Citizen Schools Overview

Bringing the Best of Charter Schools into the Traditional Public School System: Can it Work?
Eric Schwarz Co-Founder and CEO, Citizen Schools
October 14, 2011

THE CURRENT STATE OF EDUCATION IN AMERICA

Almost 30 years since A Nation at Risk

Almost 20 years since KIPP and leading charter schools

Almost 10 years since No Child Left Behind

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THE CURRENT STATE OF EDUCATION IN AMERICA

There is a reason for real concern: SAT scores are down

Graduation rates and achievement gaps unchanged

Very divisive environment

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THE CURRENT STATE OF EDUCATION IN AMERICA

But also a reason for real hope:

Common core (higher) standards adopted by almost all states

Hundreds of success stories, including many no excuses charters Dramatically more innovation and openness to change
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THE CHARTER MOVEMENT

No excuses charters have been at the center of recent progress and have adopted five core

pillars:

1. High Expectations

2. More Time
3. Strong Leaders/Teachers 4. Data to Action 5. Parent Engagement

THE CHARTER MOVEMENT

Boston charters have delivered excellent proficiency results, but have served fewer special needs students, and fewer students entering with very low MCAS scores
MCAS Proficiency Rates
80 70 60 50 40

68

74

47 40

30 20 10 0
Math ELA

Boston area Charter Schools

Boston Public Schools (Grades K -12)

Demographic data: Limited English Proficient Charters (1.5%), BPS (28.0%); Special Education Charters (13.8%), BPS (19.4%)

THE CHARTER MOVEMENT

When you compare charters and district schools on value add scores (growth), the charters do a lot better
Median Student Growth Percentile
80 70 60 50 40

72 65 50 45

30
20 10 0 Math ELA

Boston area Charter Schools

Boston Public Schools (Grades K -12)

BENEFITS TO PARTNERSHIP WITH CITIZEN SCHOOLS

How is Citizen Schools helping district schools adopt the core lessons of successful charters?
SECOND SHIFT STAFFING

ACADEMIC PRACTICE

REAL WORLD LEARNING

FAMILY ENGAGEMENT

COLLEGE TO CAREER EXPOSURE

THE EXPANDED LEARNING DAY

How is Citizen Schools helping district schools adopt the core lessons of successful charters?
MONDAY Homeroom Literacy & ELA TUESDAY Homeroom Literacy & ELA WEDNESDAY Homeroom Literacy & ELA THURSDAY Homeroom Literacy & ELA Homeroom Literacy & ELA

Math Lunch Science/ Social Studies Elective

Math Lunch Science/ Social Studies Elective

Math Lunch Science/ Social Studies Elective Transition around 3pm

Math Lunch Science/ Social Studies Elective

Math Lunch Science/ Social Studies Elective

SNACK AND CIRCLE

ACADEMIC SUPPORT 90 MIN.
COLLEGE TO CAREER CONNECTIONS

SNACK
ACADEMIC SUPPORT 60 MIN. APPRENTICESHIPS

SNACK ACADEMIC SUPPORT 90 MIN. EXPLORE! 60 MIN. Dismissal around 6pm

SNACK ACADEMIC SUPPORT 60 MIN.

60 MIN.

90 MIN.

JOINT PROFESSIONAL L ITERACY & EL A DEVELOPMENT ( 75 MIN) APPRENTICESHIPS 90 MIN. SATURDAY

8TH GRADE ACADEMY COLLEGE TO CAREER CONNECTIONS

IMPACT OF CITIZEN SCHOOLS ELT

In Math, Citizen Schools campuses in Boston are demonstrating high student growth. This growth rate is greater than the growth at their district peer schools, and is on par with Boston area charter schools

Higher growth
Typical growth Lower growth

** The 2 Citizen Schools ELT campuses are the Orchard Gardens K-8 Schools (median SGP of 79) and the Edwards Middle School (median SGP of 66). 10

IMPACT OF CITIZEN SCHOOLS ELT

Similarly in ELA, Citizen Schools campuses in Boston are demonstrating high student growth. This growth rate is greater than the growth at their district peer schools, and is on par with Boston area charter schools

Higher growth Typical growth Lower growth

* The 2 Citizen Schools ELT campuses are the Orchard Gardens K-8 Schools (median SGP of 63) and the Edwards Middle School (median SGP of 74). 11

CITIZEN SCHOOLS CURRENT CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES

Scale

From 2 to 25/30 ELT sites between FY10 and FY14

Depth

Today 21% of 6th graders in BPS attend a CS ELT school. Could we serve 35-50 percent in Boston and one or two additional districts?
We have identified a strong principal and a good interim assessment system as -- in addition to ELT -- the two key success factors. What else will we learn? Today, 85% of direct costs are covered by public sources. How can we sustain that post-turnaround funds and at larger scale?12

Partnership

Policy/Funding

Eric Schwarz, Co-Founder and CEO Museum Wharf 308 Congress Street Boston, MA 02118 Tel: 617.695.2300 Fax: 617.695.2367 Email: ericschwarz@citizenschools.org
www.citizenschools.org

www.citizenschools.org

Citizen Schools is a leading national nonprofit provider of expanded learning time programs for students in the middle grades. We uniquely mobilize thousands of adult volunteers to participate in education by teaching hands-on apprenticeships. Our programs integrate these authentic learning projects with activities that build academic, leadership and study skills, preparing adolescents for achievement in high school, college, the workforce and civic life.

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