Education Achievement Authority Students Head Back to School TOMORROW September 4 2013

7/30/2019 Education Achievement Authority Students Head Back to School TOMORROW September 4 2013

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300 River Place, Suite 3600 | Detroit, MI 48072 | (313) 456-3010 www.ICanSoar.org

After big academic turnaround, Education Achievement

Authority students head back to class Wednesday, Sept. 4

Detroit schools that had been Michigans

lowest performing start year two with momentum

Free college credit and paid jobs, pre-Kindergarten, renewable energy,

learning with video games, money management among new programs

September 3, 2013Detroits remarkable education turnaround story continues tomorrow when

students at 12 schools that had been rated among Michigans lowest performing head back toclass at the Education Achievement Authority.

About 9,000 students were part of the first year of operation of the statewide schooldistrict established to take over and turn around Michigans lowest performing schools. ThreeEducation Achievement Authority of Michigan charter schools -- Murphy, Stewart and Trixelementary schools -- reopened in August. As students at the other six elementary/middle schoolsand six high schools in Detroit return to classes Wednesday, September 4, they will find newofferings ranging from free college credit and paid job apprenticeships to renewable energy andbusiness study courses. And in October, the Education Achievement Authority plans to open pre-Kindergarten classes for 400 4 year olds.

The Turnaround Continues

Education Achievement Authority schools open for fall classes Wednesday

Bethune Elementary/Middle Central Collegiate Academy

Burns Elementary/Middle Denby High

Law Elementary Ford High

Nolan Elementary/Middle Mumford High

Phoenix Academy Pershing High

Scott Elementary/Middle Southeastern High(Murphy, Stewart and Trix elementary schools reopened in August)

Tests this spring showed that 64 percent of students at the 12 schools that the EducationAchievement Authority runs directly achieved a year or mores growth in reading, and 58percent gained 1.5 years growth or more. In math, 68 percent of students at the 12 schools

achieved a year or mores growth, and 59 percent achieved at least 1.5 years growth.We are proud of the remarkable progress that our children have made in just one year,

but we know that much hard work lies ahead of all of us, Chancellor John Covington said. Weset out to be a different kind of school system; one that is totally student centered and is focused


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on making sure every student learns every day. That approach is working, but our great teachersand administrators know we have to work hard every day with students and their families to keepthe progress going. Theres no time to rest.

On August 7, the Excellent Schools Detroit organization, in a new report card, gave sixEAA schools a thumbs up designation, indicating they have made a promising start in the

turnaround effort and receive the recommendation of Excellent Schools Detroit. Not enough datawas available after only one year for ratings to be made of the other nine schools.In acomparison of academic growth at all 124 elementary and middle schools in the city, ExcellentSchools Detroit reported that all six of the EAA direct-run schools ranked in the top 20, and threeof the six ranked among Detroits top six elementary and middle schools.

And in the July 22 edition of the magazine Scientific American, President ObamasSecretary of Education called a classroom at the Education Achievement Authoritys ScottElementary/Middle School the future after a visit to Detroit.

Whats New at Education Achievement Authority

Schools for 2013-14 Free college credit and paid apprenticeships -- A new career and technical

education program available for 1,000 juniors and seniors at Denby, Ford, Mumford,Pershing and Southeastern high schools will allow students to earn up to $30,000 worthof college credit for free while they are still in high school, plus earn a paid jobapprenticeship. The new program is the result of a partnership between the EducationAchievement Authority and the U.S. Department of Labor, the Detroit EmploymentSolutions Corp., Henry Ford Community College, Wayne County Community CollegeDistrict, and Focus: HOPE.

New program for 4 year oldsUp to 400 4 year olds can attend the newEducation Achievement Authority pre-Kindergarten Great Start program this year.Parents can visit any of the six elementary/middle schools or Central Collegiate Academyto enroll children in the program. The new pre-Kindergarten Great Start program isexpected to begin in October, but EAA is accepting enrollment applications now.

New 9th grade at Phoenix AcademyPhoenix Academy previously offered onlyKindergarten through eighth-grade classes, but not anymore. Starting Sept. 4, Phoenixwill have a 9th grade, and in future years will add grade levels to become a fullKindergarten through 12th-grade school. Principal Alex Cintron said the change is aresponse to parents and community members who had seen another nearby high schoolclose in recent years and who wanted to keep their children in a school close to homewhere they know students will get a strong education. Phoenix Academy will work with

EAAs Central High School to offer athletics programs and a technical program for thenew 9th graders.

Nolan Elementary/Middle personalized learning in music/incorporatingvideo games as learning toolsWith a grant funded by the Bill & Melinda GatesFoundation, Nolan Elementary/Middle School will bring its successful personalizedlearning philosophy to music. Students will get personalized music instruction in strings,keyboards and drum line. The school also will launch an Ecotek lab, a green laboratory


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that will help students collaborate while exploring international research projects that willhelp give them the foundation for a career in science, technology, engineering and math(STEM) careers. And Nolan teachers will receive special training from Institute of Playto incorporate video games and play as tools to help students learn.

Renewable energy/business leadership programs at Ford HighStudentsat Henry Ford High School will have a new Renewable Energy Program course of studythis year. Students will work on solar, wind and other renewable energy source projectsin a partnership with United Way and Wayne State University. The school also islaunching a Linked Learning Business Leadership and Public Service curriculum.Students will learn about leadership and wealth management, and will study finance,marketing and business management. The program is a partnership with ConnectED,Excellent Schools Detroit and Linked Learning, Principal Mark Mayberry announced.

Pershing High research program launches -- Pershing High School studentswill work with Michigan State University officials in a research program this year.Students also will be enrolled in pre-Advanced Placement math and English language artsclasses for the first time, and will benefit from a new after-school arts program and

Saturday math classes. Robots at Bethune Elementary/Middle SchoolRobots will roam the campus

at Bethune Elementary/Middle School this year as students get involved in the schoolsbrand new Robotics program. Bethune also will launch mentoring programs for studentsand a new partnership with the Michigan Department of Education to reduce theachievement gap among African American male students. Competitive spirit programsand physical fitness will be at an all-time high at Bethune with the addition of baseballand track to the sports program.

College-style atmosphere at Southeastern High SchoolStudents atSoutheastern will be in a high school building but theyll think they are in a college

classroom thanks to the new PASEPreparatory Academy at Southeasternprogram.

The program will bring any time, any place learning alive. Students can spend as much oras little time as they need with each subject and wont be bound to the traditional class

bell schedule. A group of four teachers will work all year long with 120 students whowill work on projects in small, break-out study rooms. This unique learning environmentis meant to more closely mimic the college experience and is designed to acceleratestudent learning and give students the opportunity to earn credits at a faster rate than in amore traditional environment. Southeastern also will launch the citys first boys lacrosseteam next spring, and will be looking to repeat as Class A state champions in boysbasketball under coach George Ward, the reigning Michigan High School Coach of theYear. Co-Principal Jeff Maxwell said all the programs at Southeastern are designed toensure 100 percent of our students are prepared to graduate college and be career and

work force ready. Broadcast television at Scott Elementary/MiddleStudents at Scott

Elementary/Middle School will get a chance this year to study broadcast television forthe first time, along with business and finance, robotics, drama and dance, and to takepart in band and choir.

Technology-infused education at Denby HighPrincipal Tracie McKissic saidDenby High School inspires innovation in every learner with technology-infused


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instruction. Students can build and program remote controlled robots or solve simulated

murder cases in forensic science. If you want to help save the environment, then join theEnvironmental Club and build a greenhouse or a windmill, McKissic said. We let ourstudents imaginations soar.

Science, technology, engineering and math focus at BurnsElementary/Middle SchoolStudents at Burns Elementary/Middle School will geta head start on high-paying careers with a new program that will focus on science,technology, engineering and math (STEM) education. The school also will offer dramaclasses, jazz and concert band and robotics for the first time.

New after-school programs Stewart Performance AcademyStewartPerformance Academy officials are focusing attention on new after-school programs thisyear, and also for the first time the school is offering sports tournaments three times peryear and providing every student a free polo uniform.

Expanded athletics programThe budget for the new school year dedicates morefunds to athletics, and EAA schools will have expanded athletics programs this year. Allhigh schools offer football, basketball, cross county, track & field and baseball for boys,

and basketball, cross country, track & field, softball, volleyball and cheerleading for girls.Some Education Achievement Authority high schools also may offer other sports. HenryFord High School, for example, will offer tennis and golf for the first time. Allelementary/middle schools offer boys and girls soccer and basketball.

Stronger financial position means more money for vital servicesThe Education Achievement Authority has a $92.2 million general fund budget this year,up 4 percent from the previous year. The new budget pumps $2.7 million more into basicinstructional programs, and $6.4 million more into special needs and other specialsupport instruction than last year, and nearly a half million dollars more for schoolmaintenance and operations. This year, schools also will have more money for truancyprevention, nurses and psychological services for students.

To enroll students or for further information, parents can visit their school orwww.ICanSoar.org.

Media Contact:Terry AbbottEducation Achievement Authority communications office281.733.9100
http://www.icansoar.org/http://www.icansoar.org/http://www.icansoar.org/

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Education Achievement Authority Students Head Back to School TOMORROW September 4 2013