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

http://hall.mce.schoolinsites.com

George Hall students beat state averages

0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%

100%

AL Reading

GH --Reading

AL Math GH Math

Level 4

Level 3

Level 2

Level 1

Source: 2008-09 3rd 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, 2003-2009

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

http://www.apstrategies.org/

High School(s)Middle School(s)

PrincipalsAP Coordinators

AP Lead TeachersAP TeachersAP Students

Pre- AP TeachersPre-AP Students

SchoolDistrictSchoolDistrict

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

566

442

Setting High ExpectationsSetting High ExpectationsStudent 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 Transforming School Culture

AP Enhanced Participation

through Open

Enrollment

AP Enhanced Participation

through Open

Enrollment

18

27

177

105

43

98

020406080

100120140160180

TIF DISD Schools Texas Public Schools U.S. Public Schools

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 ImprovementFocusing on Results and Continuous Improvement

AP Exams Passedper 1000 Jrs & Srs Math, Science, and English

in 10 Dallas ISD Schools, Texas, and U.S. 1995-2009

AlabamaUSProgram Schools

Focusing on Results and Continuous ImprovementFocusing on Results and Continuous Improvement

AP Exams Passed in 12 AL Program Schoolsper 1000 Jrs & Srs Math, Science, and English

in 12 Alabama Program Schools compared to U.S. and Alabama 2008-2009

Source: College Board public school data only

83% increase!!

Focusing on Results and Continuous ImprovementFocusing 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

82

137

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

2008 2009

67% increase!!

Focusing on Results and Continuous ImprovementFocusing 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

43 Schools in Program

8900 MSE Enrollments

269 AP Teachers

931 Pre-AP Teachers

2993 Expected # of Qualifying Scores for 2010-2011

Developing Competent, Caring TeachersDeveloping Competent, Caring Teachers