Staff members from the Community Partnership School in Philadelphia discussed their experiences and the partnership the school has with private school Germantown Academy and Project H.O.M.E. They also discussed how other schools can provide similar opportunities for academically underserved students.

1. ACHIEVEMENT GAP CONCERNS: The Role of the Independent School Lynn Gadsden, Chair, Board of Trustees, Community Partnership School Eric Jones, Head of School, Community Partnership School David Kasievich, Director of Development, Community Partnership School National Partnership for Educational Access (NPEA), April 9, 2010, Baltimore, MD

2. Defining Achievement Gap An achievement gap refers to the observed disparity on a number of educational measures between the performance of groups of students, especially groups defined by gender, race/ethnicity, ability, and socioeconomic status. Achievement gaps can be observed on a variety of measures, including standardized test scores, grade point averages, dropout rates, and college enrollment and completion rates. While most of the data presented in this presentation comes from the United States, similar or different gaps exist for these, and other groups in other nations.

3. Four Distinct Achievement Gaps 1). Between the United States and other nations; 2). Between black and Latino students and white students; 3). Between students of different income levels; and 4). Between similar students schooled in different systems or regions

5. Children experience school as unachievable and uninteresting

6. High school dropout rates increase significantly

7. College attendance and college completion rates decrease significantly

8. Lower earnings

9. An increase in short and long-term health problems

11. Lengthening the time in school – day or year – including summer school

12. Establishing community schools as hubs of support for families from prenatal care through school

13. Establishing PK-3 or PK-5 schools

14. Strengthening principals as school leaders

15. Removing ineffective teachers and retaining teachers that meet performance measures

16. Strengthening after school programs including extra-curricular activities

17. Reducing class sizes, especially for early grades

18. Using data-driven instruction

19. Educating parents about child development

20. Increasing pay, setting higher qualifications and providing incentive payments for teachers

21. Emphasizing early literacy, including expanded use of volunteers

22. Recruiting adult mentors for students

23. Utilizing paraprofessionals for home visits

24. Graduate services (tracking)

25. Restructuring teacher education

26. De-tracking schools– students more likely to have equally qualified teachers, expectations, curriculum, and resources.

27. Using smaller schools – either standing alone or created within larger schools (Best practices: NativityMiguel Network, Cristo Rey Network of Schools, Schools that Can Network)

28. HOW DID WE GET THERE?our founding story

32. Strong and persistent leadership

34. Innovative “product” and fresh perspective

35. Quality leadership

36. Board strength

37. Partnerships

38. Strong fundraising strategies and indicators

39. Performance-driven culture“Those who build great organizations make sure they have the right people on the bus, the wrong people off the bus, and the right people in the key positions before they figure out where to drive the bus. They always think ‘who’ and then about what.” -Jim Collins, Good to Great and the Social Sectors

41. Prevention of donor and partnership fatigue

42. Creation of new partnerships (university, corporate, independent schools, communitygroups)

44. Focus on the whole child

45. Intentionally college preparatory

46. Growing commitment to equity in action & justice

48. Addressing the negative stereotypes that hinder student performance

49. Moving beyond community service to service learning

50. Encouraging small cohorts of parents, teachers, and students to engage in discussion

51. Incorporating the hard facts about the achievement gap into classroom learning

52. Identifying the greatest gaps in your area or region

53. Partnering with local and national movements

56. Sonoma Academy (9-12) – Santa Rosa, CA

57. Children’s Storefront (Pre-K-8) – Harlem, NY