1. Innovation Schools in BPS
BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Innovation Schools in BPS
Ross Wilson, Managing Partner, Office of Innovation
Presentation to Boston School Committee
November 4, 2015

2. Autonomous Schools in BPS - History
BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Autonomous Schools in BPS - History 2

3. 2015-16 Portfolio of Autonomous Schools
BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Portfolio of Autonomous Schools
Pilot Schools
Innovation Schools
Turnaround Schools
Horace Mann Charter Schools
Elem & K-8
Baldwin ECE
BTU Pilot K-8
Gardner Pilot K-8
Haley Elem
Lee Academy
Lyndon K-8
Mason Elem
Mission Hill K-8
Orchard Gardens K-8
Young Achievers K-8
Blackstone (2013)
Roger Clap (2011)
Eliot K-8 (2012)
Trotter K-8 (2013)
Henderson K-12 (2014)
JF Kennedy (2014)
Blackstone ( )
Channing (2013-present)
Dever (2010-present)* Blueprint
E. Greenwood (2010-present)
Grew Elem (2014-present )
Holland (2010-present)* UP
JF Kennedy Elem ( )
Mattahunt (2013-present )
Orchard Gardens ( )
Trotter ( )
Winthrop (2013-present)
* Named Level 5 schools in 2013
DSNCS (2011)
UP -Boston (2011)
UP-Dorchester (2013)
Middle and HS
ACC
BAA
BCLA
Fenway HS
Greater Egleston HS
Harbor MS & HS
Lila Frederick MS
Lyon 9-12
New Mission HS
Quincy Upper (6-12)
TechBoston Acad (6-12)
M. Muniz Academy (2012)
Madison Park (2012)
CHS-Diploma Plus Innovation Academy (2014)
Burke HS (2010-present)
Dearborn 6-12 (2010-present)
Dorchester Academy (2014-present)
English HS (2010-present)
BDEA (1998)
BGA (2011)
EMK Health Careers (1998) 3

4. 2015-16 Portfolio of Boston Schools
Boston Public Schools School Year
Tradi- tional District
Special District*
Exam
Pilot*
Turn- around*
Innovation
In-District Charter
Alt. Ed (BPS- Affiliated)
71 Schools
11 Schools
3 Schools
21 Schools
12 Schools
9 Schools
6 Schools
7 Schools
Catholic Schools
20 Schools
Common- wealth Charter
21 Schools
Students of Boston
“Special” District includes schools for students with disabilities, English Language Learners, and alternative/over-age.
Note that one turnaround schools is also a pilot school, and is reflected in both categories.
1 district school also have some curricular autonomy as “Discovery School” (Hernandez K-8)

5. Autonomous Schools in BPS - Impact
BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Autonomous Schools in BPS - Impact
Overall enrollment increasing in autonomous schools
32% of BPS students attending autonomous schools in
BPS families are more likely to choose autonomous schools
Twice as many students exercising 1st choice preference are enrolled in autonomous schools 5

6. Autonomous Schools-Current Programs & Initiatives
BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Autonomous Schools-Current Programs & Initiatives
Horace Mann Charter Renewals
Two Horace Mann Charters (UP Boston, BGA) up for renewal with DESE
Innovation School Evaluations and Renewals
One Innovation school (Roger Clap Innovation School) is considering renewal this school year. Eliot, Muniz Academy and Madison Park up for renewal next school year
Building Knowledge and Capacity to Better Support Autonomous Schools
New Autonomous School Manual outlining key implementation guidelines for schools and central office staff finalized in June 2014
Oversight of autonomous schools now integrated across TLT’s
Need for centralized repository (e.g., website etc.) for storing key autonomous school documents and resources) 6 6

7. Goal: Transform Learning Outcomes
BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Goal: Transform Learning Outcomes
BPS aims to develop a robust portfolio of high quality, innovative schools to meet the growing and diversifying needs across the district.
In its ongoing quest to improve and expand school quality and choices, BPS embraces the true notion of innovation and seeks to incubate a pipeline of innovative school proposals—whether through the vehicle of an autonomous pathway (pilot, innovation, Horace Mann charter) or other mechanisms within traditional schools.

8. BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Recommendations
One of the lessons learned from prior efforts is that quality and true innovation cannot be rushed
Revised process for proposals / renewals for all current and future autonomous schools
Focus on innovative practices in addition to innovative governance
Design accountability system for all autonomous schools

9. BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS

10. Appendix A: Links to Key Resources
BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Appendix A: Links to Key Resources
Final Autonomous Schools Manual (finalized June 14, 2014)
June 2014 Report: The Path Forward: School Autonomy and its Implications for the Future of Boston Public Schools
Materials from past RFP Processes (current year never released)
RFP Process (materials developed, never launched)
RFP Process (for schools opened )
RFP Process (for schools opened )
RFP Process (for schools opened )
RFP Process (for schools opened )
Key documents for BPS’ approved Innovation schools
Annual evaluation reports on BPS’ Innovation schools
Folder with info on BPS’ Horace Mann Charter schools
Folder with (incomplete) info on BPS’ Pilot schools (many documents not in electronic form and/or scattered)
Folder with information about BPS Turnaround schools
Full shared Google Drive Folder with all BPS Autonomous School Info 10 10

11. Autonomous schools are no longer the exception in Boston
Appendix B: Autonomous Schools - Impact
Autonomous schools are no longer the exception in Boston
Types of autonomous schools 45 41 40 36 33
32% of BPS students will attend an autonomous school next year 23 21 18 19 19 20 20
Let’s take a step back and look at why we are focusing on school-based autonomy. First, we may be at a tipping point in the system.
Key Events (adapted from CCE)
1994: The historic Pilot School contract agreement is made between the Boston Public Schools and Boston Teachers Union – first in the nation
1997: Pilot directors and CCE agreed to formally create the Boston Pilot Schools Network, with CCE serving as its advocacy organization within a voluntary partnership.  
1998: In a tactical decision made by the entire Network, Boston Evening Academy and Health Careers Academy become state Horace Mann charter schools (dual as pilots)
2002: Boston Community Leadership Academy (formerly Boston High School) becomes the district’s first true conversion Pilot School
2003: The Boston Foundation announces that Pilot Schools will become one of their signature education programs; 13 BPS schools are awarded planning grants
2006: Superintendent Tom Payzant approves a Pilot Schools Manual which codifies all the operational autonomies, obligations, and accountability model for Pilot schools
2010: 12 Schools (including 2 pilots) designated as Turnarounds
2011: The Roger Clap Innovation School is approved as the district’s first Innovation School
UP Academy and Boston Green Academy, the district’s first two Horace Mann charter schools under the 2010 education reform legislation are launched
2013: Blackstone Elem & Trotter Elem are no longer Turnarounds, but convert to Innovation schools to retain autonomies 13 11 11 11 10 9 7 6 11
Source: 11

12. BPS families are more likely to choose autonomous schools
Appendix B: Autonomous Schools - Impact
APPENDIX 9
BPS families are more likely to choose autonomous schools
Number of 1st & 2nd choice preferences per total number of students enrolled
For school year
Pre-K/K th grade
# schools*
*Some schools receive entering students in more than one grade. This choice/assignment process does not apply for alternative/SPED schools, Exam schools, and some autonomous schools with separate applications procedures.
Source: BPS, ERS analysis 12

13. Appendix B: Autonomous Schools - Impact
Students in traditional schools are twice as likely to have been administratively assigned than those in autonomous schools
Percent of students administratively assigned
For school year
District avg. = 4.7%
# admin
assigned 1,
Source: BPS, ERS analysis 13

14. Appendix B: Autonomous Schools - Impact
Autonomous schools extend teacher time through schedule/calendar flexibility and financial subsidies
Total pilot subsidies*
$1M
Total Turnaround stipends*
$1.6M
Total theoretical value of hours from schedule/calendar flexibility**
$7.7M
ES & K8
MS & HS
The average autonomous school has 190 extra teacher hours per year – the equivalent of an extra hour of student learning or teacher collaboration every day or 3 more weeks of PD for teachers.
*District pays for hrs above standard hours at pilots (including 2 HMCs that were formerly pilots), and $4100 stipend per teacher for 190 hrs extra at Turnaround schools
**Analysis accounts for hrs > BTU standard at < contractual hourly rate ($43.50). Assumes Turn. & Inn. schools used all extra hrs; Pilot hrs from BPS data, HMC hrs from MOUs/school websites. Total value of estimated unused extra hrs = $533k. Source: BPS staffing and extended pilot hours data, autonomous school documents, ERS Analysis 14 14

15. Appendix B: Autonomous Schools - Impact
REPORT FIGURE – PPT VERSION
Edison K-8, a traditional BPS school, would have 3 times the amount of meaningful budget flexibility if it were a pilot school.
Key pilot flexibilities would create flexibility over $1,148 per pupil (15% of the school’s budget)
50% of remaining budget is core teachers & principals, over which pilots also have flexibility
Ways this understates flexibility that Edison would get if pilot: 1) Different hiring choices if on actual salary could lead to much more flexible dollars in early year 2) Pilots get discounted extended learning time, freeing up other areas of budget 3) Pilots get to rollover funds, which increases flexibility 4) pilots have some subtle additional flexibility in how they deliver SPED services, which isn't quantified here
Ways this overstates flexibility: 1) Most pilots do not try to go below the general ed staffing ratios 2) pilots would not probably get rid of their head administrators 15
Source: BPS FY2014 Budget Data, ERS Analysis. This analysis uses the Edison K-8 total school-reported budget (General Fund only). 15

16. Members of the 2014-15 Cross-Functional Working Group
Appendix C: Cross-Functional Work Group Members
Members of the Cross-Functional Working Group
Hervé Anoh, Headmaster of Lyon High School
Antonieta Bolomey, Asst. Superintendent for English Language Learners
Michele Brooks, Asst. Supt for Family & Community Engagement
Catherine Carney, Assistant Chief of Curriculum & Instruction
Ann Chan, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources
Kamal Chavda, Chief Data & Accountability Officer
Linda Chen, Chief of Curriculum & Instruction
Jill Conrad, Sr. Advisor for Human Capital Strategy
Corbett Coutts, Principal of Rogers Middle School
Eileen de los Reyes, Deputy Superintendent for Academics
Melissa Dodd, Chief of Staff
Mary Driscoll, Principal of Edison K-8 School
Laura Dziorny, Deputy Chief of Staff
Ayla Gavins, Principal of Mission Hill K-8 School
Scott Givens, Chief Executive Officer of Unlocking Potential
Graciela Hopkins, Principal of Baldwin Early Learning Pilot Academy
Peggy Kemp, Headmaster of Fenway High School
Don Kennedy, Chief Financial Officer
Beatriz McConnie-Zapater, Headmaster of Boston Day & Evening Academy
John McDonough, Superintendent
Lynne Mooney-Teta, Headmaster of Boston Latin School
Eileen Nash, Deputy Superintendent of Individualized Learning
Linda Nathan, Special Advisor to the Superintendent
Ligia Noriega, Headmaster of English High School
Sung-Joon (Sunny) Pai, Director of ELL & Alt Programs at Charlestown High School
Kim Rice, Chief Operating Officer
Joe Shea, Deputy Superintendent of Operations
Mary Skipper, Assistant Superintendent for Network G (High Schools)
Aaron Stone, Teacher Leader at Boston Day & Evening Academy
Arthur Unobskey, Principal of Irving Middle School
Traci Walker-Griffith, Principal of Eliot K-8 Innovation School
Ann Walsh, Governing Board Chair at Lee Pilot Academy
Naia Wilson, Headmaster, New Mission High School
Ross Wilson, Assistant Superintendent, Human Capital 16