Eight Connecticut Schools Selected for Reform; Attract National Funding

Collaborative, Research-based Effort Empowers Educators, Involves Community

HARTFORD, CT (Sept. 9, 2008) – Six organizations have agreed to collaborate on a school reform effort unlike any other in the country that will involve eight of Connecticut’s most challenged schools. This unique collaboration will be funded, in part, by a $250,000 award from The NEA Foundation and a $480,000 appropriation from the Connecticut General Assembly.

At a news conference held today at the State Capitol, Richard Schwab, dean of UConn’s Neag School of Education and head of the Connecticut Alliance for CommPACT Schools, announced that the schools selected are the M.D. Fox in Hartford, Davis Street Comer School and Hill Central School in New Haven, Washington School and West Side Middle School in Waterbury, Barnum School and Longfellow School in Bridgeport, and the Shoreline Academy in New London.

“Never before, in the state or nation, have the primary stakeholders involved in making schools work, set aside their differences to work in unison to tackle the discrepancies between our state’s best and most challenged schools. The CommPACT Schools will become the kind of learning environment we want for all children,” Schwab said.

The Alliance, which has spent the past 18 months developing the CommPACT Schools model, is comprised of the Connecticut Education Association, the American Federation of Teachers-Connecticut, the Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents, the Connecticut Association of Urban Superintendents, the Connecticut Federation of School Administrators, in addition to UConn’s Neag School.

“The University is excited to be a part of the CommPACT initiative because rather than just talking about urban school reform, we can affect real change in Connecticut,” said Michael J. Hogan, UConn president. “We are deeply appreciative of the lawmakers’ efforts and support, and we are most grateful to The NEA Foundation for its award. With this support, we are assured to become a new national model for how higher education institutions can work proactively to enhance student achievement.”

The NEA Foundation will fund a research effort led by the Neag School’s Institute for Urban School Improvement. The Neag team is providing extensive support within and across the CommPACT network through research, assessments, and professional development for teachers. NEA Foundation funds will be used to design

and implement a five-year evaluation of the CommPACT initiative with the ultimate goal of applying both state and nationwide what is learned about closing the achievement gaps in districts serving high percentages of low-income and minority students.

“The CommPACT Schools initiative will provide further evidence of the NEA Foundation’s central working hypothesis that significant change can occur through a strong collaborative relationship among the teachers’ association, the school district, and community partners,” said Harriet Sanford, President and CEO of the NEA Foundation. “By funding the evaluation of this work, we hope to assure that the lessons learned through practice and research will be shared with schools throughout Connecticut. We are looking forward to using this opportunity to learn how local efforts can inform state policy.”

The name CommPACT symbolizes the commitment required by the partners within each school including community members, parents, administrators, children, and teachers. This collective effort marks a radical shift from the top-down operations common to most school systems. Though still accountable to its local district, CommPACT Schools have autonomy to make changes.“This initiative is a union idea that has blossomed through legislative and academic leadership,” said CEA President Phil Apruzzese. “It’s exciting to be breaking new ground in public education, and a great many teachers this year are energized by this challenge. In those teachers’ professional careers, it’s really an extraordinary time that will yield significant benefits for children.”

The Neag School’s Urban Institute is currently working with each CommPACT School to identify strengths and challenges, and is providing each school with program options that have been field-tested and proven effective in addressing each school’s specific needs. The decisions made at the school level will mean that no two CommPACT Schools will be exactly alike. The Neag team will also monitor and assess each school’s progress, including student achievement and school performance, and that information will be used to guide each school’s decisions.

“This effort sends the message that we are all willing, and in fact, eager to work together to take public education to the next level,” said Sharon Palmer, President of AFT-Connecticut. “Our teachers are very excited about the prospect of having a real voice in the decision making that affects their students, and look forward to working with the Neag School’s urban institute to determine which curriculum and programs best suit their students’ needs.”

“What’s at stake here is the future of our children,” said Roch Girard, president of the Connecticut Federation of School Administrators. “As professionals, we can and we want to work together to effect the kind of change needed to improve our urban schools, and the CommPACT Schools model is a great opportunity for us to prove we can do this.”

To have been selected as a CommPACT School, 90 percent approval by the teachers, principal, district administrators, and parents was required. Each school has since selected a steering committee representative of its school community and involved in developing the vision for its school.

Evidence of school and student improvement are expected in two to three years.

“In an increasing competitive global economy, our ability to transform and strengthen public education is a critical national priority,” said Dennis Van Roekel, president of NEA. “Closing the gaps in student achievement is a pressing issue facing today’s educators and by supporting their work and providing them with the tools and the information they need to improve teaching and learning in classrooms in Connecticut and nationwide, we are playing a pivotal role in improving our society one child at a time. We’re proud to be involved in this effort.”

Next spring, another six or more Connecticut Schools will be selected to become the second cohort of CommPACT Schools which will open their doors next fall.

About The NEA Foundation

The NEA Foundation is an independent public charity created in 1969 and sustained by contributions from educators, corporate sponsors, and other supporters of public education.  The Foundation offers grants and programs that support educators' efforts to close the achievement gaps, increase classroom innovations, provide professional development, and salute excellence in education.  For more information, visit neafoundation.org.