that students have learned key concepts to a level that is at least as rigorous as required by their state assessment. • By ensuring that students are learning the most critical standards well, educators reduce the amount of “drive-by” teaching and help students develop a depth of understanding. Educators feel a greater sense of efficacy when they aren’t pressed to “cover” so much.

18. Most Title I Schools with Atypical Results Have Timely Systems of Support • Many Title I schools have few systematic ways of identifying students who need extra assistance in a timely manner. Even fewer have structured systems that have a high likelihood of providing tailored assistance promptly and effectively. • In contrast, in high-performing schools, systems guarantee that student learning needs are identified promptly. As well, systems have been structured to ensure that identified needs will be addressed in a timely, effective manner.

19. In Most Title I Schools with Atypical Results, Teachers Constantly Adapt Instruction • In typical schools, teachers acquire little feedback to gauge student understanding of the content of instruction. Even when feedback suggests that students do not understand, teachers typically proceed with the lesson as designed. • In contrast, teachers in high-performing schools are more likely to seek considerable student feedback during each lesson, especially from students with greater needs.

20. In Most Title I Schools with Atypical Results, Teachers Constantly Adapt Instruction • In response to the feedback they receive, teachers adapt methods, examples, and strategies frequently. They modify teaching techniques in ways that are more likely to build upon the backgrounds, prior knowledge, cultures, and interests of students. They make learning exciting for students. • No chicken feeding!

21. Teaching Cycle in Atypical Schools Present Adapt Notice

22. In Most Title I Schools with Atypical Results, Leaders Promote Instructional Improvement • In typical Title I schools, principals spend most of their time involved in paperwork, meetings, discipline, and other “in office” activities. Little time is left to spend in classrooms. • In most high-performing schools, principals are in classrooms 40% or more of the school day. Teachers see that good instruction is valued and expected. Leaders constantly seek opportunities to support teachers by acknowledging good instruction and by helping teachers consider ways to make instruction more effective.

23. In Most Title I Schools with Atypical Results, Collaboration Leads to Better Instruction • In many Title I schools, collaboration time has become fashionable. “Professional learning communities” and other group structures are common; however, they often do not lead to improvements in teaching. • In most high-performing Title I schools, collaboration time is devoted to solving problems related to improving student learning. Teachers and school leaders come together with an impressive openness to change. They openly share student work and invite each other to critique their teaching. They share their best ideas and build upon each other’s strengths.

24. In Most Title I Schools with Atypical Results, Professional Development is Focused • In many Title I schools, random acts of professional development are common. Teachers commonly spend time learning about a variety of topics. Rarely are teachers able to answer the question, “What are you doing differently now because of the professional development you received?” • In most high-performing Title I schools, professional development has a clear focus over an extended period of time. Systems are structured to work toward mastery in classroom implementation before moving to the next initiative.

25. What is Atypical about the Culture of High-Performing Title I Schools?

26. In Most Title I Schools with Atypical Results, Everyone is Goal Driven • Almost all Title I schools have goals, but usually the goals exist to satisfy a requirement for goals. Often, there are many goals on paper, but no goals that influence the daily work of teachers, parents, and students. Sometimes, goals are framed around issues that have little meaning to teachers. • In high-performing schools, goals generate enthusiasm. There are school goals, grade level goals, department goals, classroom goals, and student goals. Often, people are focused upon only one or two goals at a time. There is excitement as people work together to achieve important goals.

27. In Most Title I Schools with Atypical Results, Everyone is Goal Driven • In high-performing schools, leaders make goals real by identifying baselines (for all groups) and charting progress regularly. • In these schools, leaders find many ways to identify and celebrate small positive steps toward the attainment of goals. Celebration is part of the culture of the school. As a result, teachers come to believe in their capacity to teach, parents come to believe in their capacity to assist, and students come to believe in their capacity to learn and excel.

28. In Most Title I Schools with Atypical Results, School is Fun! • In many typical Title I schools, leaders have squeezed art, music, drama, physical education and other elective pursuits out of the curriculum. Test prep activities dominate. • In contrast, in high-performing schools students are excited about coming to school to participate in a rich, well-rounded curriculum. In many cases, teachers have integrated core academic content into elective pursuits.

29. In Most Title I Schools with Atypical Results, School is Fun! • High-performing Title I schools engage in test prep activities; however, they do not dominate the school day or the school year. • In the highest performing schools, teachers and leaders understand that often the best “test prep” is engaging instruction that builds deep understanding of content and makes students want to learn more.

30. In Most Title I Schools with Atypical Results, Students Are Eager to Work Hard • Educators in many typical Title I schools complain that students are not “motivated” to work to learn challenging academic content. Behavior problems often interfere with instructional efforts. • In the highest performing schools, students perceive they are valued and respected by caring educators. Students are proud of their clean and safe schools and the challenging content they are learning. They appreciate the fair implementation of reasonable rules. They are eager to work hard for their teachers.

31. In Most Title I Schools with Atypical Results, Parents Believe Educators Care • Educators in many typical Title I schools complain that parents are not involved. Apathy and distrust seem to underlie most parent/teacher relationships. • In the highest performing schools, teachers and parents spend time learning about each other. They learn that they all have the children’s best interest at heart. Parents are eager to find ways to support educators who they perceive as eager to find ways to support their children. Educators in these schools give parents new hope for their children’s future.

32. In Most Title I Schools with Atypical Results, Parents Learn How to Engage • Parents in many typical Title I schools perceive that they do not have the capacity to help their child succeed in school. • In the highest performing schools, parents learn about the specific standards their children need to master. They learn easy strategies for supporting their child’s learning at home and at school.

33. In Most Title I Schools with Atypical Results, Teachers Feel Well Supported • Teachers in many typical Title I schools feel over-burdened, stressed, and under appreciated. Attendance rates are often low and turnover rates are typically high. • In the highest performing schools, teachers trust that school leaders care sincerely about them. They perceive that leaders are providing the attention, resources, and expertise they need to have a high likelihood of success. Attendance is high and turnover is relatively rare.

34. In Most Title I Schools with Atypical Results, Teachers Feel Part of Something Special • Teachers in many typical Title I schools are “Lone Rangers.” They work solo in their classrooms and try to avoid the many adult issues that tend to consume both time and energy. • In the highest performing schools, teachers believe they are part of a team that will make a powerful difference in children’s lives. Adult issues are resolved professionally and promptly in a spirit that allows everyone to maintain dignity. Teachers believe in their colleagues, in part, because they perceive that their colleagues believe in them.

35. In Title I Schools with Atypical Results, Equity and Excellence Are Not Dichotomous Goals Educators in these schools act as if they believe that: • Equity without excellence is mediocrity. • Excellence without equity is an oxymoron.