AlliAnce Middle SchoolS

Alliance Christine O’Donovan Middle Academy5355 South 4th AvenueLos Angeles, CA 90043

Alliance College-Ready Middle Academy 49719 South Main StreetLos Angeles, CA 90003

Alliance College-Ready Middle Academy 5211 Avenue 20Los Angeles, CA 90031

Alliance College-Ready Middle Academy 72941 West 70th StreetLos Angeles, CA 90043

Alliance Jack H. Skirball Middle School603 East 115th StreetLos Angeles, CA 90059

Alliance Richard Merkin Middle School2023 South Union AvenueLos Angeles, CA 90007

Where exceptional is the rule.

2012 Annual report

Too many students are academically unprepared to meet the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century. Workforce demands for college-educated employees continue to increase, with 59% of jobs today requiring a post-secondary degree. Our public schools are not keeping pace. In the United States only 78% of students graduate from high school. In Los Angeles Unified School District that number drops to 62%. Of those who do make it to graduation, only 30% earn a college degree. The future for high school dropouts is grim. They are eight times more likely to end up in prison or jail, and their earning potential is one fifth that of a college grad.

The challenge.

lifetime earning potential

$3,648,000

$2,671,000

$2,268,000

$1,304,000

$973,000

0

1,000,000

2,000,000

3,000,000

$4,000,000

ProfessionalDegree

Master'sDegree

Bachelor'sDegree

High SchoolDiploma

Less thanHigh School

As I reflect on our name, Alliance College-Ready Public Schools, it reveals a lot about our organization and our mission. We truly are an Alliance, working to ensure that every student is college ready. Made up of committed teachers, involved parents, dedicated principals, incredible Board members, generous donors, and passionate volunteers, our Alliance is preparing graduates for success in college and future careers. We believe that every child deserves a free, high-quality public education. We have developed a network of public charter schools to prove it is possible to deliver a consistently great education and achieve successful results for all students, regardless of their ethnicities or parents’ income.

We are proud of how much we have accomplished thus far to fulfill that promise. Across our schools, more than 93% of incoming Alliance 9th graders graduate in four years, and 95% of graduates have gone on to college. These statistics are even more remarkable when contrasted with neighboring traditional public schools where graduation rates hover around 60% and only a small fraction of students are college bound.

Still, we are humbled by how much is left to do. Because we are never satisfied with “good enough,” we continually strive to innovate and embrace new methods that help make education relevant to our students and the world in which they live. We now have seven schools implementing the revolutionary Alliance blended learning model known as BLAST. By integrating 21st century online tools into Alliance’s successful curriculum, BLAST personalizes the learning experience, provides our teachers with useful, real-time data, and helps us stretch our scarce dollars even further.

We remain dedicated to providing highly effective teachers for every student and highly effective principals for all schools. While the rest of the country debates the merits of performance-based compensation, we are leading the way. This year, we rolled out a new talent management system to attract, retain, and develop highly effective teachers – and, more importantly, to keep them in the classroom in front of students.

Now, with 21 schools serving 9,500 students, Alliance is bigger than three-fourths of all school districts in the state. The engine of our growth has been the hundreds of generous supporters who have invested in the start-up costs to build and open new schools. After four years of operation, all Alliance schools are self-sustaining on public funding. Even with California’s nationally low education funding, we are proving that excellent education can be the rule, not the exception.

I am incredibly grateful to all in the Alliance and our supporters who have helped us achieve such tremendous success in just eight short years. I look forward to working with all of you as we recommit to becoming an even stronger Alliance of College-Ready Public Schools.

Sincerely,

Judy ivie burton Alliance President and CEO

1

dear friends,

demographics

of these students:

1%

Latino

African American

Other

89%

10%

Qualify for Free/ReducedMeal Program93%

Have Special Needs7%

exceptional is...reaching students who need us most.

2

Alliance College-Ready Public Schools is the largest nonprofit charter organization in Los Angeles, serving 9,500 students at 15 high schools and 6 middle schools in the most underserved communities. With 21 schools, the Alliance network is larger than 75% of school districts in California. Alliance was established in 2004 based on the belief that, if given access to high-performing schools, all students can learn at high levels. Since then, we have sent more than 95% of our graduates to college, proving that academic success is achievable on a large scale.

75%of cA school districts

21schools

9,500students

>=

Alliance pledge.

Alliance provided me with the resources to navigate the college admissions process, and the confidence to know that i could succeed at an institution of higher learning. getting through college was the goal from day one.”

Salvador garcía Alliance Gertz-Ressler High School, Class of 2008B.A. Spanish Literature, Pomona College, Class of 2012

3

ensure that All students receive a rigorous college-preparatory education.

provide small personalized learning environments where students develop quality relationships with teachers and principals.

offer more time for learning with extended school days and a longer school year than traditional public schools.

guarantee highly effective educators for all students.

Work with parents as partners in their children’s education.

embrace innovation to remain relevant to the needs of our students and the world in which they live.

operate using a financially sound and efficient business model.

“

4

exceptional is...sustained academic achievement. As Alliance has grown, our schools continue to excel academically. In the past six years, the percent of Alliance students proficient in English Language Arts has grown 42% and the percent of students proficient in Math has nearly tripled. Alliance schools significantly outperform those in their neighborhoods, and are ranked among the best schools in the nation. In 2012, six Alliance high schools were ranked in the top 3% of high schools nationwide by US News & World Report and Alliance Gertz-Ressler High School was the only school in Los Angeles to be named a National Blue Ribbon School.

2012 Academic performance index (Api) high Schools and Middle Schools

2012 lAuSd School performance rating

Alliance High Schools

Priority Focus for Improvement

Watch List

Needs Support & Services

Achieving

Excelling

LAUSD Traditional High Schools

57%

47%

22%3%

16%

12%

43%

749

731

687

653

600

630

660

690

720

750

AllianceSchools

CaliforniaSchools

LAUSDSchools

NeighboringSchools

6 Alliance high schools are ranked in the top 3% of high schools nationwide.

6

In the United States, only 78% of students graduate from high school. In Los Angeles Unified School District that number drops to 62%. Beating these odds is especially tough for students from low-income communities like those Alliance serves. At Alliance high schools, 100% of students pass the California High School Exit Exam and 93% of all incoming freshman graduate in four years. We are proving that all students can succeed if given the opportunity.

0

20

40

60

80

100

AllianceCaliforniaLAUSD

62%

76%

93%

high School graduation rate

exceptional is...beating the odds.

every 26 seconds a student in the united States drops out of high school.

25

exceptional is...college readiness.We want every Alliance student to have the option to go to college. That is why all Alliance students are required to pass the courses necessary to attend a University of California or Cal State University. At Alliance schools, we have learned that it is one thing to be “college eligible” and another thing to be “college ready.” Based on the successes and challenges of our alumni, we have strengthened our college preparatory curriculum to include stronger focus on advanced placement courses, critical thinking, and expository writing. In addition, Alliance college counselors work tirelessly to help each student find the college that suits their needs, and successfully navigate the college application and financial aid process.

8

exceptional is...college readiness.

100% of Alliance graduates have passed the courses necessary to apply to a university of california or cal State university.

100%

95% of Alliance graduates go on to college.

95%

9

In 2012, Alliance celebrated our first class of college graduates. Among those is Josephine Pineda, who excelled at Alliance Gertz-Ressler High School and went on to graduate from UCLA. When Josephine first arrived at the Alliance, her grades were plummeting and she lacked confidence in her academic abilities. Going to college seemed like a very distant dream. As she tells it, she came to Alliance to take advantage of the small, personalized learning environment that would help her succeed in high school and get on the path toward college.

With help from Alliance teachers, Josephine’s grades quickly turned around, and she became active in school clubs and the community. She graduated near the top of her class and went on to UCLA. While in college, she stayed connected to Alliance by working as a Teacher’s Assistant and English tutor at Alliance Gertz-Ressler High School. Today Josephine teaches 8th grade at AllianceCollege-Ready Middle Academy 7 as part of the 2012 Teach for America Corps.

As Josephine explains, “I decided to return to Alliance as a teacher because I believe in our mission to prepare students for the rigor and competitiveness of college. My Alliance teachers provided me with the tools and resources I needed to succeed, and I am excited to give my students the same opportunities I had.”

Josephine is one of hundreds of Alliance alumni who are now pursuing advanced degrees, and a wide array of career pursuits in business, bio-tech, public policy, and education. They are living proof that all students can succeed if given the opportunity.

exceptional is...college success.

Alliance gave me the tools i needed to reach my college dreams.”

Josephine pineda Alliance Gertz-Ressler High School, Class of 2008B.A. Political Science and Public Affairs, UCLA, Class of 2012 Teacher at Alliance College-Ready Middle Academy 7

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“

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Quality education starts with effective teachers. In collaboration with three other charter organizations, and with major support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Alliance has overhauled its talent management system to ensure every student has a highly effective teacher and every school has a highly effective principal. Through a fully-transparent, performance-based evaluation and compensation system, Alliance is able to identify and provide individualized support to help good teachers become great teachers. As importantly, Alliance encourages highly effective teachers to remain in the classroom by offering them higher pay and leadership opportunities as master teachers.

exceptional is...highly effective teachers.

i feel that i am a good teacher, and receiving consistent feedback allows me to develop my instructional skills to become an exceptional one.”

Matthew graves English Teacher, Alliance Dr. Olga Mohan High School

“

Blended Learning for Alliance School Transformation (BLAST) is a revolutionary educational model that seamlessly integrates technology with traditional face-to-face learning. Implementing a unique rotational model, BLAST builds upon Alliance’s successful college preparatory curriculum to create a highly personalized learning environment that empowers and motivates students to excel. As of 2012, four Alliance high schools and three middle schools are implementing the BLAST model.

exceptional is...access to 21st century tools.

The blAST Model - Three Ways to learn

14

TeAcher-led SMAll group inSTrucTion

collAborATiVe, proJecT-bASedleArning

indiViduAliZedonline leArning

personalized, replicable, and scalable.

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In BLAST classrooms, lessons are tailored to each student’s needs. Students master concepts at their own pace before moving on to the next subject.

Real-time data gives students immediate feedback on how they are progressing, allowing them to take ownership of their learning. Teachers, principals, and parents also have access to each student’s data. Teachers can tailor lessons to individual students, parents can monitor how their child is doing in the classroom, and principals can evaluate teachers and provide prompt feedback and support.

While an upfront investment is required, cost savings from efficiencies in human capital and online instructional materials allow BLAST schools to be more financially flexible.

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Alliance School budget public vs. private Funding

exceptional is...a sustainable investment.

0

1,000,000

2,000,000

3,000,000

4,000,000

5,000,000

$6,000,000

Public Per-Pupil FundingPrivate Investment

Year 5Year 4Year 3Year 2Year 1DevelopmentYear

150 Students

300 Students

450 Students

600 Students

600 Students

Fiscally, Alliance runs a tight ship. The overwhelming majority of our income is dedicated to supporting classroom instruction. Alliance schools are self-sustaining on public funding after four years of operation. No easy feat considering that, like all California charter schools, Alliance receives 7% less per-pupil public funding than traditional public schools. In short, we achieve better results with fewer dollars.

Philanthropic support provides the capital investments required for new facilities, finances start-up operating costs of opening new schools, including covering technology expenses, and funds the development of innovative instructional programming and teaching.

An investment in Alliance schools allows us to provide a high-quality, 21st century education for thousands of low-income students year after year, generation after generation.

Fiscal 2012 income & expenses

expenses$75,642,385

Instruction (Program) $54,352,158

Operations and Administration $10,438,206

Fundraising$400,025

Facilities and Interest$10,451,996

71.9%

13.8%

0.5%

13.8%

revenue & Support$94,514,318

Public State and Local Funding $65,462,789

Federal Funding $12,994,038

Private Contributions $12,632,830

Other Revenue $3,424,661

69.3%

13.7%

13.4%

3.6%

Alliance is the best investment i’ve ever made.” Tony resslerAlliance Board Co-Chair & Senior Partner, Ares Management, LLC

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“

0

3,000

6,000

9,000

12,000

15,000

2018-192016-172015-162014-152013-142012-132011-122010-112009-102008-092007-082006-072005-062004-05

School Year

Number ofStudents

exceptional is...dedication to growth and improvement.

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Alliance enrollment

our goAlS:

open 10 new schools in five years, expanding the Alliance opportunity to an additional 5,250 students each year.

expand blended learning tools to all new schools.

create a world-class educator talent management system to recruit, develop, and retain highly effective teachers and principals.

increase college completion rates by strengthening college preparatory curriculum and support for Alliance alumni.

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help us achieve our goals by...

...making a financial contributionunrestricted Fund - Gives Alliance the flexibility to meet the greatest needs of our schools and students. Facilities Fund - Invests in opening new schools to expand Alliance’s high-quality college-preparatory curriculum to thousands more students. There are a number of naming opportunities associated with supporting Alliance facilities.blAST Fund - Provides Alliance students with laptops and online learning tools for a 21st century education. Scholarship Fund - Grants Alliance graduates with college scholarships giving them the opportunity to attend their “dream school.”

Gifts can be made by check, credit card, stock, or wire transfer. You can make a gift online by clicking the Donate Now button at www.laalliance.org, or by contacting Catherine Suitor at (213) 943-4930, ext. 1036 or csuitor@laalliance.org.

...making a deferred giftConsider making a deferred charitable gift as part of your estate planning. Often planned gifts allow supporters to make a more significant contribution than they can make today. The most common legacy gift is a simple bequest which names Alliance as a beneficiary in your will. For more information about making a deferred gift, contact Catherine Suitor at (213) 943-4930, ext. 1036 or csuitor@laalliance.org.

...volunteeringAlliance schools offer a number of volunteer opportunities including mentorship programs, career days, library book drives, and school beautification projects. Learn more about upcoming Alliance volunteer projects and join our volunteer mailing list by clicking the Get Involved button at www.laalliance.org.

...spreading the wordHost a “friend-raising” event to help Alliance grow its family of supporters. For more details, contact Catherine Suitor at (213) 943-4930, ext. 1036 or csuitor@laalliance.org.

...staying informedJoin Alliance’s online community and receive regular Alliance updates and information about education reform efforts. Sign up for our mailing list by clicking the Stay Informed button at www.laalliance.org.

Alliance Senior Management

Judy burton, President & CEOAlliance College-Ready Public Schools

Alliance board of directors

Frank baxter, Co-ChairmanJefferies & Company, Inc. Tony ressler, Co-ChairmanAres Management, LLC

harold Williams, Vice ChairmanThe J. Paul Getty Trust Alan ArkatovChanging.edu

Judge david cunningham iiiL.A. Superior Court

luis de la FuenteThe Broad Foundation

Joseph drakeGood Universe

david i. FisherCapital Group International, Inc.

Stewart KwohAsian Pacific American Legal Center

harry levittUniversal Operations Risk Management

Meyer luskinScope Industries

richard Merkin, M.dHeritage Provider Network

neal Millard Musick Peeler & Garrett LLP

gayle MillerGo Alongside Foundation

Theodore r. MitchellNewSchools Venture Fund

dale okunoOkuno Associates, Inc.

William ouchiAnderson School of Management UCLA

richard J. riordanFormer Los Angeles Mayor

Virgil robertsBobbitt & Roberts

darline p. roblesRossier School of Education - USC

Araceli ruanoCenter for American Progress

Fred SimmonsFreeman Spogli & Co

eva SternInsideOUT Writers

ronald d. SugarNorthrop Grumman Corporation

Marie WashingtonCalifornia Community Foundation

c. Frederick WehbaBentleyForbes

Alliance Senior Advisors

robert erburuTimes Mirror Company (retired)

Antonia hernándezCalifornia Community Foundation

paul c. hudsonBroadway Federal

dan KatzirThe Broad Foundation

Kate FordBill and Melinda Gates Foundation

robert e. WycoffARCO (retired)

board of directors

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young professionals boarderik Kronstadt, ChairmanEducation Elements

rebecca AgonafirGuess?, Inc.

Sandra brownOxygen Media

ingrid garcesSkycrown, Inc.

cynthia gonzalez Loyola Marymount University

Taylor grigsby FieldLevel, Inc.

casey harmonToyota Financial Services Andrea JohnGoldman Sachs & Co.

evelyn liceaAlliance Marc & Eva Stern Math and Science High School

Jonathan lischkeThe GPI Companies

garrett neimanCollegeSpring

christine nguyenGoldman Sachs & Co.

Sergio pesqueiraLoyola Marymount University

Kamala SalmonUniversal Pictures

erika WoodsProcter & Gamble

exceptional is...committed leadership.

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$1,000,000+Ambassador Frank and Kathy BaxterThe Bill and Melinda Gates FoundationBloomfield Family FoundationThe Broad FoundationCarol and James CollinsConrad N. Hilton FoundationAnthony Ressler and Jami GertzThe Riordan FoundationEric and Susan Smidt$500,000+Charter School Growth FundDavid and Marianna FisherRenee and Meyer LuskinCynthia L. & William E. Simon Jr. FoundationMichael and Suzanne TennenbaumWeingart Foundation$250,000+The Green FoundationFrank Mchugh-O’Donovan FoundationW.M. Keck FoundationThe Walton Family Foundation$100,000+AnonymousConfidence FoundationMichael and Susan Dell FoundationJohn W. Carson FoundationHoward and Nancy MarksDr. Richard MerkinThe Paul E. Singer FoundationThe Ralph M. Parsons FoundationThe Skirball FoundationEva and Marc SternUnited Way of Greater Los Angeles$50,000+Kissick Family FoundationDale and Ayako OkunoBrian and Patricia Reynolds$25,000+Megan and Peter CherninEdison InternationalSteve and Farah GoziniGregory and EJ Milken FoundationGayle MillerNewSchools Venture FundDr. William and Carol OuchiFred Simmons and Dr. Olga Mohan$10,000+Ares Management, LLCCalifornia Community Foundation

Capital Group Companies, Inc.The Carol and James Collins FoundationBill and Charlene GlikbargThe James Irvine FoundationTom NadeauTheo ResslerBruce and Avis RichardsVirgil and Brenda RobertsRobert RonusSempra EnergyRonald and Valarie SugarSun America Financial GroupFrederick and Susan WehbaWhittier Trust CompanyHarold Williams$5,000+AECOMEric DerringtonFox Entertainment GroupMichael and Patricia KlowdenHoward LappinSteven LuPeter and Patti NeuwirthCharles and Peggy Norris$1,000+AnonymousJudy Ivie BurtonThomas DeRosaJames and Lynne DeWittMrs. William H. Doheny, Sr.Ranney B. DraperFidelity Charitable Gift FundRafael and Linda FrancoFred and Joyce HameetmanDavid and Joan HillRichard HiltonDavid HyunRuth Grace JervisRobert and Wendy LandesLiberty Hill FoundationJulie and Patrick McCormickLance and Marianne MillerKevin MohanNancy and Barry SandersSingerlewak Charitable FoundationEugene SteinCatherine Suitor and Jorge RamirezTeaching ChannelBob and Maria TuttleTeri and Larry Walker

$500+Carl’s From ScratchNelson ChengJoanne Freed and Richard MendelsonAda GeraghtyAnthony and Juliett GiordanoThomas GiovineEdward and Emily GreenspanPaula and Barry LittNeal MillardFinectEdward SimmonsMark VidergauzSylvia Weberup To $499 Rebecca AgonafirAndrew AgzarianJoanne ArmstrongSandra BrownKatie BuchananMiriam CarlipKimberly CockrellConnie CollingwoodJohn DensmoreKara FoxIngrid GarcesJeffrey GarciaCynthia GonzalezJeffrey GrahamTaylor GrigsbyCasey HarmonDavid HochmanKrisen InghramAndrea JohnGreg KoenigErik KronstadtEvelyn LiceaJonathan LischkeHilary and Stephen LottenbergGarret NeimanLoren OranskiSergio PesqueiraAraceli RuanoKamala SalmonMarcee and George SeeganKatharine SimmonsMichele SiqueirosGary StewartAna ValdezErika Woods

Alliance donors giving from July 2011 – december 2012

We visited an Alliance school and saw first-hand the way a quality education can change a student’s life. We are proud to help Alliance expand that opportunity to more students.”

Joanne and Jim hunterSchool Naming Sponsors, Alliance Margaret M. Bloomfield Technology High School

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AlliAnce college-reAdy

public SchoolS1940 South Figueroa Street

Los Angeles, CA 90007

(213) 943-4930www.lAAlliance.org

The mission of Alliance College-Ready Public Schools, a nonprofit charter management organization, is to open and operate a network of small, high performing high schools and middle schools in low-income communities in California with historically under-performing schools, that will annually demonstrate student academic achievement growth, and graduate students ready for success in college.

AlliAnce high SchoolS

Alliance Cindy & Bill Simon Technology Academy High School10720 Wilmington AvenueLos Angeles, CA 90002

Alliance College-Ready Academy High School 54610 South Main StreetLos Angeles, CA 90037

Alliance College-Ready Academy High School 161575 West 2nd StreetLos Angeles, CA 90026

Alliance Dr. Olga Mohan High School644 West 17th StreetLos Angeles, CA 90015

Alliance Environmental Science and Technology High School2930 Fletcher DriveLos Angeles, CA 90065

Alliance Gertz-Ressler High School2023 South Union AvenueLos Angeles, CA 90007

Alliance Health Services Academy High School12226 South Western AvenueLos Angeles, CA 90047

Alliance Huntington Park College-Ready Academy High School2071 Saturn AvenueHuntington Park, CA 90255

Alliance Judy Ivie Burton Technology Academy High School10101 South BroadwayLos Angeles, CA 90003 Alliance Marc & Eva Stern Math and Science High School5151 State University DriveLos Angeles, CA 90032

Alliance Media Arts and Entertainment Design High School5156 Whittier BoulevardLos Angeles, CA 90022

Alliance Renee & Meyer Luskin Academy High School2941 West 70th StreetLos Angeles, CA 90043

Alliance Susan & Eric Smidt Technology High School211 Avenue 20Los Angeles, CA 90031 Alliance Tennenbaum Family Technology High School2050 San Fernando RoadLos Angeles, CA 90065

Alliance William & Carol Ouchi High School5356 South 5th AvenueLos Angeles, CA 90043

New School Opening Fall 2013

Alliance Margaret M. Bloomfield Technology High School7907 Santa Fe AvenueHuntington Park, CA 90255

AlliAnce Middle SchoolS

Alliance Christine O’Donovan Middle Academy5355 South 4th AvenueLos Angeles, CA 90043

Alliance College-Ready Middle Academy 49719 South Main StreetLos Angeles, CA 90003

Alliance College-Ready Middle Academy 5211 Avenue 20Los Angeles, CA 90031

Alliance College-Ready Middle Academy 72941 West 70th StreetLos Angeles, CA 90043

Alliance Jack H. Skirball Middle School603 East 115th StreetLos Angeles, CA 90059

Alliance Richard Merkin Middle School2023 South Union AvenueLos Angeles, CA 90007