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Excellence for All Steering Committee Meeting December 18, 2008 PURE Reform attended the monthly EFA meeting. On the agenda was High School Reform. About 20 parents attended. Carey Harris, executive director of A+ Schools gave a short review of her organization’s report to the community on public schools. (to read the full report, go to http://www.aplusschools.org/cspr07.html). Several questions asked after Ms. Harris’s presentation include: 1) What is the significance of the reporting that in certain middle schools like Schiller there were 156 behavioral incidents /100 kids for violence, weapons and controlled substances? a. Cate Reed responded that principals were not using the same measurement criteria (i.e. a student caught out of school, smoking and then spoke defiantly would be written up for three separate incidents by one principal and for one by another. According to Ms. Reed, the district is trying to standardize the process). 2) Has anyone looked at the number of students in a certain geographic area that opt out of the public schools and what we can do to reach these parents? a. Ms. Harris replied that A+ schools did not look at that data. 3) Is there a change in the number of students that are doing well in earlier years and then dropping in academic progress by the 9th grade? a. Ms. Harris stated that A+ Schools has not looked at that data. Next, Derrick Lopez presented a slide show on PPS High School Review. Some points made include: 1) In the Pittsburgh population of eighth graders, 27% opt out of PPS, 35% drop out of PPS, and 49% and 60% are not proficient in reading and math respectively. 2) He gave a review of the Pittsburgh Promise 3) In April, 2006, the district decided to have a phased approach over 5 years and reviewed the district 5 year plan. 4) By the time a student is in 6th grade, if the student has 1 or more of these predictors: i. Failed either math or English ii. Has an attendance rate of less than 80% iii. Receives a negative conduct report on final report card (in 6th grade? This point is unclear) then that student has a 75% chance of dropping out of high school. 5) reviewed new secondary school options: i. University Prep 6-12 ii. International Baccalaureate 6-12 iii. Science and Technology 6-12 iv. CAPA 6-12 6) reviewed declining enrollment at certain PP high schools i. Oliver will drop from 620 students to 219 by 2012 ii. Langley will drop from 500 students to 180 by 2012 iii. Westinghouse will drop from 323 students to 109 by 2012 iv. Peabody will drop from 503 students to 192 by 2012 Mr. Lopez stated that people were not moving out of the city, just leaving the PPS. He did not explain why 3 year declines of approximately 65% were expected at these particular schools when the Pittsburgh school age population is declining at about only 2% a year. Ms. Reed stated that last year they had 1500 applications for magnet schools, but this year they had 3000 applications. Questions asked after the presentation included: 1) PURE Reform asked what the rationale is for forming small high schools (400-600 students) if at the same time certain other high schools are being told their low enrollment (300-600 students) is preventing the district from offering an array of academic and extracurricular activities. a. Mr. Lopez stated that UPrep and Sci-tech would be sister schools and combine for all sports and extracurricular activities. He also stated that IB would have 600 high school students and that was the considered sufficient for manning sports teams and providing an array of extracurricular activities (not clear on this point and since others had questions, PURE Reform could not clarify) 2) PURE Reform also asked what would happen when IB was 6-12 and there were 4 different teams per season vying for gym space. a. Ms. Reed stated that the Reizenstein’s gym can be divided into 2 full courts and that the staggered dismissal times will aid in scheduling. However, our information is that the gym cannot be divided into 2 full courts and that the 45 minute staggered dismissal will not be a significant benefit for scheduling. 3) What schools have been chosen for “High School Futures” (the program of high school experts funded by grant monies to work with high schools)? a. Mr. Lopez stated that HSF will be working with principals and teachers during the summer and the schools being considered for the service include: Carrick, Brashear, Peabody, Oliver, Langley and Perry. 4) Where are the current Peabody students going to be assigned for high school a. Mr. Lopez stated that they do not know. Ms. Reed stated that it only a recommendation at this point, the board has not voted on it.

Excellence for All Steering Committee Meeting
December 18, 2008

PURE Reform attended the monthly EFA meeting. On the agenda was High School Reform. About 20 parents attended.

Carey Harris, executive director of A+ Schools gave a short review of her organization’s report to the community on public schools. (to read the full report, go to http://www.aplusschools.org/cspr07.html). Several questions asked after Ms. Harris’s presentation include:

1) What is the significance of the reporting that in certain middle schools like Schiller there were 156 behavioral incidents /100 kids for violence, weapons and controlled substances? a. Cate Reed responded that principals were not using the same measurement criteria (i.e. a student caught out of school, smoking and then spoke defiantly would be written up for three separate incidents by one principal and for one by another. According to Ms. Reed, the district is trying to standardize the process).

2) Has anyone looked at the number of students in a certain geographic area that opt out of the public schools and what we can do to reach these parents? a. Ms. Harris replied that A+ schools did not look at that data.

3) Is there a change in the number of students that are doing well in earlier years and then dropping in academic progress by the 9th grade? a. Ms. Harris stated that A+ Schools has not looked at that data.

Next, Derrick Lopez presented a slide show on PPS High School Review. Some points made include:

1) In the Pittsburgh population of eighth graders, 27% opt out of PPS, 35% drop out of PPS, and 49% and 60% are not proficient in reading and math respectively.

3) In April, 2006, the district decided to have a phased approach over 5 years and reviewed the district 5 year plan.

4) By the time a student is in 6th grade, if the student has 1 or more of these predictors:

iii. Receives a negative conduct report on final report card (in 6th grade? This point is unclear) then that student has a 75% chance of dropping out of high school.

Mr. Lopez stated that people were not moving out of the city, just leaving the PPS. He did not explain why 3 year declines of approximately 65% were expected at these particular schools when the Pittsburgh school age population is declining at about only 2% a year.

Ms. Reed stated that last year they had 1500 applications for magnet schools, but this year they had 3000 applications.

1) PURE Reform asked what the rationale is for forming small high schools (400-600 students) if at the same time certain other high schools are being told their low enrollment (300-600 students) is preventing the district from offering an array of academic and extracurricular activities.

a. Mr. Lopez stated that UPrep and Sci-tech would be sister schools and combine for all sports and extracurricular activities. He also stated that IB would have 600 high school students and that was the considered sufficient for manning sports teams and providing an array of extracurricular activities (not clear on this point and since others had questions, PURE Reform could not clarify)

2) PURE Reform also asked what would happen when IB was 6-12 and there were 4 different teams per season vying for gym space. a. Ms. Reed stated that the Reizenstein’s gym can be divided into 2 full courts and that the staggered dismissal times will aid in scheduling. However, our information is that the gym cannot be divided into 2 full courts and that the 45 minute staggered dismissal will not be a significant benefit for scheduling.

3) What schools have been chosen for “High School Futures” (the program of high school experts funded by grant monies to work with high schools)? a. Mr. Lopez stated that HSF will be working with principals and teachers during the summer and the schools being considered for the service include: Carrick, Brashear, Peabody, Oliver, Langley and Perry.

4) Where are the current Peabody students going to be assigned for high school a. Mr. Lopez stated that they do not know. Ms. Reed stated that it only a recommendation at this point, the board has not voted on it.