Salem Turnaround Community Forum

2 Today’s Agenda How We Got Here What Level 4 Means Now What? How You Can Help Discussion 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 3

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 4

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 5

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 6

Restart model Convert 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 model Convert 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 model Replace 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 model Replace 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 7 Transformation model Replace 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 model Replace 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.

8 Timelines and Requirements

Core beliefs to guide our work 9  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 10 School Committee and Mayor Superintendent Project Manager Content Committee Liaisons Turnaround Partners Stakeholder Group

Salem Turnaround: How you can help 11 Stakeholder Group Bentley L4 planning Proactive Outreach Community engagement All other Salem schools School Committee Wrap around services District- wide Change

Salem Turnaround: Bentley L4 Planning 12 Stakeholder Group Bentley L4 planning Proactive Outreach Community engagement All other Salem schools School Committee Wrap around services District- wide Change 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 13 Stakeholder Group Bentley L4 planning Proactive Outreach Community engagement All other Salem schools School Committee Wrap around services District- wide Change 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 14 Stakeholder Group Bentley L4 planning Proactive Outreach Community engagement All other Salem schools School Committee Wrap around services District- wide Change Teachers and Staff Survey Solicit input Proactively engage Business Partners After school partnership Resources In-kind contributions Internships, externships, apprenticeships Parents Conduct a needs assessment Proactively reach out to Latino parents Survey Newsletter Parents page Teachers and Staff Survey Solicit input Proactively engage Business Partners After school partnership Resources In-kind contributions Internships, externships, apprenticeships Parents Conduct a needs assessment Proactively reach out to Latino parents Survey Newsletter Parents page

Salem Turnaround: L3 Schools 15 Stakeholder Group Bentley L4 planning Proactive Outreach Community engagement All other Salem schools School Committee Wrap around services District- wide Change 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 16 Stakeholder Group Bentley L4 planning Proactive Outreach Community engagement All other Salem schools School Committee Wrap around services District- wide Change 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 17 Stakeholder Group Bentley L4 planning Proactive Outreach Community engagement All other Salem schools School Committee Wrap around services District- wide Change 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 18 Stakeholder Group Bentley L4 planning Proactive Outreach Community engagement All other Salem Schools School Committee Wrap around services District- wide Change 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? 19 Stakeholder Group Other

The work ahead: Bentley 20 DateAction December 2Initial community forum December 14Bentley stakeholder group convenes December-JanuaryAdditional outreach, solicit input, accept public comment, stakeholder sessions underway January 28Recommendations submitted to the superintendent February 27Superintendent submits draft turnaround plan to School Committee and DESE MarchDESE site visit to Bentley March 27DESE response AprilSchool Committee votes, final turnaround plan submitted to state MayPreparation and planning for implementation begins; federal grant applications submitted September 2012Implementation

The work ahead: Salem 21 DateAction December 2Initial community forum December-FebruaryAdditional outreach, solicit input, accept public comment, stakeholder sessions underway JanuaryInitiate short-term interventions By March 1Committees develop priorities and recommendations MarchTurnaround project manager and superintendent use recommendations to develop district-wide plan Early AprilCommunity forum AprilSuperintendent, Mayor and School Committee finalize turnaround plan MayFinalize school budget September 2012Implementation begins

Core beliefs to guide our work 22  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: → →  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: → → 23