1. EBRPSS
Community
Schools Plan

2. 2
BRAC HAS PURSUED A MEANINGFUL
CHANGE TO EDUCATION GOVERNANCE IN
EBR
Researching governance
models / Holding
informal conversations
with EBR stakeholders
Formal
conversations with
EBR
stakeholders, inclu
ding elected
officials, civic
leaders, religious
leaders, and
educators
Introduced to CRPE by an
EBR
Stakeholder, conducted
focus groups with EBR
parents
Determined 9
Principles with
EBR stakeholders
and released them
to the public as the
foundation for
legislation
Gathered further
community and
parental input
and Reps.
Carter and
Honore drafted
legislation
Dec. 2013 Jan. 2014 Feb. 2014 March 2014 April 2014
2

3. BRAC SET 9 GUIDING PRINCIPLES FOR
IMPROVEMENT TO PUBLIC EDUCATION
Increase local control
Improve achievement opportunities
Empower parents
Maintain financial unity
Enable principals
Focus the school board
Streamline the duties of the Superintendent
Create community enrollment zones and a common enrollment system
Protect access to special schools
3

4. 4
FOCUS GROUPS WITH PARENTS IN EBR
REVEALED DISSATISFACTION WITH EBRPSS
AND DISTRUST OF EBRSS LEADERSHIP
• “I think it‟s from the top down. There‟s no leadership. There‟s a lack of direction. We
can‟t keep a superintendent for any period of time. It‟s become political. There‟s a lot
of in-fighting on the school board. No one wants to take responsibility. Everyone
blames everyone else. No one admits there‟s a problem and tries to fix it. There‟s a
lot of „Well, that‟s the way it‟s always been done.‟ However, I do think things have
gotten a lot better over the last ten years.”
• “The school system hinders my ability to hire talent in the area. I grew up here, and I
knew when I was five years old that I would just have to pay for private education.”
• “They [the school board] haven't done anything so far, what would make them now
get it all together?”
• “He [the Superintendent] has the background, he's worked in other places, he has
some knowledge and experience. But the school board has to back off and let him
make decisions.”
• “Overhaul the school board by any means necessary. Find candidates or educate
school board members. Focus on that board.”
4

5. Re-missioning states
and school districts – for
performance oversight
and support
Realigning Finances –
for
equity, productivity, and
flexibility
Innovative Schools of
Choice – for new ways
to personalize student
learning and leverage
teacher talent
Based in Seattle and affiliated
with the University of
Washington Bothell, CRPE‟s
research and policy analysis is
focused on the systemic
challenges affecting public
education. They
develop, test, and support
evidence-based solutions to
create new possibilities for the
parents, educators, and public
officials who strive to improve
America's schools. CRPE
models are being utilized to
improve performance in 40
school districts across the
country, focusing on the
following…
5

6. SEVEN KEY COMPONENTS GIVE LEADERS A
FRAME FOR THE STRATEGY
1. Good Options and Choices for All Families
2. School Autonomy
3. Pupil-Based Funding for All Schools
4. Talent-Seeking Strategy
5. Sources of Support for Schools
6. Performance-Based Accountability for
Schools
7. Extensive Public Engagement
6

7. THE LEGISLATION WILL CHANGE THE
GOVERNANCE OF EBRPSS
7-members, 1 at-large. Responsible for finances, facilities, enrollment
zones, emergency prep, choosing and holding the Superintendent
accountable
Principal selection, review, and firing, creating and managing an enrollment
system, developing talent, giving Principals budgetary and personnel
freedom, managing smaller central office
School Board
Given freedom to
hire the best
teachers and
control budgets to
make decisions
that best serve their
students
Superintendent
Principals Principals Principals Principals
Held accountable
for student
outcomes in
exchange for
freedom to run
schools as best
serve families
Able to tailor
discipline, health
and
safety, schedules,
instruction, exams,
and more
Must demonstrate
sound financial
operation, good
governance, strong
leadership, and
capable
management
26

8. 8
ENROLLMENT IS ADDRESSED AS A WAY TO
CREATE TRANSPARENCY
A single enrollment
system that shows
parents / guardians ALL
publicly-funded school
options
Priority for kids to the
schools within their
enrollment zones
BRAC recommends the
enrollment system
provide information like
school performance
scores and locations
School availability outside
enrollment zones for
excess capacity, special
schools, and special
programs
Common
Enrollment
System
27

9. THE LEGISLATION ADDRESSES CONCERNS
RAISED THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY
Equal;
Funding
• Funding is linked to the student and
is weighted based on special
populations
Parent /
Guardian
Involvement
• Parents and guardians develop
school compacts and involvement
expectations, and act as advocates
for schools in their enrollment zones
via community school councils
28

10. THE AIM OF THE GOVERNANCE LEGISLATION
IS TO CHANGE THE EBRPSS ENVIRONMENT
So that every child can have a
school with
• Rich and clear objectives
• Effective teachers
• Leaders who are free to lead
• High standards, “whatever it
takes” mentality
• Targeted use of time, money, and
talent
• Sense of responsibility to
parents, public
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11. THANK YOU