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Presenters: Khari Milner, Director, Cambridge Public Schools Complementary Learning Partnerships

City of Cambridge Mayor’s Blue Ribbon Commission on Middle School Youth Strategic Plan Update: January 2010. Presenters: Khari Milner, Director, Cambridge Public Schools Complementary Learning Partnerships

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Presenters: Khari Milner, Director, Cambridge Public Schools Complementary Learning Partnerships

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  1. City of Cambridge Mayor’s Blue Ribbon Commission on Middle School YouthStrategic Plan Update: January 2010 Presenters: Khari Milner, Director, Cambridge Public Schools Complementary Learning Partnerships Susan Richards, Director, Cambridge Agenda for Children, Out of School Time Initiative

  2. Why Did We Have a Blue Ribbon Commission on Middle School Youth? Research suggests that middle school youth who engage in quality out-of-school-time (OST) activities: • Perform better academically • Are more engaged and have better attendance in school • Have reduced behavioral issues • Demonstrate greater social and emotional competency • Gain more opportunities to have diverse learning experiences • Develop critical thinking, problem solving, communication, collaboration, leadership • Engage less in risk behaviors • Engage in more sports and exercise Only one-third of Cambridge middle grade youth self-report that they regularly participate in OST programs and activities.

  3. Blue Ribbon Commission (BRC) on Middle School Youth: Who Participated? What Was the Shared Goal? Mayor E. Denise Simmons appointed Vice Mayor Sam Seidel and Cambridge School Committee Member Nancy Tauber to co-chair the BRC on Middle School Youth and its membership included cross-system and cross-city representation from: CPS, DHSP, CPD, CHA, community-based providers, elected officials, parents, middle school youth specialists and others. In the spring of 2009, the BRC contributed to the completion of Shared Youth, Shared Strategies, a report that detailed a multi-year strategic plan and articulated a Citywide Strategic Goal: To ensure broad participation of Cambridge middle school youth in quality out-of school-time experiences that fosters both their present and future learning and life success.

  4. Shared Youth, Shared Strategies:System-Level Strategies for Improving the Quality and Enrollment of Middle School OST Programs and Opportunities 1. Community Awareness and Outreach:Strategies to improve information about OST programs for youth, families, and schools. 2. Service Delivery and Coordination:Strategies to track enrollment, target services, and improve access across programs, schools and neighborhoods. 3. Quality Improvement:Strategies to support OST programs in offering rich, developmentally appropriate and challenging learning and social experiences.

  5. Community Awareness and OutreachStrategies to improve information about OST programs for youth, families, and schools 2009 Highlights: • A mailing to all CPS households to inform them of the BRC’s citywide goal and objectives; to reinforce the concept of “shared youth,” the mailing included a cover letter signed by both Superintendent Jeff Young and Assistant City Manager for Human Services Ellen Semonoff, to emphasize the cross-systems commitment to this goal. • Informational and awareness building meetings with CPS principals, family liaisons and curriculum heads to discuss role of OST activities as connected to the middle grades education program. • Mayor Simmons hosted an event open to the public celebrating the release of the Shared Youth, Shared Strategies plan.

  6. Service Delivery and CoordinationStrategies to track enrollment, target services, and improve access 2009 Highlights: • Coordinating plans to utilize the CPS YARDs database and networking system to collect, organize, share and analyze data. • Bringing in additional resources to help schools and OST providers to specifically serve shared 7th and 8th graders (e.g., “Greening the Middle” Grant).

  7. Quality ImprovementStrategies to support OST programs in offering rich, developmentally appropriate and challenging learning and social experiences 2009 Highlights: • CPS Curriculum departments (Science, ELA and Math) have designed and are facilitating professional development sessions targeting OST staff who work with 6th – 8th graders. • Leveraging state DESE grant funds to support localized partnering initiatives that support communication and program structures to advance the overall development of 6th – 8th grade CPS students both in and out of school. • Middle School Partnership (MSP) program directors and staff meet regularly with each other and other OST leaders focused on middle grade students. • MSP programs participate in the Agenda for Children-Leading for Quality’s Integrated Self-Assessment System (ISAS).

  8. City of Cambridge Mayor’s Blue Ribbon Commission on Middle School Youth Next Steps: • Coordinate with Superintendent and School Committee to support middle grades education program. • Implement strategic goals in coordination with City Council, Cambridge Kids’ Council, key city agencies, school and OST program leaders. • Continue to develop specific next steps within each of the three system-level strategic areas; specifically, additional emphasis on cross-system support and focus in the Awareness/Outreach and Service Delivery/Coordination areas. • Pursue funding and grant opportunities that will support implementation of the plan. UPDATE, 12/30/09: The Nellie Mae Education Foundation has awarded the Agenda for Children a $117,000 one-year grant* to support the implementation of Shared Youth, Shared Strategies! *CPS will be the fiscal agent for the grant.

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