Learning from Innovation in Public Schools

1. Learning from Innovation in Public Schools

2. Is the U.S. public education system starting to change?

3. Public schools have long faced barriers to innovation Little autonomy,which research shows can be critical to innovation Varied stakeholders and a complicated ecosystem Strong constraints. “State and federal policy create a pretty confined space: standards influence aims, tests monopolize time, and funding is input-based and programmatic.” Weak incentives. “Schools have little capacity or incentive to make productivity-improving capital investments, and [so] there are few efficiency innovations.” Little R&D. “The U.S. invests only 0.2% of its education budget on R&D...” Little [change] capacity. “Schools simply were not designed to innovate… [They] support equity and continuity.” Tom Vander Ark, “13 Barriers to Education Innovation,” Gettingsmart.com

4. The promise of innovation in charter schools Charter schools were seen as a space to innovate. They’re now poised for next level of innovation “Despite successful growth in numbers and quality, the charter sector faces future challenges [it will not meet] by doing more of the same. Instead, the sector needs a new wave of innovation to capitalize on the enormous potential that charter schools have to improve public education substantially...” The Mind Trust (with Public Impact), Raising the Bar: Why Public Charter Schools Must Become Even More Innovative 118% Increase in the number of charter schools from 2003-04 to 2013-14

5. Organized efforts to accelerate innovation NewSchools Venture Fund “Since 1999, [New Schools Venture Fund (NSVF)] has directed over $150 million to more than 300 charter schools… [In 2012] NSVF catalyzed another movement: a boom in ed tech investing...” In 2015 a separate for-profit investing vehicle was established to “raise funds to support that work. The separation [gave] the new organization a chance to raise more money.... And growing its resources [meant] the organization [was no longer] a ‘seed’ fund, but [was] also able to support startups…” Tony Wan, “NewSchools Spins Off New, For-Profit Venture Fund,” EdSurge(January 26, 2015)

6. Private funding to accelerate innovation in public schools $220millionZuckerberg-Chan Foundation funding in 2010 and 2014$1billion The Walton family funding since 1995 $100millionLaurene Powell JobsXQ: The Super School Project $3billionGates Foundation funding since 1999

7. Examples of “pockets” of innovation in districts and individual schools

8. “From advocating for underserved students to completely redesigning how a curriculum is structured, innovative public schools are taking the glaring problems of the current model and working to solve them.” Katie Dupere, “9 innovative schools looking to redefine public education in the U.S.,” Mashable.com Innovation in public schools

9. The Boston High School Redesign project crowd-sources ideas for innovation“We want students, parents, educators, business leaders, and residents in the Boston community to join the conversation that will drive program, practice, policy, and system change needed to create Boston’s future high schools…” “We need graduates who are creative thinkers with the ability to analyze, reason, and synthesize. We need people who collaborate and can work well in teams. People with strong communication and technology skills.” High School Redesign Project website, www.highschoolredesign-boston.org Innovative approaches to idea generation

10. More autonomy Denver’s “Innovation Zone” grants schools new freedoms “The schools will be overseen by a new nonprofit organization, and they’ll be exempt from ‘district meetings, initiatives, practices and requirements’ …. [z]one schools will have more control over how they spend the state funding attached to their students… the zone schools can choose to opt out of centralized district services … such as help with website design, reorganization of school libraries and advice on staffing decisions.... The nonprofit can also raise money for the schools.” “In exchange for more autonomy, the zone schools will be subject to higher achievement goals…” Melanie Asmar, “Denver school board approves innovation zone, granting schools new freedoms,” Chalkbeat.org

11. More autonomy Co-op teaching model “Minnesota New Country School has made a significant impact on the ed space by popularizing the co-op teaching model, in which teachers decide how to allocate a lump sum of money they receive to pay for salaries and school expenses, a practice that affords them ownership over the school’s operations.” Noodle.com, “The 41 Most Innovative Schools in America” Indianapolis pilots six autonomous schools “It’s all part of a larger district shift toward a ‘portfolio’ strategy, where the central office provides services, from transportation to special education teachers, but does not direct choices like curriculum, staffing or teacher training. In the long term, [Indiana Public Schools] aims to transform all of its schools either to innovation status or to ‘autonomy’ schools…” Dylan Peers McCoy, “Indianapolis Public Schools adds schools to 'innovation' program, reshaping district,” Chalkbeat.org

12. Advocacy Pennsylvania School Boards Association’s campaign shares success stories from school districts. “The two-year push will use social media and paid and donated television, billboard, and radio advertising to showcase the interesting, unique things schools are doing to educate the next generation… PSBA provided members with toolkits covering how to share stories and is relying on those working on the ground to find potential topics…. PSBA surveys showed that while “most people don’t have a negative view of public education, … they are relatively unaware of the system’s benefits unless they are more closely tied to it.” Alex Beal, “Campaign Shares Public School Success Stories,” AssociationsNow

13. Marketing Traditional schools in L.A. taking up marketing to keep up with charter schools “As enrollment in traditional public schools around the city has declined and charter schools have mushroomed, [principals] are having to compete for students or risk school closure. To do this, they are turning to marketing tactics long employed by charter schools: handing out glossy fliers and creating Facebook pages to promote their after-school activities.” • LA charter network spending on marketing: • KIPP LA charter network (13 schools): $18,000 • Alliance College-Ready Public Schools (28 schools): $13,000-$15,000 recruiting budget Anna M. Phillips, “As enrollment declines, L.A. public schools borrow a tactic from the charters: marketing,” Los Angeles Times

14. A focus on teacher quality Ingenuity Prep’s ‘Career Ladder’ This Washington, DC, charter school has developed an innovative “career ladder for teachers at the master, lead, associate, and resident levels to learn from one another and encourage professional development.” National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, “Public Charter Schools Leading the Way in Innovation” Uncommon Schools’ methodological focus on teaching practices “One of the biggest contributions that Uncommon Schools [a three-state network of charter schools] has made to the larger education space is a methodological approach to understanding and creating better teaching practices — a problem whose solution has long been elusive.” Noodle.com, “The 41 Most Innovative Schools in America”

15. A focus on teacher quality Gates Foundation’s focus on teacher-matched professional development “That’s why we support efforts like the Innovative Professional Development (iPD) Challenge, which is helping districts adjust their practice to improve teacher support systems and the availability of high-quality, teacher-centered, evidence-based professional development. Since no one knows teaching like teachers, iPD is personalized to what teachers need and ask for to help students learn.” Gates Foundation, gatesfoundation.org  Funded by the Gates Foundation, The Measures of Effective Teaching (MET) project, a three-year study, “has demonstrated that it is possible to identify great teaching by combining three types of measures: classroom observations, student surveys, and student achievement gains.”

16. Staffing policies Study found charters more innovative in staffing policies Although the charters in the study’s sample were not deemed more innovative than traditional schools overall, they were more innovative in staffing policies (tenure and merit pay) andstudent grouping structures (use of block scheduling, looping, and multigrade/ mixed-age classrooms). Preston, Goldring, Berends, and Cannata, “School Innovation in District Context: Comparing Traditional Public Schools and Charter Schools,” National Center on School Choice, Peabody College, Vanderbilt University Match School uses tutors to maximize access to experienced teachers In exchange for free housing and a modest stipend, members of the “Match Corps,” recent college grads, work with 6-7 students “in small groups or in one-on-one tutorials …. The tutors help support and sustain the highly-qualified master classroom teachers…” Dalia Hochman, “NGLC Seeks Innovative Staffing Models,” nextgenlearning.org

17. Teacher salaries Washington, DC among a few districts seeking a fundamental overhaul of teacher pay “Under the system, known as Impact Plus, teachers rated ‘highly effective’ earn bonuses ranging from $2,400 to $25,000. Teachers who get that rating two years in a row are eligible for a large permanent pay increase to make their salary equivalent to that of a colleague with five more years of experience and a more advanced degree.” Sam Dillon, “In Washington, Large Rewards in Teacher Pay,” The New York Times (Dec 31, 2011)

18. Personalized learning Venture Academy (Minneapolis) students “are divided into three communities that move between stations with different learning experiences — including interdisciplinary project-based learning, digital content, independent work, and tutorials...” Match Next (Boston) is “staffed primarily by full-time tutors overseen by master teachers. This model has allowed tutors to spend more time in smaller groups and working one-on-one with students…” Summit Public Schools (San Francisco Bay Area) “focuses its work on identifying and filling gaps in student learning so that every student graduates ready to tackle college. Teachers also serve in multiple roles, including that of mentor, to build community and help meet individual student needs.” Ingenuity Prep(Washington, DC)“gives students 33 percent more learning time than students who attend schools with a traditional calendar.” National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, “Public Charter Schools Leading the Way in Innovation”

19. Technology use Full connectivity at Maine Township District facilitates collaboration “Google's efforts to revolutionize education through collaborative work are on full display in the Maine Township High School District [in Illinois]… where cloud-based tools and internet access for kids without a hookup build schoolwide connections.” Chris Weller, “The 14 most innovative schools in America,” Business Insider Lake View High School’s focus on technological literacyIn “making computer science, problem-solving, and project-based learning integral to the entire curriculum, Lake View [a traditional public school in Chicago] demonstrates that technological literacy can be an important part of a versatile and well-rounded education...” Noodle.com, “The 41 Most Innovative Schools in America”

20. Career preparation Loving High School makes connections between education and workAt this school in New Mexico, “an education that makes explicit the pathways between education and work — even in medium-tech but high-demand fields, such as nursing and construction — motivates and guides students toward career paths that, given the school's rural location and families' economic hardships, they might otherwise have found entirely out of reach.” Noodle.com, “The 41 Most Innovative Schools in America” Bridge between high school and college at P-TECH Pathways in Technology Early College High School in Brooklyn “goes up to grade 14, relatively unheard of in the public school model… Students graduate … with an associate’s degree at no cost to them.” Katie Dupere, “9 innovative schools looking to redefine public education in the U.S.,” Mashable.com

21. Career preparation Large-scale entrepreneurial projects at High Tech High “The biggest project is the Wicked Soap Company... Students make real bars of soap in class and develop business plans to sell the soap to consumers. All revenue comes back to the school or gets donated to a charity of the students' choosing.” A focus on leadership for girls “In an effort to close the gap between men and women in high-ranking roles, New York City's Young Women's Leadership Schools instill in its all-female student body the knowledge that achievement can be gender-neutral.” Chris Weller, “The 14 most innovative schools in America,” Business Insider

22. Serving distinct populations Mission-based schools serving distinct populations Vail Ski & Snowboard Academy “opened in 2007 as the first public school to offer specialized instruction for elite snow sport student-athletes in grades 5–12.” Harvey Milk High School “is the first high school designed for, but not limited to, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) students.” The Alliance School in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is “the first school created expressly as an anti-bullying institution…” Noodle.com, “The 41 Most Innovative Schools in America”

23. Partnerships with higher ed Syracuse Say Yes “The program is a collaboration between Say Yes, Syracuse University, and the Syracuse City School District aimed at bridging the achievement gap between urban and suburban children by focusing on academic, social-emotional, health, and financial obstacles facing low-income students.” Say Yes to Education Syracuse, wikipedia.org CommPACT “With the help of the University of Connecticut’s Neag School, which provides specific assistance in gathering and analyzing student data, each team [of teachers, principals, and parents] is drawing its own plans to close the achievement gap — making data-driven decisions ranging from modified scheduling to appropriate professional development.” “Connecticut: CommPACT Schools,” National Education Association, nea.org 

24. Partnerships with industry AOPA’s High School Aviation Initiative This initiative aims to “build and sustain aviation STEM programs in high schools in order to provide a quality workforce to the aviation industry… [O]ur program will provide high school principals, school superintendents, STEM program leaders, and guidance counselors with” resources, including counseling and curriculum. Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, aopa.org IBM a founding partner of P-TECH “Pathways in Technology Early College High School (P-TECH), founded in 2011, is the result of a public-private partnership among the New York City Department of Education, City University of New York (CUNY), New York City College of Technology (City Tech), and IBM.” Noodle.com, “The 41 Most Innovative Schools in America”

25. Partnerships with community Grand Rapids Public Museum School “Museums, zoos, and other public centers are no longer relegated to field trips, but instead serve as schools themselves. At these immersive sites, students gain immediate access to primary sources that serve as the bases for their academic and creative inquiries.” E3 Civic High “This San Diego charter is located within a public library. Not only does the co-location afford resource access to underserved students, but it also makes a statement about the kinds of institutions that schools — and libraries — ought to be.” Noodle.com, “The 41 Most Innovative Schools in America”

26. Beyond competing on cost (free vs tuition-based), are public schools becoming more competitive in areas seen as strengths of independent schools?

27. What’s important to families in the schools they choose? Academic challenge and individualization top list. The Enrollment Management Association, The Ride to Independent Schools (2014)

28. Factors traditionally associated with private, independent schools High-quality teachers, learning environment, and academics seen as strengths of independent schools National Association of Independent Schools, National Public Opinion Poll (2006)

29. Do independent schools view public schools as competition? Nearly half say yes. “According to survey participants, the competitive environment remains at the local level and within physical reach, with “other independent schools in their local area” (55%), “traditional public schools” (48%) and “public charter/magnet schools” (31%) representing a significant or extremely large challenge for admission.” The Enrollment Management Association, The State of the Independent School Admission Industry (2016) “As tuitions at independent schools continue to rise, and the incoming generation of Millennial parents struggle with student debt, …will these emerging innovative public schools become increasingly attractive to the public, offering more competition to independent schools?” Donna Orem, “Reimagining Public Education?” NAIS Independent Ideas Blog

30. Action steps Learn about new programs offered by public schools in your local area. Review your marketing messages and approaches regularly in light of any changes in your market. Be aware of trends in public school innovation nationally. Launch a generative conversation about your school’s own possibilities for — and barriers to — innovation. Evaluate possibilities for partnerships with community institutions, industry, and other organizations.

31. Resources • Tom Vander Ark, “13 Barriers to Education Innovation,” Gettingsmart.com • The Mind Trust (with Public Impact), Raising the Bar: Why Public Charter Schools Must Become Even More Innovative • Brian Greenberg, “Blended Learning is a Marathon. So Keep Sprinting!” EdSurge • Kim Smith, “Innovation in Public Education: Problems and Opportunities,” NewSchools Venture Fund • Tony Wan, “NewSchools Spins Off New, For-Profit Venture Fund,” EdSurge • National Education Association, “Promote Innovation in Public Schools BACKGROUNDER” • Elizabeth Harris, “$100 Million Awarded to Rethink U.S. High Schools,” The New York Times • Tom Gerencer, “8 Rich People Who Gave Big Public School Donations,” Moneynation.com • Katie Dupere, “9 innovative schools looking to redefine public education in the U.S.,” Mashable.com • High School Redesign Project, highschoolredesign-boston.org • Melanie Asmar, “Denver school board approves innovation zone, granting schools new freedoms,” Chalkbeat.org • Dylan Peers McCoy, “Indianapolis Public Schools adds schools to 'innovation' program, reshaping district,” Chalkbeat.org • Noodle.com, “The 41 Most Innovative Schools in America” • Alex Beal, “Campaign Shares Public School Success Stories,” AssociationsNow • Anna M. Phillips, “As enrollment declines, L.A. public schools borrow a tactic from the charters: marketing,” LA Times • National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, “Public Charter Schools Leading the Way in Innovation” • Gates Foundation, gatesfoundation.org • Chris Weller, “The 14 most innovative schools in America,” Business Insider • Preston, Goldring, Berends, and Cannata, “School Innovation in District Context: Comparing Traditional Public Schools and Charter Schools,” National Center on School Choice, Peabody College, Vanderbilt University • Dalia Hochman, “NGLC Seeks Innovative Staffing Models,” nextgenlearning.org • Sam Dillon, “In Washington, Large Rewards in Teacher Pay,” The New York Times • Say Yes to Education Syracuse, wikipedia.org • National Education Association, nea.org • Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, aopa.org • The Enrollment Management Association, The Ride to Independent Schools • National Association of Independent Schools, National Public Opinion Poll • The Enrollment Management Association, The State of the Independent School Admission Industry • Donna Orem, “Reimagining Public Education?” NAIS Independent Ideas Blog