Education Reform in Alabama: Progress and Promise Rotary Club of Birmingham June 9, 2010

Goal: Graduating more high school students prepared for college, work and citizenship

George Hall Elementary Mobile, Alabama 530 students 100% African American 99% Low-Income

George Hall students beat state averages Source: rd grade ARMT scores

George Hall on par with Mountain Brook Source: Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama 4th grade reading, 2009 ARMT

George Hall tops white students statewide Source: Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama 5th grade reading, 2009 ARMT

We must do what works “We can, whenever and wherever we choose, successfully teach all children whose schooling is of interest to us. We already know more than we need to do that. Whether or not we do it must finally depend on how we feel about the fact that we haven’t so far.” Ron Edmonds

What makes George Hall a Success?

Setting high expectations First Choice Credit recovery and advancement ACT for all Career Forward

Transforming culture Alabama School Readiness Alliance - pre-k advocacy Yes We Can! Alabama PARCA data tools Alabama Select Commission on High School Graduation and Student Dropouts

Focusing on results & continuous improvement Alabama Best Practices Center – Networks of superintendents, school leaders and schools A+ College Ready

Developing competent, caring educators Alabama Reading Initiative Alabama Math, Science and Technology Initiative Governor’s Congress on School Leadership Governor’s Commission on Quality Teaching School-based rewards Teach for America

Alabama is making progress NAEP scores, 4th grade reading,

Next steps: Educator effectiveness Students who are taught by an effective teacher for three years in a row can more than double their achievement. Source: Heather Jordan, Robert Mendro, and Dash Weerasinghe, The Effects of Teachers on Longitudinal Student Achievement, 1997

The NMSI Training and Incentive Model High School(s) Middle School(s) Principals AP Coordinators AP Lead Teachers AP Teachers AP Students Pre- AP Teachers Pre-AP Students School District School District Teacher training $$ for incentives Curricular support Program management Reporting and accountability $$ for incentives And others

While in general the U.S. students lag behind students in other countries, AP Calculus students, regardless of exam grade, outscore students of all participating nations Setting High Expectations Student Performance In Advanced Mathematics

LOA- Administrative support Cultivate, support, and maintain a culture of high expectations for teachers and students that is inclusive Actively recruit and prepare teachers to participate in Pre- AP and AP professional development and training Actively recruit all students to be a part of the APTIP Provide A+ with data, documentation, and program information in a timely and meaningful fashion Program Elements of Success Transforming School Culture AP Enhanced Participation through Open Enrollment

18 Source: The College Board, Texas Education Agency, U.S. Department of Education (2007 for U.S. enrollment is estimated) 18 Focusing on Results and Continuous Improvement AP Exams Passed per 1000 Jrs & Srs Math, Science, and English in 10 Dallas ISD Schools, Texas, and U.S

AlabamaUSProgram Schools Focusing on Results and Continuous Improvement AP Exams Passed in 12 AL Program Schools per 1000 Jrs & Srs Math, Science, and English in 12 Alabama Program Schools compared to U.S. and Alabama

Source: College Board public school data only 83% increase!! Focusing on Results and Continuous Improvement AP Qualifying Scores in English, Math and Science increased by 83% in the 12 pilot program schools compared to 5.7% for the nation

Source: College Board public school data only 67% increase!! Focusing on Results and Continuous Improvement AP Qualifying Scores for minority students increased by 67% in the 12 pilot program schools compared to 13% for the nation

And Setting High Expectations For Participation, for Enrollment, for Funding and Ultimately for Success 17 School Districts 43Schools in Program 8900MSE Enrollments 269AP Teachers 931Pre-AP Teachers 2993Expected # of Qualifying Scores for Developing Competent, Caring Teachers