081208 Aaa Year In Review Presentation

Baltimore City Public Schools AUGUST 12, 2008 A YEAR IN REVIEW : DR. ANDRES ALONSO’S FIRST YEAR AS C.E.O. OF BALTIMORE CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS DRAFT DRAFT

Structure of Presentation Entry Plan: Revisited Taking the Pulse of Schools & Communities Major Initiatives Looking Forward to Year 2 DRAFT

Goals & Objectives Entry Plan - Revisited Goal 1 Goal 2 Goal 3 Positive & Productive Board-CEO Relations Focus on Student Outcomes & Accelerate Student Gains Establish Public Trust & Confidence Among Stakeholder Groups Goal 4 Goal 5 Goal 6 Increase Organizational Accountability, Effectiveness & Support for Schools Address Issues Related to School Safety, Security, and Climate Establish a Positive District Climate and Culture DRAFT

Ongoing meetings with individual school board commissioners, regular calls & emails. Briefings of school commissioners in small groups for complex matters (budget process). Accuracy in submissions. Participation in work of Subcommittees: Teaching & Learning, Finance, Special Ed, Facilities, Family & Community Engagement, Policy. Regular written updates. Establish a Successful and Productive Working Relationship with the Board of School Commissioners. Taking the Pulse: Building Relationships with Board Commissioners Objective : Evidenced By : DRAFT

240 school visits to 118 different schools across the City. 7 formal dedicated discussions with students from varying grade levels. 52 individual and group meetings with Principals and Teachers. Establish a Student-Centered Approach to Decision Making. Develop a Deep Understanding of the Students & Staff of Baltimore City Schools. Taking the Pulse: Learning from Students, Teachers, & BCPSS Staff Objective : Evidenced By : DRAFT

55 visits to separate PTA or PTO organizations (unduplicated). Total of 90 parent-centered meetings at schools and in the community. Established Parent Response Unit. Communicate with Parents & Encourage Positive Partnerships on Behalf of Students. Taking the Pulse: Collaborating with Parents & Families Objective : Evidenced By : DRAFT

288 meetings with 121 unique community groups, foundations, and other educational institutions. Includes : 18 meetings with faith-based organizations or community groups working in community schools. 22 meetings with representatives from institutions of higher learning. 21 meetings with institutions directly operating in schools (BUDL, Baltimore Chess Club, etc.). Establish Positive Working Relationships with Civic Leaders, Business Leaders, and Community Groups. Taking the Pulse: Dialoguing with Community Groups & Institutions Objective : Evidenced By : DRAFT

156 meetings with gov’t officials. Includes : 47 meetings with Mayor Dixon and/or municipal cabinet members. 26 meetings or hearings related to the Baltimore City Council. 38 meetings with Maryland State government representatives. 22 meetings with representatives from MSDE. 40 meetings with unions (BTU, PSASA, Local 44 – AFSCME, CUB, AFT). Develop Working Relationships with City, State, and Federal Governmental and Inter-Governmental Leaders Taking the Pulse: Building Partnerships with Governmental Stakeholders Objective : Evidenced By : DRAFT

Implementing Reforms – Year 1 : Fair Student Funding Fair Student Funding Purpose: School-Based Budgeting and Decision-Making Increased schools’ responsibility with accountability. Devolved $88 million additional dollars to schools. Leaner and redesigned central office to support schools. Funds distributed more equitably & tied to students. Increased principals’ flexibility to allocate budget - from 3% to 66% of their budgets. Overcame $78 million dollar budgetary shortfall. Engaged parents and families in schools’ budget decision-making process. Gave schools additional dollars for student-specific characteristics. DRAFT

Created new hiring process for principals & hired 48 new principals : Hiring process includes input from families and communities in and around the schools C.E.O. interviewed top 2 or 3 candidates for all principalships. Restructured Central Office with New Appointments: Chief Academic Officer, Chief of Staff, Chief Human Resource Officer, Chief Information Technology Officer, Executive Director of Student Support, Executive Director of Secondary Schools, Executive Director of Elementary/K-8 Schools, Executive Director of Academic Achievement & Directors of Curriculum, and Executive Director of Communications, Partnerships, and Family and Community Engagement. Implementing Reforms – Year 1 : Strategic Leadership Pipelines DRAFT

Guidance Documents. Group Professional Development Sessions on Budget. One-on-One Support from Teams. Command Center. New Online Budget Tool Developed. New Principal Dashboard. Weekly e-newsletter to all employees, “To the Principal’s Desk”. Created training program for new administrators – “Summer Learning for New School Leaders”. Implementing Reforms – Year 1 : New Support for Principals DRAFT

Expanding Choice for Parents, Families, and Students. Created Six New Secondary Schools (Grades 6 – 12) in partnership with Outside Organizations. Enrolling over 1,000 students in SY 08 – 09. Each School Has a College and/or Career Focus with a Specific Theme & Unique Curriculum and Culture. Small Learning Communities. Working with neighborhoods & communities. $3.5 million private funding to support initiative. Creation of New Initiatives Office. Implementing Reforms – Year 1 : Transformation Schools DRAFT

Transformation Schools Operating in SY 2008 – 2009: Baltimore Freedom Academy – Social Justice & Activism; College Preparation. Baltimore Civitas School – Civic Engagement; College & Career Preparation. Friendship Academy of Engineering and Technology – Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics; College & Career Preparation. Friendship Academy of Science & Technology – Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics; College & Career Preparation. KAPPA Baltimore Secondary School – Intellectual Discovery & Character Development; College Preparation. The REACH! School – Allied Health & Construction; Career Preparation. Implementing Reforms – Year 1 : Transformation Schools SY 2008-2009 DRAFT

Utilizing $15 million to implement targeted approach to Alternative Options education : Increased the number of alternative seats by 1,200 for a total of 2,650. Designed 2 new programs: Baltimore Rising Star Academy – servicing a maximum of 370 overage middle school students. Success Academy - servicing 200 students in Suspension Services with innovative, state-approved curriculum & “re-entry” program for students returning to schools after suspension. Curriculum designed specifically for enrolled students and individualized after students take enrollment assessments – designed to meet specialized student needs. Middle school program will accelerate students’ credit accumulation and allow for faster grade promotion to place students back on track for on-time graduation. Implementing Reforms – Year 1 : Alternative Options Program Restructuring DRAFT

Successfully negotiated used of $6.2 million from CAROI funding to allocate towards HSA recovery over eighteen-month period: Distributed resources among 32 high schools for after-school and Saturday-school interventions for students who had previously failed one or more HSAs. Schools selected tutoring providers among peers, college students, BCPSS teachers, or private vendors. Students can earn up to $110 per HSA content area for demonstrating academic growth during the interventions. Results after 1 st intervention period: 793 Pre-Test Takers. Average hours of Instruction per Pre-Test Taker: 11.5 hours. Average Percent Growth Among Student Cohorts: Implementing Reforms – Year 1 : HSA Recovery Program *Growth is on practice assessments based on HSA principles. DRAFT Less than 5 Hours of Service 10% Growth* From 5 to 15 Hours of Service 28% Growth* Greater than 15 Hours of Service 39 % Growth*

BCPSS Command Center : One-stop shop for both internal and external stakeholders to improve service efficiency and accountability. Sept. 20, 2007 – Command Center Opens for Area Officers & Principals. Oct. 22, 2007 – Parent & Community Response Team Joins Command Center. December 21, 2007 – Switchboard Operations Becomes Responsibility of Command Center. FSF Help Line – April 21 st through May 23 rd for specific inquires about FSF process. Long-term support on Fair Student Funding budget process is coordinated through the Command Center. Implementing Reforms – Year 1 : Creation of the BCPSS Command Center DRAFT Command Center Phone Statistics Category Total Calls Average Wait Time Curriculum 852 48 seconds Facilities 1,977 1 minute 18 seconds Finance 1,013 1 minute 3 seconds Human Resources 8,843 59 seconds Special Education 2,367 1 minute 9 seconds Student Support 2,445 1 minute 5 seconds Information Technology 39,792 2 minutes 39 seconds Parent 3,752 1 minute 26 seconds Switchboard 19,776 40 seconds

Implementing Reforms – Year 1 : Information Technology Improvements Better Communication with Parents Created new Parent Portal - allowing parents of BCPSS students access to their children’s courses online – ability to view grades, assignments, and resources in an easy-to-use format. Implementing Global Connect. Upgrades to Management Systems Implemented new health plans for 2008 benefits open enrollment. Implementation of Phase I of new Student Management System (SMS). Digitizing student transcript records. Created Principals’ Online Budget Tool Developed online budget submission and management tool to implement principal autonomy through Fair Student Funding. Using Budget Tool as framework for Principals’ Dashboard to further enhance principal autonomy. DRAFT

Filled All 26 School Police Officer Vacancies - existing at the beginning of SY 07-08. Implementation of Metal Detector Policy - permitting schools to acquire metal detectors to reduce school violence and encouraging discussions with surrounding communities. Increased Percent of School Police Officers Who Participate in During-School &/or After-School Activities - 30% - 40% of police force servicing as coaches, mentors, tutors, club/activity directors). Created 24-Hour Police Notification & Alert System – keeping district leaders aware of school-level incidents. Acquired $3.6 Million Grant from Department of Labor - developing mentoring, internship, and job-development programs at DuBois High School; one of nine receiving schools nationwide . Begin Structure, Systemic Community Volunteer Program – jump started volunteer program in response to incidents of violence to support community presence in troubled schools (almost 800 volunteers). Established Collaboration with Teachers Around Issues of Climate – Co-led, with Mayor Dixon, first forum with teachers to plan response to issues of violence (300 plus teachers participated). Strengthening Partnerships with Other City, State, & Federal Agencies – working more closely with City Police Dept., MTA Police, State’s Attorney’s Office, Dept. of Juvenile Services, U.S. Attorney, and FBI Local Comm. Relations. Implementing Reforms – Year 1 : School Police Improving School Safety & Climate DRAFT

Hired New Coordinator of JROTC Programs – managing expansion and outreach efforts of BCPSS JROTC programs. Increasing Student JROTC Enrollment by at least 50% at Each Current Program Site – moving from an average of 90-100 students per program to an average of 150 students per program. Requesting an Expansion of JROTC Offerings from the Dept. of Defense and Pending Congressional Approval – currently awaiting approval for 4 program expansions. Established JROTC “Adopt A Middle School” Program – each JROTC program will “adopt” a group of 30 students at 11 different middle schools to provide mentoring services and an introduction to JROTC drill team and color guard competitions. Implementing Reforms – Year 1 : Expanding JROTC Opportunities DRAFT

Successful Rollout of the Maryland On Line IEP . IMCIT State Oversight Team Reduced from 8 to 4 – four remaining targeted officers designed to support rather than oversee service provision. Cleared Nearly 90,000 Hours of Remedy Services . Training and Use of “Encounter Tracker” by All Related Service Providers . Implementing Reforms – Year 1 : Improving Special Education Service Provision DRAFT

Fully Implemented Preventative Maintenance Program . Backlog of Projects Eliminated . Progress Recognized by the IAC – 60-day report requirement eliminated . Participated in Development of RFP with City to Identify Alternatives to Public Financing of Schools . Successful Completion of Facility Solutions Phase III . Principals Supervise Custodians As Part of FSF . Implementing Reforms – Year 1 : Improvements in Facilities Management DRAFT

Common Planning Time to Support Teacher Collaboration - Argued successfully on behalf of Board for system-wide best practice for increasing student achievement. New Textbook & Material Adoptions - with multiple choices for schools . Schools Given Autonomy Over Academic Program Selection . Student Guidance & Intervention - required and provided guidance around student interventions & enrichment . Student Funding Weights - incorporated weights for basic & advanced. Redesign of Academic Achievement Office - to Support Schools In Multiple Content Areas K-12 & Across Elementary, Middle, and High Across Contents . Assessment Scanning Equipment Disribution - for real-time student assessment data. Implementing Reforms – Year 1 : Accelerating Student Achievement DRAFT

Increased Termination of Employees for Non-Performance and Expired Certifications . Enhanced Recruitment of International Teachers – hired 200 international teachers for SY 08-09 including new teachers from Jamaica and Panama. Downsized Central Office by 310 FTEs – As a result of strategy and placement of central employees in schools, increase in qualified pool for leadership positions in schools. Collaboration with Partners – Increased cross collaboration involving NLNS, Hopkins, Morgan and MSDE with BCPSS in leadership development, especially around training of principals. Collaboration with Other Districts – Development of cross district collaboration with DC and PG, funded by Gates, for human capital development. Implementing Reforms – Year 1 : Enhancing Human Capital Strategy DRAFT

Implementing Reforms – Year 1 : Increasing Resources from External Funders Annie E. Casey Foundation Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Stupski Foundation Pledged $250,000 for district reform. Released the remainder of the High School Reform pledge of $1.9 million (support community-based organizations and the BCPSS) Awarded new grant of $1.2 million to support college readiness. Local Foundations Awarded $3.3 million for new secondary schools. Awarded one-time grant of $280,000 for district reform. DRAFT

Implementing Reforms – Year 1 : Engaging Students, Families, & Communities Regular meetings with ASCBC & the Baltimore Algebra Project. Direct communication from C.E.O. through letters to students. CEO Conversations with students filmed and disseminated through Channel 77 to wider student audience. Facebook Profile. Students Health & Bioscience Families Communities Included family input in and principal-hiring decisions. Required each school’s leadership team to present budget to families prior to submission. Created new Parent Portal on BCPSS website. Creation of One-Stop Center for Phone Calls. 90 meetings with parent groups . Streamlined operational efforts by creating the Office of Communications, Partnerships, & Parent and Community Engagement. $1 million committed to connecting communities to schools ($500,000 from central office & $500,000 from external grants). Recruited over 800 volunteers to serve in schools. Continued to enhance Community Schools Initiative. DRAFT

No New Schools on Continuum - For the first time, no new schools enter persistently dangerous continuum. Reduction in Number of Persistently Dangerous Schools – Total number of schools in continuum drops from 20 to 12. School Safety Improves – Four schools exit continuum as school safety improves (Forest Park HS, Heritage High, Doris M. Johnson HS, Dr. Martin Luther King ES. Implementation of Code of Conduct – Improved safety measures (including the introduction of metal detectors and wands in 14 schools ) in conjunction with implementation of the new Code of Conduct will further improve school climate and student achievement in SY 2008 - 2009. Implementing Reforms – Year 1 : Enhancing School Safety DRAFT City Schools Show Progress on Persistently Dangerous Classifications

Maximizing Student Achievement : Early MSA Indicators of Students’ Academic Successes DRAFT City Elementary & Middle School Students Post Largest Gains, Achieve Highest Scores Ever on Maryland’s School Assessments (MSA) Gains across all grade levels & all groups. Average gains in Reading across all grades of over 10.9% and in Math of 7.8%. Baltimore City students close in on statewide averages. Unprecedented increases in students scoring proficient and advanced – 3613 in Reading, 2544 in Math. Students make biggest strides yet towards closing historic achievement gaps. MSA Gains in Mathematics 2004 - 2008 MSA Gains in Reading 2004 - 2008

Looking Forward – Year 2 : Plans & Priorities Continued Implementation Thinking About New Reforms, Programs, and Challenges - Expand Transformation Schools by creating up to 19 additional schools. - Strengthening Fair Student Funding by identifying and devolving additional funds, incorporating lessons learned. - Continue to focus on leadership development in schools and at central. - Implementing new professional learning communities and principal coaching. - Identify and share best practices among schools. - Engaging community organizations to partner with schools. - Implement new accountability tool for principals & schools. - Institute public report card for schools. - Implement “Back to School” campaign reintroducing students and schools to the City. - Implement new Student Code of Discipline. - Address another $50 million funding shortfall. - Implement new facility financing in partnership with the City. DRAFT

081208 Aaa Year In Review Presentation

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081208 Aaa Year In Review Presentation

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