Ninth Grade Academies (NGA) Enhancement Development Project

Star Teachers to Inspired Leaders (STILE)

Ann Evans, Project Coordinator, HRD-PLACELinda Medvin, Teacher on Special Assignment, HRD-PLACE

Nettie Legters, Ph.D., Co-Principal Investigator, Johns Hopkins University

Leigh Parise, Ph.D., Research Associate, MDRC

Broward County Public SchoolsMDRC & Johns Hopkins University

working in collaboration…

U.S. Department of Education Institute of Education Sciences (IES) Development Grant

Why NGAs?One quarter of all students (a third to a half of our

minority students) leave high school without a diploma.1 million/year nationally -- about 3,500/year in Broward drop out

Success in the ninth grade is a stronger predictor of graduation than family background or test scores:As early as first semester in 9th grade, a student with 1

core failure and 5 absences is far more likely to drop out.

Ninth graders promoted on time to tenth grade are three and a half times more likely to graduate.

Why NGAs in BCPS?First NGA was piloted at Stranahan High School in

1999 funded by an Annenberg Grant.Data (FCAT and TABE) from one pilot NGA was

collected to compare with the remaining ninth grade students.

Results were dramatic:Absences reduced by 26%Behavior reduced by 50% (days in IS)Student achievement increased by 25%

NGA Enhancements:1. Teacher Leadership: Team Leader Model

Flagship School: Coral Springs High School

2. Data Driven Collaborative Response Teams Flagship School: Nova High School

3. Teacher Leadership: NGA Coordinator Model

Flagship School: South Plantation High School

4. Active Community Partnerships: Board of Directors Model

Flagship School: Stranahan High School

Core Schools:Deerfield Beach – Mr. Jon Marlow,

PrincipalMiramar – Mr. Brian Faso, PrincipalNortheast – Mr. Jonathan Williams,

Principal

NGA Enhancement ProjectProject Overview

Implement NGA Enhancements in 7 high schools

Provide professional learning for NGA teacher leaders, administrators & support for implementation

Develop Component Guides with Tool Kit to ensure sustainability of best practices

Project Design Leader/Learner model to

support the development & implementation of enhancements Planning Team District level Design Team School-based common

planning (PLC model)

Networking/professional learning opportunities for NGA teacher leaders and administrators

Design TeamMembers

Human Resource Dev. Staff Assistant Superintendent Directors Project Coordinator Teacher on Special Assignment

School & Community Experts Seven school principals & NGA

Coordinators District level SLC consultant Representative from Institute

of Higher Learning Research & Development

Support JHU, MDRC & District

Outcomes Meets regularly to

troubleshoot and refine Plans professional

Learning for Winter & Summer Institutes

Design, implement, reflect, feedback, refine, codify

Project Time Line

Year 1 2011-12Year 22012-13

Year 3- 2013-14

• Identify Design Team

• Select three additional schools

• Compile guidebooks for enhancements

• Plan for implementation of first & subsequent enhancements

• Create schedule to support common planning

• Implement first/next enhancement • Plan for implementation of second enhancement

and create timeline for third• Refine guidebooks• Provide onsite school support & coaching

• Implement all enhancements

• Finalize guidebooks & professional learning materials

• Support research team

Collect data and document progress

Expectations: Principals

Facilitate implementation: Provide leadership, data, and

support scheduling teams and common planning

Enable attendance for professional learning opportunities for teachers

Attend Design Team meetings

Stay informed about enhancement implementation at your site

Approve grant budget

NGA Coordinators- Project

Coordinate all NGA activities at their school:• Work with school administration & teacher leaders to

facilitate implementation of all enhancements• Consult with project personnel & be available during grant-

supported planning time• Attend Design Team meetings & submit deliverables • Network with other NGA Coordinators• Manage grant paperwork including budget requirements• Set time line for implementation of expanded role of NGA

Coordinator’s Enhancement as described in grant

Two Teacher Leaders/School

Collaborate with NGA coordinator:

Identify and understand the NGA enhancement under their management

Set time line for implementationCommunicate with school

administration and NGA coordinator regarding resources necessary for implementation

Work with district project personnel

Network with other schools

The project continues . . .For more information, please contact via CAB:

Ann Evans, Project Coordinator or

Linda Medvin, Teacher-on-Task-Assignment

HRD – Division of Professional Learning & Continuing Education

Broward County Public Schools