Overview of Achievement First Providence School Board August 22, 2011

Our History

Achievement First schools are designed to close the achievement gap by providing a high-quality, rigorous K-12 college-preparatory education to students in underserved communities.

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Achievement First Schools and Scholars

Achievement First schools are free, public charter schools and 100% of our scholars are selected by blind lottery.

Connecticut Schools

• 2,400 students • Nine academies serving communities in Bridgeport, New Haven, and Hartford • 72% black, 26% Hispanic • 76% eligible for free or reduced-price lunch

Brooklyn, NY Schools

• 3,000 students • Ten academies serving the Bushwick, Brownsville, Bed-Stuy, Crown Heights, and East NY communities • 83% black, 15% Hispanic • 76% eligible for free or reduced-price lunch Note: Data provided is for SY 2010-2011

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Elementary: Early Grade Performance

Across NY and CT, we see very strong performance in K-2 math. Comparison of students at/above 50th National Percentile on the Terra Nova Assessment 2010 to 2011

100% 90%

AF Network Avg: 92%

86% 83% 80% 80% 89% 77% 90% 80% 96% 96% 95% 98% 98% 98% 98% 71% 70% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% AF East New York ES AF Apollo ES AF Hartford ES AF Crown Heights ES Elm City College Prep ES K-2 Performance (2010) AF Bridgeport ES Amistad Academy ES K-2 Performance (2011) AF Brownsville ES AF Bushwick ES

Elementary: Early Grade Performance

89% of our K-2 scholars in CT and NY performed on grade level on the nationally normed Fountas & Pinnell assessment.

100% 90% 80%

Comparison of students at/above Proficiency on the F&P Assessment 2010 to 2011 AF Network Avg: 89%

79% 82% 83% 81% 83% 89% 90% 92% 91% 95% 91% 91% 82% 93% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% AF East New York AF Apollo AF Crown Heights AF Bushwick Amistad Academy K-2 Performance (2010) Elm City College Prep AF Bridgeport K-2 Performance (2011) AF Hartford 98% 96% AF Brownsville

Elementary: CT 3 rd and 4 th Grade Performance

In CT, our upper elementary grades (tested grades) are performing close to the state average and we are aiming to close the achievement gap

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Comparison of Elementary School (Grades 3 and 4) Students at/aboveProficiency

100% 90% 80%

85%

70% 60% 50% 40%

57%

30% 20% 10% 0% Host District (2011) AF (2010)

83% 81% 90%

AF (2011) State Overall (2011) State Non-Poor (2011)

Comparison of Elementary School (Grades 3 and 4) Students at /above Goal

100% 90% 80% 70% 60%

64% 62%

50% 40% 30% 20%

32%

10% 0% Host District (2011) AF (2010) AF (2011)

63%

State Overall (2011)

76%

State Non-Poor (2011)

Middle: Cohort Performance - Amistad

While students across the state make limited progress over time, Amistad students show significant gains as a cohort

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Amistad Academy MS % Proficiency over Time Amistad Academy MS % Goal over Time

100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%

Pre-AF 79% 57% 81% 72% 83% 79% 84% 92% 84% 93%

4th Grade (2007) 5th Grade (2008) 6th Grade (2009) 7th Grade (2010) 8th Grade (2011) State AF NOTE: High Level Numbers do not include Science 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%

Pre-AF 61% 34% 64% 43% 67% 57% 69% 77% 69% 80%

4th Grade (2007) 5th Grade (2008) 6th Grade (2009) State AF 7th Grade (2010) 8th Grade (2011)

Middle: Cohort Performance – Elm City

While students across the state make limited progress over time, Elm City students show significant gains as a cohort.

Elm City Col Prep MS % Proficiency over Time

100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%

Pre-AF 79% 51% 81% 65% 83% 74% 84% 81%

4th Grade (2007) 5th Grade (2008) 6th Grade (2009) State NOTE: High Level Numbers do not include Science 7th Grade (2010) AF

84% 85%

8th Grade (2011)

Elm City Col Prep MS % Goal over Time

100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%

Pre-AF 61% 28%

4th Grade (2007)

64% 35% 67% 48% 69% 62% 69% 68%

5th Grade (2008) 6th Grade (2009) State AF 7th Grade (2010) 8th Grade (2011)

Middle: Cohort Performance – AF Hartford

While students across the state make limited progress over time, AF Hartford students show significant gains as a cohort.

AF Hartford MS % Proficiency over Time AF Hartford MS % Goal over Time

100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%

Pre 79% 48% 83% 68% 86% 82%

4th Grade (2008) 5th Grade (2009) 6th Grade (2010) State NOTE: High Level Numbers do not include Science AF

84% 86%

7th Grade (2011) 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%

Pre-AF 60% 23%

4th Grade (2008)

67% 46% 71% 60%

5th Grade (2009) State 6th Grade (2010) AF

68% 69%

7th Grade (2011)

Other Key Achievement Highlights

82% of AF 4th graders in NY reached proficiency in Math. This is double the rate of our host districts where only 41% of 4th graders were proficient in Math. For the 2 nd year in a row, 100% of AF scholars graduating from Achievement First’s New Haven High school were accepted into competitive 4 year colleges and universities. 100% of AF 10 th graders at our New Haven High School scored proficient in Writing on the 2011 CMT, 25 percentage points ahead of their peers in New Haven (75%), and even above and beyond their peers in CT’s non poor communities (94%). 10

Achievement First’s Approach

Effective Teachers

• AF recruits and develops great teachers and school leaders. Every teacher has a coach and receives 2 hours of individual feedback and 2 hours of group professional development weekly.

College Prep Curriculum

• AF clearly defines ambitious academic standards for each grade level so that success in one grade can be seamlessly built on in the next.

Strategic Use of Data

• AF built a customized interim assessment system, AF Athena™, that helps teachers identify areas for academic intervention and guides instructional planning on a six week basis.

More Time on Task Freeing Schools to Focus on Student Achievement

• Administrative duties are handled by a centralized administrative team and a director of school operations at the school. This creates efficiency and frees the principal to focus on academic outcomes.

Strong School Culture

• AF runs a longer school day (7:30am to 4:00pm) and school year (195 days versus 180). Scholars who need extra support receive additional tutoring after school and/or on Saturdays. • Students and faculty live by the AF

REACH

values —Respect, Enthusiasm, Achievement, Citizenship, and Hard Work. Our school environments are both disciplined and joyful.

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Supports Provided by Achievement First

Achievement First provides a variety of support services to schools, enabling them to focus on student achievement.

• Recruiting, training and coaching of principal, teachers and other school staff • Special education support • Data analysis and management support • Development of core curriculum • Budget development; business management and financial support • Facilities support; coordination of repairs/renovations • IT/ data support • Startup support • Fundraising • Marketing and advocacy 12

Teacher Evaluation

Through our development of our Teacher Career Pathway, AF has become a national leader in defining, developing and rewarding great teachers.

2011-2012: Implementation and Revision Spring 2011: Early Successes Public Recognition and Broad Support of TCP:

• AF’s approach to teacher evaluation was one of only two promising case studies profiled by the Aspen Institute for its urban superintendents cohort; also profiled by The New Teacher Project in “Teacher Evaluation 2.0” • AF received a $6.3MM federal Teacher Incentive Fund grant, as well as significant support from the Gates Foundation • 98.6 percent of AF teachers believe that the Teacher Career Pathway is the right direction for the organization

2010-2011: Teacher Career Pathway Pilot

, designed with teachers over several years • •

Fundamental Principals: Rigorous evaluation

based on value-added student achievement growth, instructional observations by school and “external” observers, and parent, student and peer surveys.

Compensation tied to effectiveness

, not seniority, with significant increases (+$10K) as teachers progress through five levels 13

Successful District Partnerships

Achievement First collaborates with its host districts and is a pioneer in district/charter partnerships . New Haven Public Schools/Superintendent Reginald Mayo

• Included in the district’s portfolio of choice • Development of Residency Program for School Leadership to recruit, train and support a corps of outstanding principals and assistant principals for NHPS • Professional development provided by AF to New Haven principals and lead teachers on data practices • Information sharing

Hartford Public Schools/ Superintendent Christina Kishimoto

• Included in the district’s portfolio of choice • The district receives “credit” for AF test scores.

• Strong collaboration and information sharing between AF and traditional district schools • Part of the Gates District Charter Collaboration Compact, which recognizes successful collaborations between school districts and charters 14

Proposed RI Enrollment Plan

Per statute, AF Mayoral Academies will offer an equal number of seats to students from Providence and Cranston. It is our goal to grow into a K-12 network of schools, contingent on future charter renewals.

Grade K 1 2 3 4 5 Total Students Year 1 2012-13

88 88

176 Year 2 2013-14

176 176 86

438 Year 3 2014-15

176 176 172 80

604 Year 4 2015-16

176 176 172 160 74

758 Year 5 2016-17

176 176 172 160 148 88

920

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