Presentation at the 2011 National Resource Center for Paraprofessionals Conference by Evan Eslinger & W. Mike Hoffman.

1. NEA’s
Priority
My School
Schools
is a
Priority! Campaign

2. Campaign Message
Leading permanent change in the nation’s
struggling schools is a priority for NEA’s 3.2
million members.
Our commitment is to work hand-in-hand with
communities and policymakers; to partner in
My School pursuit of innovative ways to measure student
is a
Priority!
success and educator quality; and to ensure
that priority schools have the personnel and
other resources they need.
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3. What is a “Priority School?”
 Priority schools is NEA’s name for a low-
performing school. We believe improving
their performance should be the nation’s
priority.
 In most cases, these schools educate large
My School numbers of racial and ethnic-minority
is a
Priority!
students, students living in poverty, and
students who are English language
learners.
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4. SIG Intervention Models:
Major Required Features
Turnaround Transformation*
 Replace the principal  Replace the principal
 Rehire no more than 50% of  Keep the staff intact
staff
 Implement teacher and leader
 Adopt a new governance evaluation systems using student
structure growth as a significant component
 Provide school with  Institute comprehensive
My School “operational flexibility instructional reform
is a
 Provide ongoing, high-quality  Increase learning time
Priority!
professional development
 Create community-oriented schools
 Provide incentives (can be
 Provide operational flexibility and
financial) to attract and retain
sustained support
staff
* Union supported 4

5. SIG Intervention Models:
Major Required Features
Restart School Closure
 Convert or close the school  Close the school and enroll its
and reopen it under a students in other higher
charter school operator, a achieving schools in the district.
charter management
organization (CMO), or an  These schools must be within
educational management reasonable proximity to the
organization (EMO) that closed school.
My School has been selected through
is a a rigorous selection  They may include charter
Priority! process. schools or new schools for
which achievement data are not
 Enroll, within the grades it available.
serves, any former student
who wishes to attend.
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6. NEA Priority Schools Campaign
Elements of Support and Advocacy
1. Communications - Call attention to the urgency
of transforming Priority Schools through
multifaceted communication campaign.
2. Affiliate Capacity-Building – Support members
staffing Priority Schools.
3. Affiliate and Member Engagement – Assist
My School local efforts to transform Priority Schools.
is a
Priority! 4. Outreach and Partnerships – Raise awareness
of the Priority Schools Campaign with external
partners, communities and organizations.
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7. Research- and Evidence-Based
Elements of Change
Leverage Improve Staff
Community Capacity/
Assets Effectiveness
Improve Student
Outcomes
Adapted from the NEA Foundation
 Access
My School  Performance
is a  Attainment
Priority!
Improve
District/Local Develop Family
Association and Community
Capacity and Partnerships
Collaboration
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8. Communicating with Members
and the Public
Follow us on
Twitter.com/priorityschools
neapriorityschools.org
My School
is a Become a fan! Send your video of great practice to
Priority! facebook.com/priorityschools youtube.com/user/neapriorityschools.com
Checkout our Blog!
priorityschools.groupsite.com talkpriorityschools.org
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9. Priority School Campaign On-line Resources
www.neapriorityschools.org
My School
is a
Priority!

10. NEA Priority Schools Campaign Map
AK
(4)
(As of December 1, 2010)
*VT
WA
(18) MT (7) * ND (42) (68)
MN ME
(17) (6)
OR ID * SD (15)
WI
(46) MI
(12) NY NH (7)
WY (19) MA (1)
IA (13)
(6) NE PA RI (4)
(6)
(7) OH CT (4)
IL IN (20)
NV UT (20) NJ (7)
CA CO (4) (4)
(10) KS WV DE (2)
(7) (19) MO
(89) (6)
(11) *KY (15)
(108) VA (58) MD (4)
NM OK NC (25)
AR TN (72)
(3) (7) SC
AZ (7) AL (19)
(9) MS (14) GA
TX (8) (26)
(72) LA
HI (6) (13)
FL
(70)
* Tier III Strategy Schools 1,037 Schools
NEA PSC Target States 304 in target states
(AL, CA, CO, DE, IL, MD, NV, NJ, NY, NC, OH, TN, UT, and WA) 733 in other states
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11. Priority Schools in Your Region
 Data for priority schools in all states
can be found at:
www.neapriorityschools.org
My School
is a Click on
Priority!
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