Failure is Not an Option: Closing the Opportunity Gap at an Urban High School

1. Failure is Not an Option: Closing the Opportunity Gap at an Urban High School Gina Washington, Director Colin Neumeyer, ELA Teacher Bette Bergeron, SOE Dean

2. Icebreaker • The opportunity gap is caused by __________

3. Illinois Context • Funding • LEA • Chicago • PERA • Common Core

5. The Mission of the SIUE Charter High School • The SIUE Charter High School is a School of Choice for families in the East St. Louis School District #189. • The school’s mission is to prepare students who are career and college ready upon graduation. • To achieve this mission, the school and the staff will positively impact the educational and economic lives of East St. Louis youth through: • individualized instruction in core academic subjects • exploration of career interests and aptitudes • assistance in realizing students’ talents, high academic goals and expectations

6. Profile of the School • Established in 1999 • Enrollment: 114 students • Faculty: 14 highly qualified and certified • Support Staff: school social worker, academic counselor, faculty-in-residence, assistant director, and director • Demographics 100% African American 90% free reduced lunch students • Charter Authorizer: ESL District #189

7. University Partnership • Charter held by Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) • CHS governed by the School of Education • Partnership components: • Dean’s Office support • Faculty in Residence • Professional Development • Interns/Student Teachers • Campus-wide volunteers

8. PerformanceBarriers of SIUE ESL CHS • Academic • Economic • Social • Communicative

9. Stop and Share How is your school addressing performance barriers and closing the opportunity gap?

10. 5 Strategies to Closing the Opportunity Gap • Recognize • Expect • Engage • Collect, analyze, and utilize data • Create awareness

11. Collecting, Analyzing, and Utilizing Data Effectively • Collect data for your students while teaching them • Analyze and share data openly • Utilize data effectively Finally, reward your students and faculty for progress and achievements

12. Assessment Examples • In-class Assessments: While traditional assessments are used, the school is moving forward toward product based assessments • Explore/Plan Assessments: Given to 9th and 10th grade students as pre-assessments for ACT/PSAE • Lexile Scores: Read 180 program tests every student 3 times a year and provides a current reading level, as well as increased reading ability data • ACT/PSAE Scores:All junior students take multiple ACT tests and use data to individualize preparation based on need to improve overall composite scores • Senior Portfolios: All seniors present an exit portfolio highlighting experiences at the Charter School, future college plans/enrollment, community service, and best work samples

13. Stop and Share Choose one of the five strategies and discuss how it could be used to close the opportunity gap in your school

14. Failure is NOT an Option FINAO means student ownership of personal success. When students become proactive in their development they will realize their potential and strive to reach it. FINAO is the means by which we as a school culture address the barriers and implement the initiatives to increase student achievement for all students at all times.

15. Student Testimonial • Starr Gibson is an exceptional student who exemplifies how the PSAE class works. She increased her ACT score from 17 to 21 over the course of the year. • Testimonial: • Portfolio

16. PSAE Class Progression: • 2010-2011:Junior Academy Saturday sessions held the three weeks prior to the Illinois PSAE state assessment test. • Result: 5% AYP, Top ACT score of 19 • 2011-2012:In addition to the Junior Academy Saturday sessions, a weekly PSAE class was added in October for all juniors ; increased to twice a week the second semester • Results: 34% AYP, Top ACT score of 25, 5 students with a 20 or above on ACT • 2012-2013: Continued with Junior Academy Saturday sessions, increased the PSAE class rigor by making a mandatory year long course for all juniors • Results: ? AYP (scores will not be received until the fall), Top ACT score of 23, 7 students with a 20 or above on ACT, and 100% ACT score improvement for all juniors over course of the year!

17. Results!

18. Failure is NOT an Option • Overview of the program: • PSAE Class • Zero Hour/8th Hour After School Program • SAC: Student Alternative Center

19. PSAE Course Content • Backwards Designing Your Future • Two Mock ACT’s • Practice, Practice, Practice! • ACT/PSAE Mentors • Two Official ACT’s • Practice, Practice, Practice!! • PSAE March Madness Tournament • PSAE Test

20. IAP Individualized Achievement Plan: • The main component to FINAO is student ownership and awareness. • Students track their ACT composite scores and content scores. • Students develop an individualized program in 4th quarter based on analysis of their own data.

21. Stop and Share Based on the testimonial, student IAP, and portfolio, what take-aways from this program can you see implementing into your own classroom or school?

23. Questions THANK YOU!

24. Contact Information: Gina Washington, Director (vwashin@siue.edu) Colin Neumeyer, ELA Teacher (cneumey@siue.edu) Bette Bergeron, SOE Dean (bberger@siue.edu)