Salem TurnaroundCommunity Forum12.2.2011

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Today’s AgendaHow We Got HereWhat Level 4 MeansNow What? How You Can HelpDiscussion and Questions

What this is all about

"This is about changing business as usual. We are working harder now to place our lowest performing schools on a

path to success, so all students will get the education and the opportunities they deserve.“

- Governor Deval Patrick

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What is Level 4? Level 4 Schools are the state’s lowest performing schools

based on four-year trends in achievement and MCAS performance.

Districts with Level 4 schools are Level 4 districts There are currently 40 Level 4 schools in 10 districts

statewide. →22 Elementary schools (including Bentley)→9 middle schools→3 K-8 schools→6 high schools

If, after three years, L4 schools do not improve, the state intervenes

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Expectations for Level 4 Schools/Districts Turning around persistently low-achieving schools requires a new

way of doing the work that is TRANSFORMATIVE for the students and teachers in the school

The 2010 state law provides new flexibility to change the conditions that have stymied previous attempts at whole school reform

The state holds districts accountable for turning their Level 4 Schools around

Funding for Level 4 Schools is NOT an entitlement or automatic Measurable annual goals must be clear and rigorous Districts are not required to accept DESE assistance, but they are

required to meet their annual goals

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The 11 Essential Conditions for School Effectiveness Effective district systems for school support and intervention Effective school leadership Aligned curriculum Effective instruction Balanced system of formative and benchmark assessments Enhanced staffing authority for the Principal Professional development and structures for collaboration Tiered instruction and adequate learning time Safe school environment and a system to address students’ social,

emotional and health needs Family-school engagement Strategic use of resources and adequate budget authority

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Restart modelConvert a school or close and reopen it under a charter school operator, a charter management organization, or an education management organization. A restarted school must enroll any former student who wishes to attend the school.

Restart modelConvert a school or close and reopen it under a charter school operator, a charter management organization, or an education management organization. A restarted school must enroll any former student who wishes to attend the school.

Turnaround modelReplace the principal and rehire no more than 50% of the staff, and grant the principal sufficient operational flexibility to fully implement a comprehensive approach to substantially improve student outcomes.

Turnaround modelReplace the principal and rehire no more than 50% of the staff, and grant the principal sufficient operational flexibility to fully implement a comprehensive approach to substantially improve student outcomes.

Bentley: Four models for change

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Transformation modelReplace the principal and take steps to increase teacher and school leader effectiveness; institute comprehensive instructional reforms; increase learning time and create community-oriented schools; and provide operational flexibility and sustained support.

Transformation modelReplace the principal and take steps to increase teacher and school leader effectiveness; institute comprehensive instructional reforms; increase learning time and create community-oriented schools; and provide operational flexibility and sustained support.

School closure

Close a school and enroll the students who attended that school in other schools in the district that are higher achieving.

School closure

Close a school and enroll the students who attended that school in other schools in the district that are higher achieving.

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Timelines and Requirements

Core beliefs to guide our work

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We need to approach this as a school district and as a community.

We need to build the “Salem Model” The only plan now is to develop a plan Our work will be informed by our data, strategic plan

and other reports (L3, NEASC, etc.) We will consult with other districts Select what’s right for Salem

We need to believe that every child in Salem can achieve at high levels, and establish the conditions to make that possible.

Organizational Structure

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Salem Turnaround: How you can help

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Salem Turnaround: Bentley L4 Planning

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• Select appropriate turnaround model

• Engage community• Implementation planning • Make staffing

recommendations• Identify collective bargaining

issues • Communicate with

community

• Select appropriate turnaround model

• Engage community• Implementation planning • Make staffing

recommendations• Identify collective bargaining

issues • Communicate with

community

Salem Turnaround: Proactive Communications

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• OpEds• Presentations at

community meetings• Information and

outreach• Newsletter• Website• Social media• Traditional media• Listening Tour at every

school in Dec/Jan

• OpEds• Presentations at

community meetings• Information and

outreach• Newsletter• Website• Social media• Traditional media• Listening Tour at every

school in Dec/Jan

Salem Turnaround: Community Engagement

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Teachers and Staff•Survey•Solicit input•Proactively engageBusiness Partners•After school partnership•Resources•In-kind contributions•Internships, externships, apprenticeshipsParents•Conduct a needs assessment •Proactively reach out to Latino parents•Survey•Newsletter•Parents page

Teachers and Staff•Survey•Solicit input•Proactively engageBusiness Partners•After school partnership•Resources•In-kind contributions•Internships, externships, apprenticeshipsParents•Conduct a needs assessment •Proactively reach out to Latino parents•Survey•Newsletter•Parents page

Salem Turnaround: L3 Schools

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• Conduct district-wide stakeholder outreach• Identify each school’s

strengths and weaknesses• Carefully review and use

data to plan changes to improve outcomes• Regular meetings with

district leadership

• Conduct district-wide stakeholder outreach• Identify each school’s

strengths and weaknesses• Carefully review and use

data to plan changes to improve outcomes• Regular meetings with

district leadership

Salem Turnaround: School Committee

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• Policy decisions• School assignment

policies• Parent Information

Center• Reallocation of

resources• Collective bargaining

• Policy decisions• School assignment

policies• Parent Information

Center• Reallocation of

resources• Collective bargaining

Salem Turnaround: Wrap-Around Services

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• Early Childhood Center• After school

programming• Social, emotional and

safety needs of students• Tutoring• Mentoring• Partnerships with

Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs, Catholic Charities, YMCA, etc.

• Early Childhood Center• After school

programming• Social, emotional and

safety needs of students• Tutoring• Mentoring• Partnerships with

Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs, Catholic Charities, YMCA, etc.

Salem Turnaround: District-wide Change

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• Overall culture• Priorities and goals• Curriculum review• STEM education• Capacity analysis• Collective bargaining

impact

• Overall culture• Priorities and goals• Curriculum review• STEM education• Capacity analysis• Collective bargaining

impact

Salem Turnaround: Other ideas?

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The work ahead: Bentley

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Date Action

December 2 Initial community forum

December 14 Bentley stakeholder group convenes

December-January Additional outreach, solicit input, accept public comment, stakeholder sessions underway

January 28 Recommendations submitted to the superintendent

February 27 Superintendent submits draft turnaround plan to School Committee and DESE

March DESE site visit to Bentley

March 27 DESE response

April School Committee votes, final turnaround plan submitted to state

May Preparation and planning for implementation begins; federal grant applications submitted

September 2012 Implementation

The work ahead: Salem

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Date Action

December 2 Initial community forum

December-February Additional outreach, solicit input, accept public comment, stakeholder sessions underway

January Initiate short-term interventions

By March 1 Committees develop priorities and recommendations

March Turnaround project manager and superintendent use recommendations to develop district-wide plan

Early April Community forum

April Superintendent, Mayor and School Committee finalize turnaround plan

May Finalize 2012-2013 school budget

September 2012 Implementation begins

Core beliefs to guide our work

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We need to approach this as a school district and as a community.

We need to build the “Salem Model” The only plan now is to develop a plan Our work will be informed by our data, strategic plan

and other reports (L3, NEASC, etc.) We will consult with other districts Select what’s right for Salem

We need to believe that every child in Salem can achieve at high levels, and establish the conditions to make that possible.

How you can help Stay informed:

→www.salemk12.org→www.salem.com

Get involved: →Sign up for a Turnaround Partner committee→Respond to surveys→Become a school volunteer→Encourage others to get involved

Tell us what you think: →superintendent@salemk12.org→mayor@salem.com

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