good afternoon I want to start by asking everybody to imagine something what if
everybody to imagine something what if
everybody to imagine something what if you had 1.8 billion billion with a B
you had 1.8 billion billion with a B
you had 1.8 billion billion with a B dollars to invest to make our community
dollars to invest to make our community
dollars to invest to make our community better what would you do with it some of
better what would you do with it some of
better what would you do with it some of you might invest in parks others in
you might invest in parks others in
you might invest in parks others in libraries or roads or arts programs
libraries or roads or arts programs
libraries or roads or arts programs consider this with a better education
consider this with a better education
consider this with a better education system all of those investments would be
system all of those investments would be
system all of those investments would be possible each potential graduate who
possible each potential graduate who
possible each potential graduate who fails to finish high school costs our
fails to finish high school costs our
fails to finish high school costs our community 292 thousand dollars over the
community 292 thousand dollars over the
community 292 thousand dollars over the course of their lifetime that’s two
course of their lifetime that’s two
course of their lifetime that’s two hundred and ninety two thousand dollars
hundred and ninety two thousand dollars
hundred and ninety two thousand dollars per dropout that figure represents the
per dropout that figure represents the
per dropout that figure represents the money we invest in government programs
money we invest in government programs
money we invest in government programs and car serration and the loss of taxes
and car serration and the loss of taxes
and car serration and the loss of taxes pays over the last decade before the
pays over the last decade before the
pays over the last decade before the current leadership and IPS began over
current leadership and IPS began over
current leadership and IPS began over 6,000 students failed to graduate from
6,000 students failed to graduate from
6,000 students failed to graduate from the Indianapolis Public Schools that
the Indianapolis Public Schools that
the Indianapolis Public Schools that costs us one point eight billion dollars
costs us one point eight billion dollars
costs us one point eight billion dollars over the course of their lifetime that’s
over the course of their lifetime that’s
over the course of their lifetime that’s enough to pay for over 800 parks to
enough to pay for over 800 parks to
enough to pay for over 800 parks to upgrade over 1,400 roads to build almost
upgrade over 1,400 roads to build almost
upgrade over 1,400 roads to build almost 500 libraries and almost double the cost
500 libraries and almost double the cost
500 libraries and almost double the cost of Indianapolis Lucas Oil Stadium those
of Indianapolis Lucas Oil Stadium those
of Indianapolis Lucas Oil Stadium those figures are important and they represent
figures are important and they represent
figures are important and they represent some of the benefit of improving our
some of the benefit of improving our
some of the benefit of improving our education system but improving our
education system but improving our
education system but improving our education system for me it’s not about
education system for me it’s not about
education system for me it’s not about dollars or parks or libraries it’s about
dollars or parks or libraries it’s about
dollars or parks or libraries it’s about the moral imperative to make sure that
the moral imperative to make sure that
the moral imperative to make sure that all kids have an opportunity to fully
all kids have an opportunity to fully
all kids have an opportunity to fully develop their talents look I’m the
develop their talents look I’m the
develop their talents look I’m the father of three and I can only imagine
father of three and I can only imagine
father of three and I can only imagine how heartbreaking it would be for a
how heartbreaking it would be for a
how heartbreaking it would be for a parent to send a child to a school that
parent to send a child to a school that
parent to send a child to a school that isn’t meeting his or her needs yet for
isn’t meeting his or her needs yet for
isn’t meeting his or her needs yet for too many low-income parents in this
too many low-income parents in this
too many low-income parents in this country that is the sad reality when I
country that is the sad reality when I
country that is the sad reality when I hear those dropout statistics I think
hear those dropout statistics I think
hear those dropout statistics I think about those parent
about those parent
about those parent and about those kids and how we have
and about those kids and how we have
and about those kids and how we have failed them to solve this problem we
failed them to solve this problem we
failed them to solve this problem we need to fundamentally change our urban
need to fundamentally change our urban
need to fundamentally change our urban education system and that’s really hard
education system and that’s really hard
education system and that’s really hard it requires everyone to care because
it requires everyone to care because
it requires everyone to care because there are powerful forces that resist
there are powerful forces that resist
there are powerful forces that resist change all across the country people
change all across the country people
change all across the country people have been trying for decades to fix
have been trying for decades to fix
have been trying for decades to fix public education and we’re still failing
public education and we’re still failing
public education and we’re still failing far too many kids the good news is this
far too many kids the good news is this
far too many kids the good news is this we know how to fix our urban education
we know how to fix our urban education
we know how to fix our urban education problem but we need to stop looking to
problem but we need to stop looking to
problem but we need to stop looking to the states and the federal government to
the states and the federal government to
the states and the federal government to drive change well we need the states and
drive change well we need the states and
drive change well we need the states and the federal government to create the
the federal government to create the
the federal government to create the right policy conditions top-down impose
right policy conditions top-down impose
right policy conditions top-down impose change from the states and the federal
change from the states and the federal
change from the states and the federal government will do little to change our
government will do little to change our
government will do little to change our education system without without a local
education system without without a local
education system without without a local implementation strategy sweeping change
implementation strategy sweeping change
implementation strategy sweeping change will only happen if local communities
will only happen if local communities
will only happen if local communities develop and execute on strategies for
develop and execute on strategies for
develop and execute on strategies for fixing their schools that means that
fixing their schools that means that
fixing their schools that means that districts and charter schools and mayors
districts and charter schools and mayors
districts and charter schools and mayors and nonprofits and universities need to
and nonprofits and universities need to
and nonprofits and universities need to work together to improve how we deliver
work together to improve how we deliver
work together to improve how we deliver public education Indianapolis is one of
public education Indianapolis is one of
public education Indianapolis is one of a handful of cities nationally that has
a handful of cities nationally that has
a handful of cities nationally that has fully embraced this local approach to
fully embraced this local approach to
fully embraced this local approach to fundamental change to explain this we
fundamental change to explain this we
fundamental change to explain this we need to unpack three things first what
need to unpack three things first what
need to unpack three things first what have we been getting wrong second how
have we been getting wrong second how
have we been getting wrong second how can we get it right and third what’s the
can we get it right and third what’s the
can we get it right and third what’s the special sauce in Indianapolis approach
special sauce in Indianapolis approach
special sauce in Indianapolis approach and what can others learn from it but
and what can others learn from it but
and what can others learn from it but before we do that we need to answer a
before we do that we need to answer a
before we do that we need to answer a fundamental question can students from
fundamental question can students from
fundamental question can students from economically challenged backgrounds do
economically challenged backgrounds do
economically challenged backgrounds do as well in school as their more affluent
as well in school as their more affluent
as well in school as their more affluent peers given all the challenges that they
peers given all the challenges that they
peers given all the challenges that they face unfortunately too many people still
face unfortunately too many people still
face unfortunately too many people still question this so I want to introduce you
question this so I want to introduce you
question this so I want to introduce you to a young woman from Indianapolis named
to a young woman from Indianapolis named
to a young woman from Indianapolis named terrianna T Rihanna has faced many
terrianna T Rihanna has faced many
terrianna T Rihanna has faced many obstacles she’s
obstacles she’s
obstacles she’s being raised by a single mother who’s
being raised by a single mother who’s
being raised by a single mother who’s balancing parenting working and taking
balancing parenting working and taking
balancing parenting working and taking college classes the 40 Rhianna entered
college classes the 40 Rhianna entered
college classes the 40 Rhianna entered Avondale Meadows Academy a local public
Avondale Meadows Academy a local public
Avondale Meadows Academy a local public charter school terrianna scored in the
charter school terrianna scored in the
charter school terrianna scored in the bottom 5% of students nationally in
bottom 5% of students nationally in
bottom 5% of students nationally in reading terrianna had trouble focusing
reading terrianna had trouble focusing
reading terrianna had trouble focusing and she often acted out so Avondale
and she often acted out so Avondale
and she often acted out so Avondale Meadows intensified her academic
Meadows intensified her academic
Meadows intensified her academic coaching and hired a behavioral
coaching and hired a behavioral
coaching and hired a behavioral specialist and they saw dramatic
specialist and they saw dramatic
specialist and they saw dramatic improvements even as even as terrianna
improvements even as even as terrianna
improvements even as even as terrianna went through a devastating personal
went through a devastating personal
went through a devastating personal hardship the murder of the only father
hardship the murder of the only father
hardship the murder of the only father figure she knew but Ariana persisted and
figure she knew but Ariana persisted and
figure she knew but Ariana persisted and today she is a model fifth grader now
today she is a model fifth grader now
today she is a model fifth grader now scoring in the top 20% of students
scoring in the top 20% of students
scoring in the top 20% of students nationally in reading it’s a great
nationally in reading it’s a great
nationally in reading it’s a great turnaround story and it is proof of what
turnaround story and it is proof of what
turnaround story and it is proof of what is possible but Arianna is not a rare
is possible but Arianna is not a rare
is possible but Arianna is not a rare success story at a vendetta Meadows
success story at a vendetta Meadows
success story at a vendetta Meadows Academy only ten percent of students
Academy only ten percent of students
Academy only ten percent of students entering Avondale Meadows Academy are
entering Avondale Meadows Academy are
entering Avondale Meadows Academy are performing at our kindergarten ready but
performing at our kindergarten ready but
performing at our kindergarten ready but by the time they graduate from fifth
by the time they graduate from fifth
by the time they graduate from fifth grade almost 80% of those students have
grade almost 80% of those students have
grade almost 80% of those students have caught up and are performing at a 5th
caught up and are performing at a 5th
caught up and are performing at a 5th grade level which brings us back to our
grade level which brings us back to our
grade level which brings us back to our first point what have we been getting
first point what have we been getting
first point what have we been getting wrong if schools like Avondale Meadows
wrong if schools like Avondale Meadows
wrong if schools like Avondale Meadows Academy and the hundreds of other
Academy and the hundreds of other
Academy and the hundreds of other schools like it are getting amazing
schools like it are getting amazing
schools like it are getting amazing results for kids why isn’t every
results for kids why isn’t every
results for kids why isn’t every similarly situated student in a grade
similarly situated student in a grade
similarly situated student in a grade school well for too long we have looked
school well for too long we have looked
school well for too long we have looked to solve education problems from the top
to solve education problems from the top
to solve education problems from the top down with state and federal mandates and
down with state and federal mandates and
down with state and federal mandates and we have focused far too little on local
we have focused far too little on local
we have focused far too little on local implementation let me give you an
implementation let me give you an
implementation let me give you an example here in Indiana
example here in Indiana
example here in Indiana in 2011 the Indiana legislature passed a
in 2011 the Indiana legislature passed a
in 2011 the Indiana legislature passed a law designed to improve the quality of
law designed to improve the quality of
law designed to improve the quality of the teaching profession the law required
the teaching profession the law required
the teaching profession the law required the district’s more rigorously evaluate
the district’s more rigorously evaluate
the district’s more rigorously evaluate teachers and based their pay in part on
teachers and based their pay in part on
teachers and based their pay in part on those evaluations the law won widespread
those evaluations the law won widespread
those evaluations the law won widespread praise but there was little local buy-in
praise but there was little local buy-in
praise but there was little local buy-in and so it wasn’t implemented very well
and so it wasn’t implemented very well
and so it wasn’t implemented very well and not much has changed
and not much has changed
and not much has changed in the most recent teacher evaluations
in the most recent teacher evaluations
in the most recent teacher evaluations in Indiana 98 percent of teachers were
in Indiana 98 percent of teachers were
in Indiana 98 percent of teachers were rated as effective while only 52 percent
rated as effective while only 52 percent
rated as effective while only 52 percent of students pass both the math and
of students pass both the math and
of students pass both the math and English portions of the State Exam and
English portions of the State Exam and
English portions of the State Exam and those numbers just don’t add up and this
those numbers just don’t add up and this
those numbers just don’t add up and this is just one small example of the
is just one small example of the
is just one small example of the shortcoming of the top-down approach
shortcoming of the top-down approach
shortcoming of the top-down approach which brings us to our second point how
which brings us to our second point how
which brings us to our second point how can we get it right well by now you know
can we get it right well by now you know
can we get it right well by now you know my answer
my answer
my answer drive change locally you may recognize
drive change locally you may recognize
drive change locally you may recognize these two people they’re former Indiana
these two people they’re former Indiana
these two people they’re former Indiana State Senator Teresa lubbers and former
State Senator Teresa lubbers and former
State Senator Teresa lubbers and former Indianapolis mayor Bart Peterson what
Indianapolis mayor Bart Peterson what
Indianapolis mayor Bart Peterson what they did over a decade ago set
they did over a decade ago set
they did over a decade ago set Indianapolis on a course to be the hub
Indianapolis on a course to be the hub
Indianapolis on a course to be the hub of Education change that it is today
of Education change that it is today
of Education change that it is today let me tell you the story in 2001
let me tell you the story in 2001
let me tell you the story in 2001 senator lubbers pushed legislation that
senator lubbers pushed legislation that
senator lubbers pushed legislation that made mayor Peterson the first mayor in
made mayor Peterson the first mayor in
made mayor Peterson the first mayor in the country with the power to authorize
the country with the power to authorize
the country with the power to authorize public charter schools sound unusual
public charter schools sound unusual
public charter schools sound unusual well it worked because mayor Peterson
well it worked because mayor Peterson
well it worked because mayor Peterson developed a charter school system to
developed a charter school system to
developed a charter school system to meet the needs of Indianapolis not only
meet the needs of Indianapolis not only
meet the needs of Indianapolis not only did he develop a local strategy for
did he develop a local strategy for
did he develop a local strategy for screening applicants and holding schools
screening applicants and holding schools
screening applicants and holding schools accountable but he also developed a
accountable but he also developed a
accountable but he also developed a local strategy to make sure that the
local strategy to make sure that the
local strategy to make sure that the schools had the talent they needed to be
schools had the talent they needed to be
schools had the talent they needed to be successful a strategy that mayors
successful a strategy that mayors
successful a strategy that mayors Ballard and mayor Hogsett have built on
Ballard and mayor Hogsett have built on
Ballard and mayor Hogsett have built on Indianapolis was the only city in the
Indianapolis was the only city in the
Indianapolis was the only city in the state that had a city local focused
state that had a city local focused
state that had a city local focused strategy for building charter schools
strategy for building charter schools
strategy for building charter schools and you won’t be surprised to learn that
and you won’t be surprised to learn that
and you won’t be surprised to learn that Indianapolis as charter schools are the
Indianapolis as charter schools are the
Indianapolis as charter schools are the best in the state by far how do we know
best in the state by far how do we know
best in the state by far how do we know this well three Stanford University
this well three Stanford University
this well three Stanford University studies have found that Indianapolis is
studies have found that Indianapolis is
studies have found that Indianapolis is charter school students are getting
charter school students are getting
charter school students are getting superior academic results compare our
superior academic results compare our
superior academic results compare our experience with the experience in Ohio
experience with the experience in Ohio
experience with the experience in Ohio where they didn’t have a local strategy
where they didn’t have a local strategy
where they didn’t have a local strategy for driving or for building strong
for driving or for building strong
for driving or for building strong charter schools and we’re similar
charter schools and we’re similar
charter schools and we’re similar Stanford studies found that the charter
Stanford studies found that the charter
Stanford studies found that the charter school students in Ohio actually do
school students in Ohio actually do
school students in Ohio actually do worse than their traditional district
worse than their traditional district
worse than their traditional district peers to drive successful change in
peers to drive successful change in
peers to drive successful change in education
education
education need a local strategy that’s what
need a local strategy that’s what
need a local strategy that’s what Indianapolis has been doing well and
Indianapolis has been doing well and
Indianapolis has been doing well and it’s paying off which brings us to our
it’s paying off which brings us to our
it’s paying off which brings us to our third and our final point what’s special
third and our final point what’s special
third and our final point what’s special in Indianapolis and what can others
in Indianapolis and what can others
in Indianapolis and what can others learn from it
learn from it
learn from it Indianapolis has approached a locally
Indianapolis has approached a locally
Indianapolis has approached a locally driven change began with charter schools
driven change began with charter schools
driven change began with charter schools in the early 2000 and it continues today
in the early 2000 and it continues today
in the early 2000 and it continues today and an even more powerful way in the
and an even more powerful way in the
and an even more powerful way in the Indianapolis Public Schools under a bold
Indianapolis Public Schools under a bold
Indianapolis Public Schools under a bold board and a bold superintendent so
board and a bold superintendent so
board and a bold superintendent so what’s fundamentally different here well
what’s fundamentally different here well
what’s fundamentally different here well educators are now empowered to propose
educators are now empowered to propose
educators are now empowered to propose new ideas for schools in the district
new ideas for schools in the district
new ideas for schools in the district and if selected are given the resources
and if selected are given the resources
and if selected are given the resources to launch those schools and once those
to launch those schools and once those
to launch those schools and once those schools are up and operating the
schools are up and operating the
schools are up and operating the district gives all the authority to run
district gives all the authority to run
district gives all the authority to run those schools to those educators it’s
those schools to those educators it’s
those schools to those educators it’s the same approach that’s worked well for
the same approach that’s worked well for
the same approach that’s worked well for successful charter schools the educators
successful charter schools the educators
successful charter schools the educators in the building determine what the
in the building determine what the
in the building determine what the curriculum is and who the staff should
curriculum is and who the staff should
curriculum is and who the staff should be and how to spend their budgetary
be and how to spend their budgetary
be and how to spend their budgetary resources teachers are empowered to
resources teachers are empowered to
resources teachers are empowered to teach and leaders are empowered to lead
teach and leaders are empowered to lead
teach and leaders are empowered to lead and schools are held accountable if they
and schools are held accountable if they
and schools are held accountable if they don’t perform they’re closed if this all
don’t perform they’re closed if this all
don’t perform they’re closed if this all sounds basic well it’s not it is almost
sounds basic well it’s not it is almost
sounds basic well it’s not it is almost unheard of nationally for there to be a
unheard of nationally for there to be a
unheard of nationally for there to be a program designed to give educators the
program designed to give educators the
program designed to give educators the opportunity to propose new ideas for
opportunity to propose new ideas for
opportunity to propose new ideas for schools in a district and then if
schools in a district and then if
schools in a district and then if selected to be given the resources to
selected to be given the resources to
selected to be given the resources to launch those schools and in most
launch those schools and in most
launch those schools and in most districts around the country decisions
districts around the country decisions
districts around the country decisions about what happens in schools are not
about what happens in schools are not
about what happens in schools are not made by the are not controlled by the
made by the are not controlled by the
made by the are not controlled by the educators in the building but are
educators in the building but are
educators in the building but are controlled by distant bureaucrats
controlled by distant bureaucrats
controlled by distant bureaucrats Indianapolis has formed a unique
Indianapolis has formed a unique
Indianapolis has formed a unique partnership that’s changing all of this
partnership that’s changing all of this
partnership that’s changing all of this the Indianapolis Public Schools the
the Indianapolis Public Schools the
the Indianapolis Public Schools the Indianapolis mayor’s office and the
Indianapolis mayor’s office and the
Indianapolis mayor’s office and the independent nonprofit that I run the
independent nonprofit that I run the
independent nonprofit that I run the mine trust are working together to
mine trust are working together to
mine trust are working together to create more of these schools that are
create more of these schools that are
create more of these schools that are designed built and launched by the
designed built and launched by the
designed built and launched by the educators in the building schools where
educators in the building schools where
educators in the building schools where the principal has the final say
the principal has the final say
the principal has the final say and where teachers teach the way they
and where teachers teach the way they
and where teachers teach the way they think best we call these schools
think best we call these schools
think best we call these schools innovation networks schools and after
innovation networks schools and after
innovation networks schools and after just a few short years of this
just a few short years of this
just a few short years of this partnership of the district and the mind
partnership of the district and the mind
partnership of the district and the mind trust in the mayor’s office 17 schools
trust in the mayor’s office 17 schools
trust in the mayor’s office 17 schools have launched or are under development
have launched or are under development
have launched or are under development now every indiana district has an
now every indiana district has an
now every indiana district has an opportunity to create innovation
opportunity to create innovation
opportunity to create innovation networks schools but out of the state’s
networks schools but out of the state’s
networks schools but out of the state’s almost 300 districts how many do you
almost 300 districts how many do you
almost 300 districts how many do you think have well the answer is one and
think have well the answer is one and
think have well the answer is one and that is because a bold superintendent
that is because a bold superintendent
that is because a bold superintendent and innovative mayor and a local
and innovative mayor and a local
and innovative mayor and a local nonprofit partnered together to develop
nonprofit partnered together to develop
nonprofit partnered together to develop a local strategy for how to use the
a local strategy for how to use the
a local strategy for how to use the innovation Network school law here’s an
innovation Network school law here’s an
innovation Network school law here’s an example of an innovation Network school
example of an innovation Network school
example of an innovation Network school Mary I’m a Carson an award-winning local
Mary I’m a Carson an award-winning local
Mary I’m a Carson an award-winning local educator had a vision for creating a
educator had a vision for creating a
educator had a vision for creating a language immersion school for low-income
language immersion school for low-income
language immersion school for low-income students she proposed her idea to our
students she proposed her idea to our
students she proposed her idea to our partnership and we saw promise in it so
partnership and we saw promise in it so
partnership and we saw promise in it so we supported it and today over 500
we supported it and today over 500
we supported it and today over 500 students are in her school all of whom
students are in her school all of whom
students are in her school all of whom will have the opportunity to graduate
will have the opportunity to graduate
will have the opportunity to graduate sixth grade fully bilingual and as we
sixth grade fully bilingual and as we
sixth grade fully bilingual and as we create more innovation Network schools
create more innovation Network schools
create more innovation Network schools will have fewer students fall through
will have fewer students fall through
will have fewer students fall through the cracks and will have more success
the cracks and will have more success
the cracks and will have more success stories like Terry Ana’s you might ask
stories like Terry Ana’s you might ask
stories like Terry Ana’s you might ask with all of this momentum in
with all of this momentum in
with all of this momentum in Indianapolis why isn’t every student in
Indianapolis why isn’t every student in
Indianapolis why isn’t every student in a high quality school well the answer
a high quality school well the answer
a high quality school well the answer relates to the theme of this conference
relates to the theme of this conference
relates to the theme of this conference scale we have many great schools but we
scale we have many great schools but we
scale we have many great schools but we need many many many more the good news
need many many many more the good news
need many many many more the good news is we know this and our community is
is we know this and our community is
is we know this and our community is focused on scale the partnership of the
focused on scale the partnership of the
focused on scale the partnership of the Indianapolis Public Schools the
Indianapolis Public Schools the
Indianapolis Public Schools the Indianapolis mayor’s office and the mine
Indianapolis mayor’s office and the mine
Indianapolis mayor’s office and the mine trust is working to create dozens of
trust is working to create dozens of
trust is working to create dozens of more schools and working to make sure
more schools and working to make sure
more schools and working to make sure that they have the talent and community
that they have the talent and community
that they have the talent and community support they need for success but this
support they need for success but this
support they need for success but this will take scale and it will take time
will take scale and it will take time
will take scale and it will take time and it will take you so what can you do
and it will take you so what can you do
and it will take you so what can you do well the most important thing you can do
well the most important thing you can do
well the most important thing you can do is don’t
is don’t
is don’t don’t be satisfied with the status quo
don’t be satisfied with the status quo
don’t be satisfied with the status quo demand that your local leaders your
demand that your local leaders your
demand that your local leaders your districts your mayor’s offices your
districts your mayor’s offices your
districts your mayor’s offices your universities your nonprofits develop
universities your nonprofits develop
universities your nonprofits develop local strategies to drive change in
local strategies to drive change in
local strategies to drive change in education and don’t ever ever ever stop
education and don’t ever ever ever stop
education and don’t ever ever ever stop believing that we can do better
believing that we can do better
believing that we can do better fixing our nation’s public education
fixing our nation’s public education
fixing our nation’s public education system is our communities and our
system is our communities and our
system is our communities and our nation’s most fundamental challenge sure
nation’s most fundamental challenge sure
nation’s most fundamental challenge sure it will allow us to build more parks and
it will allow us to build more parks and
it will allow us to build more parks and libraries and roads but there is
libraries and roads but there is
libraries and roads but there is something much more fundamental at stake
something much more fundamental at stake
something much more fundamental at stake we need to fix our education system
we need to fix our education system
we need to fix our education system because of terrianna and the millions of
because of terrianna and the millions of
because of terrianna and the millions of other students like her whose lives can
other students like her whose lives can
other students like her whose lives can and will be transformed because of it
and will be transformed because of it
and will be transformed because of it thank you very much
”
Be First to Comment