Transforming Secondary Education: Insights from the RAISEup Texas Forum (October 2013)

1. Replication Forum October 24th, 2013 Thank you for joining us!

2. Morning Agenda • Program Overview • Overview of RAISEup Texas Demo Project • Whole-School Reform and the RTI Connection: Don Deshler- Director, University of Kansas Center for Research on Learning • Results to Date • Living the Transformation - Principal and Leadership Panel • How does RAISEup Texas Transform Teaching and Learning?

3. Transforming Secondary Teaching and Learning • WHOLE SCHOOL: All classrooms, all subjects, all teachers • Building deep conceptual learning and critical thinking skills for all students – students “learn how to learn” • Integrated, individualized interventions and supports for all struggling students • Replicable and sustainable at a very low cost per student

4. What is RAISEup Texas? http://youtu.be/51XTGVX3JIk

5. RAISEup Texas Demonstration Project • 7 Schools in 6 districts: • Comprehensive middle school reform model based on University of Kansas SIM/CLC • Focus on high needs students, but prove model in all types of schools for all students • Whole-school reform at ~$250/student • 3 ½ year implementation launched Jan. 2011

6. History of the Project • Central TX Ed Funders came to E3 Alliance: coordinate stimulus opportunities? • MOU’s with 10 traditional districts, 2 charters • I3: opportunity for large-scale transformation • Spent 9 months analyzing problems and identifying most impactful opportunity

7. Significant Evidence of School Improvement

8. History of the Project • Central TX Ed Funders came to E3 Alliance: coordinate stimulus opportunities? • MOU’s with 10 traditional districts, 2 charters • I3: opportunity for large-scale transformation • Spent 9 months analyzing problems and identifying most impactful opportunity • $30M application to transform secondary teaching and learning using UK model • Re-formed as demonstration initiative • Match funders donated $2.6M; $150K to be raised to complete demonstration – lost

9. What Does it Looks Like? • Intense teacher training & coaching • 100% screening of all students • Instructional routines to enhance teaching & learning • Strategies for struggling learners • Built in sustainability • Every teacher in every classroom • Common language and methods • Curriculum independent • Identify struggling learners & unique needs • Increases rigor and critical thinking skills for all students • “Learn how to learn” • Foundation tools to be successful • Integrated response to intervention • Certified coaches for district & region • Cost effective: $250/student, dropping

10. Focus on Secondary Schools • One in four students who entered high school in 2006 did not graduate in 2010 • Transition to Middle School: “factory model” school structure; far less adult involvement • Math passing rates for Central Texas students drop over 20 points between 5th and 10th grades • Students start “voting with their feet” in 7th grade • In some middle schools, over 1/3 of students have never passed a TAKS test in 5 years!

12. RAISEup Texas Advocates Still Water Foundation

13. Whole-School Reform and the RTI Connection Dr. Don Deshler- Director University of Kansas Center for Research on Learning

14. Program Evaluation

15. Living the Transformation Implementation Panel • Matt Pope, Principal, Simon MS- Hays CISD • Steve Dow, Principal, Goodnight MS – San Marcos CISD • Dr. Deborah Brennan, Principal, Hernandez MS – Round Rock ISD • Dr. Suzanne Burke, Associate Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, Austin ISD

16. The onlywaythe needle moves is through an integrated,school-wide approach in which everyoneowns part of the problem and believes big changes in achievement can happen. - Deshler

17. Transforming Secondary Teaching and Learning • WHOLE SCHOOL: All classrooms, all subjects, all teachers • Building deep conceptual learning and critical thinking skills for all students – students “learn how to learn” • Integrated, individualized interventions and supports for all struggling students • Replicable and sustainable at a very low cost per student

18. Students Make Connections!

19. “This is the first thing I've learned that changed my teaching practices, and when I used SIM with my students, I saw my students' unit test scores go up at least 25%.” ELA Teacher

20. “I was reluctant at first – is this just another fad? But when I tried it I found my students were really improving quickly. Those students who didn’t learn well from a book can learn this way – all of them do. As I’ve used more and more routines, the students have gotten better and better. Now I’m a total convert to SIM.” – Math Teacher

21. “Last year and before I made 70s or below in all of my classes, but now I am making all A’s & B’s” -6th Grade Student

22. Keys to Sustainability Advocates at all levels are needed: • Teachers • Coaches • School Leaders • District Staff • District Leadership

23. RAISEup Texas Scalability & Sustainability • Create pool of certified professional developers both within districts and at the regional level • Expand the base of materials and support resources for implementation at Region 13 • Create professional learning community in which more experienced schools support new adopters • Establish documented protocol for implementing SIM as a whole-school model on other campuses

24. Please grab your lunch while you take a short break!