Building Ownership, Building Ownership, Setting Goals, and Leading Setting Goals, and Leading

ChangeChange

Helen Blanch, Ed.D.Helen Blanch, Ed.D.

Miami-Dade County Public SchoolsMiami-Dade County Public Schools

Education today must be student-centered, Education today must be student-centered, parent-centered, customer-centered parent-centered, customer-centered

learning—the kind we hope to foster all learning—the kind we hope to foster all across the countryacross the country

Rod Paige, United States Secretary of EducationRod Paige, United States Secretary of Education

Miami-Dade MilestonesMiami-Dade Milestones

• 1954 Professional Development Laboratory school1954 Professional Development Laboratory schoolHenry West Laboratory SchoolHenry West Laboratory School

• 1973 Magnet School1973 Magnet SchoolCharles Drew Elementary SchoolCharles Drew Elementary School

• 1987 Satellite Learning Center1987 Satellite Learning CenterAmerican Bankers Insurance CorporationAmerican Bankers Insurance Corporation

• 1995 Open Controlled Enrollment1995 Open Controlled EnrollmentMaya Angelou, Comstock, and Kelsey Maya Angelou, Comstock, and Kelsey

PharrPharrElementary SchoolsElementary Schools

• 1996 Charter School1996 Charter SchoolLiberty City Charter SchoolLiberty City Charter School

• 2000 Opportunity Scholarships2000 Opportunity Scholarships

• 2002 Voluntary Public School Choice2002 Voluntary Public School ChoiceAda Merritt ElementaryAda Merritt Elementary

• 2004 No Child Left Behind Transfers2004 No Child Left Behind Transfers

Choice in 2004Choice in 2004

• Magnet programsMagnet programs 21,08921,089• Open-Enrollment schoolsOpen-Enrollment schools 7,255 7,255• Voluntary Public School Choice Program Voluntary Public School Choice Program 3,628 3,628• Professional Development Lab School 353Professional Development Lab School 353• McKay Scholarships McKay Scholarships 280 280• NCLB transfersNCLB transfers 505 505• Opportunity ScholarshipsOpportunity Scholarships 552 552• Student TransfersStudent Transfers 11,53411,534• School for Advanced Studies 197School for Advanced Studies 197• Technical Senior High SchoolsTechnical Senior High Schools 3,856 3,856

Total Students Participating in ChoiceTotal Students Participating in Choice 66,434 66,434

Approximately 20% of total student enrollmentApproximately 20% of total student enrollment

Students, including those at-risk, Students, including those at-risk, benefit from choice programsbenefit from choice programs

Reading (Grade 6-10 free lunch students )

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Standard Magnet

Median percentile

Black

Hispanic

White

• White students, fluent in English, and without White students, fluent in English, and without economic adversity had higher rates of acceptable economic adversity had higher rates of acceptable achievementachievement

• Minority students in magnet schools averaged 4 – 12 Minority students in magnet schools averaged 4 – 12 percentile points in elementary and 17 – 25 percentile points in elementary and 17 – 25 percentile points higher NRT scores than their peers percentile points higher NRT scores than their peers in traditional schoolsin traditional schools

Student AchievementStudent Achievement

• The medians of most The medians of most

ethnic groups (excluding LEP) ethnic groups (excluding LEP)

in mathematics and reading were in mathematics and reading were

above the national 50th percentileabove the national 50th percentile

Building Ownership:Building Ownership: Parental, Community, Internal Parental, Community, Internal

Being a “commuter” parent and student from Being a “commuter” parent and student from neighboring Broward County, we bypassed several neighboring Broward County, we bypassed several community schools that graded very well under the community schools that graded very well under the

State of Florida plan, to enroll our child at Ada Merritt. State of Florida plan, to enroll our child at Ada Merritt. We could not be happier or have made a wiser choice We could not be happier or have made a wiser choice at this point. Ada Merritt is indeed a special place with at this point. Ada Merritt is indeed a special place with

unlimited potential for student achievement and unlimited potential for student achievement and growth. I believe in and support the mission of Ada growth. I believe in and support the mission of Ada

Merritt!Merritt!

Daryl C. Perry, Ada Merritt Parent and President 2003-2004 PTADaryl C. Perry, Ada Merritt Parent and President 2003-2004 PTA

Parents’ PerceptionsParents’ Perceptions

Evidence: Comparison of two schoolsEvidence: Comparison of two schools::

The school’s program helps my child achieve his/her potential.

3.32 3.34

The school has an excellent academic reputation.

3.15 3.57

The first school is a “Double F” schoolThe first school is a “Double F” school

The second school has been an “A” school in three of the last four yearsThe second school has been an “A” school in three of the last four years

Source: Controlled Choice Parent Survey, 2002

Charter School SurveyCharter School Survey

• Number of Children in Each ClassNumber of Children in Each Class• Quality of TeachersQuality of Teachers• Safe School EnvironmentSafe School Environment• Friendly School EnvironmentFriendly School Environment• Parent InvolvementParent Involvement• Student Discipline PolicyStudent Discipline Policy• Quality of InstructionQuality of Instruction

Rationale for ChoiceRationale for Choice

Disparity in ParticipationDisparity in Participation

• Black and White students are twice as likely as Black and White students are twice as likely as Hispanic students to participate in magnet programsHispanic students to participate in magnet programs

• Hispanic and White students are twice as likely to Hispanic and White students are twice as likely to participate in charter schoolsparticipate in charter schools

• Non-LEP students are six times as likely to Non-LEP students are six times as likely to participate in magnet programsparticipate in magnet programs

• Non-LEP are as likely as LEP students to participate Non-LEP are as likely as LEP students to participate in charter schoolsin charter schools

• Students who are eligible for free/reduced Students who are eligible for free/reduced lunch are 1.7 times lunch are 1.7 times lessless likely to likely to participate in magnet programs and 1.9 participate in magnet programs and 1.9 times times lessless likely to participate in charter likely to participate in charter schoolsschools

Schools of Choice Advisory CommitteeSchools of Choice Advisory Committee

The Schools of Choice Advisory Committee (SCAC) , The Schools of Choice Advisory Committee (SCAC) , established in 1987, includes educators, established in 1987, includes educators, business/community leaders and parents; provides business/community leaders and parents; provides support and guidance to the existing magnet support and guidance to the existing magnet programs/schools and to cooperate in the planning of programs/schools and to cooperate in the planning of future choice programs.future choice programs.

Community InvolvementCommunity Involvement

MECA, established in 1991, is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit MECA, established in 1991, is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit company. Organizationally, MECA has a Board of company. Organizationally, MECA has a Board of Directors comprised of 25 member-representatives Directors comprised of 25 member-representatives selected by each of the six magnet themes. Its mission is selected by each of the six magnet themes. Its mission is to support academic achievement and career readiness to support academic achievement and career readiness by promoting business/education partnerships, by promoting business/education partnerships, establishing and sponsoring special projects, and establishing and sponsoring special projects, and coordinating fundraising activities which enhance coordinating fundraising activities which enhance learning opportunities.learning opportunities.

Magnet Educational Choice AssociationMagnet Educational Choice Association

Community InvolvementCommunity Involvement

Industry Advisory GroupsIndustry Advisory Groups

• Academy of Hospitality and TourismAcademy of Hospitality and Tourism• Academy of FinanceAcademy of Finance• Academy of Information TechnologyAcademy of Information Technology• ActivitiesActivities

– Curriculum to real life expectationsCurriculum to real life expectations– Fund raisingFund raising– Internships for studentsInternships for students– Mentorship for teachersMentorship for teachers

Community InvolvementCommunity Involvement

Setting GoalsSetting Goals

Key Actions: Key Actions: Parent OutreachParent Outreach

• Ensure the message reaches Ensure the message reaches allall groups groups• Develop a multifaceted communication strategyDevelop a multifaceted communication strategy

– Recruitment eventsRecruitment events– Media (print, TV, radio)Media (print, TV, radio)

• Provide personalized interactionProvide personalized interaction– Targeted recruitmentTargeted recruitment– Town hall meetingsTown hall meetings

• Help parents understand their choicesHelp parents understand their choices• Streamline processes to avoid confusionStreamline processes to avoid confusion

Key Actions:Key Actions:Community Involvement Community Involvement

• Survey community perceptionSurvey community perception• Strengthen existing community partnershipsStrengthen existing community partnerships• Establish diverse community relationshipsEstablish diverse community relationships

– BusinessBusiness– AssociationsAssociations– Church groupsChurch groups– UniversityUniversity– Alumni associationsAlumni associations– Local governments/municipalitiesLocal governments/municipalities

Key Actions:Key Actions:Build District InfrastructureBuild District Infrastructure

Short term goalsShort term goals• Build information-processing capacity Build information-processing capacity • Evaluate progress continuously through hard data Evaluate progress continuously through hard data

collection and analysiscollection and analysis• Ensure quality and high standards in choices providedEnsure quality and high standards in choices provided• Align district operations to streamline choice process Align district operations to streamline choice process • Replicate successful programsReplicate successful programs

Long term goalsLong term goals• Expand space and transportation optionsExpand space and transportation options• Start new programs Start new programs • Establish new community outreach rolesEstablish new community outreach roles

throughthroughLessons LearnedLessons Learned

Leading ChangeLeading Change

“putting lipstick on a bulldogputting lipstick on a bulldog” Rosabeth Moss Kanter, 2001

Cosmetic changes are like….Cosmetic changes are like….

Vertical and Horizontal AlignmentVertical and Horizontal Alignment

• School BoardSchool Board• SuperintendentSuperintendent• Senior StaffSenior Staff• Ancillary Ancillary

DepartmentsDepartments• Regional OfficesRegional Offices• PrincipalsPrincipals• School StaffSchool Staff• ParentsParents

• Align program goals Align program goals to district goalsto district goals

• Assign appropriate Assign appropriate staff to manage staff to manage programsprograms

• Build in flexibilityBuild in flexibility

Our experience…Our experience…

• Use hard data to drive decisions. Data analysis influences how people think, but …

• Broadly communicate findings, but…

• Break the silo mentality, by..

• help people understand help people understand what the data means.what the data means.

• Address misperceptions, Address misperceptions, which can be just as which can be just as important.important.

• Establishing a district Establishing a district leadership team to leadership team to achieve broad buy-inachieve broad buy-in

http://choice.dadeschools.nethttp://choice.dadeschools.net