WorksSCHOOL

ore than 250 local parents, students, educators, business leaders and communitymembers documented their ideas for changing and improving the federal education

law known as No Child Left Behind on March 27, during a statewide public hearing held atReagan High School in the Houston Heights.

The landmark law, passed in 2001, is up for reauthorization in September, so the U.S.Congress is currently gathering input from across the nation to help determine which parts to

change and which to keep the same.Houston A+ Challenge sponsored theHouston hearing to generate ideas onfour key topics: teacher quality,testing and accountability,community involvement andinterventions for low performingschools.

“There is still a lot of support forNo Child Left Behind's mainobjective – to close the achievementgap by having high standards for allstudents,” said Michele Pola,executive director of Houston A+

Challenge. “But most parents, students and educators also have very strong opinions that thereare parts of the law that need improvement. I think we sent some really valuable informationto U.S. lawmakers.”

S U M M E R 2 0 0 7 V O L U M E 2 0

Established in January 1997 with funding from the Annenberg Foundation and local matching contributions, The Houston A+ Challenge is an independent, public-privatepartnership that develops and funds school programs, professional development and leadership institutes to promote higher academic achievement by all students.

A P U B L I C A T I O N O F T H E H O U S T O N C H A L L E N G E

HOUSTON HEARING ON NO CHILD LEFT BEHINDGATHERS INPUT FOR U.S. CONGRESS

. . . continued on page 7

How Can We Improve NCLB?Dozens of participants in the March 27 hearing onNo Child Left Behind shared their ideas for change inthe Houston A+ Challenge “Speak Out” video booth.

Go online to watch excerpts from these videos:http://www.houstonaplus.org/events/nclb/video.html

“I think that the law is a great law, because it’sconcerned about our students. But I think they shoulduse other avenues as well to rank or judge where ourstudents are – based on their education, and not justthrough this TAKS test.”

Daniel Garza, parent

“For the district to succeed, schools need to open thedoors completely, so that (schools) become a comm-unity of people, not just teachers and administrators.”

Art Murillo, parent and former Aldine ISD school board member

“Parents can model the importance of education bytalking about issues at the dinner table, having dinnertogether.”

Pat Rosenberg, president, Texas Association of Partners in Education

To read more ideas from Houston participants, turn to Page 6.

Also inside:★ Learn - Vote - Act: Questions to Ask Your School Board (pg. 2)★ ExxonMobil Invests in Middle School Math Teachers & Students (pg. 3)★ High School Dropouts: Town Halls Spark Ideas for Change (pgs. 4-5)★ News & Events from Houston A+ Challenge (pg. 7)

Community members discuss NCLB at Reagan High School. Photo by Ben DeSoto

VIDEO SPEAK OUT

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ouston A+ Challenge is guided by the belief that by directing resources toward qualityteaching and learning, personalization, and collaboration to improve public schools, allchildren will have the opportunity to receive a quality public education. Public engagement is acritical part of the process of reforming our schools. Breaking down barriers between schools, parents, students, businesses andcommunity members is the first step toward bringing the power and energy of these groups together to improve schools for allour students.

In order to chip away at those barriers, Houston A+ recently hosted town hall meetings on No Child Left Behind and ondropouts, and hundreds of interested citizens came together to learn about these issues and share ideas for action. We sharemany of those ideas in this issue of SchoolWorks; to hear more action steps from the participants themselves, please take a lookat the video interviews on our web site: www.houstonaplus.org.Another way to stay engaged in the ongoing efforts to improve schools is to vote. School board elections are often the raceswith the lowest voter turnout. Yet these elected officials most directly affect our local schools, by setting the policy and visionfor school districts. In these elections more than any other, your vote can truly make a difference.If we are to provide quality education to all of Houston's children, we must each commit to doing our part. We all must takethe responsibility to learn about the issues in education, to vote for the candidates who make education a priority, and to takeaction to make sure all of our students receive a quality education.

The School Board sets the policies and standards that govern a school district. Decisions made by School Boards have a direct

impact on the quality of public schools. These policies and decisions affect everything from the school curriculum, hiring of

teachers, and school bus transportation.

Use these questions to start meaningful conversations with School Board members or candidates:

■ In what areas have our public schools been showing improvement?

■ What are your top priorities for continuing to improve our public schools?

■ How will you support the goal of high achievement for every student?

■ What do you believe schools should do to better prepare students with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in higher education, work and life?

■ What is your long-term plan to get and keep good teachers in the classroom?

■ What do you think is the biggest challenge facing our public schools right now and what is your plan to address it?

Reprinted with permission from the Public Education Network.

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Questions to Ask School Boards and Candidates

Michele Pola

From the ExecutiveDirectorH

WHEN TO VOTE: Two local districts, HoustonISD and Aldine ISD, hold school board electionson November 8. Most other Houston-area schoolboard elections are held in May, on either the firstor second Saturday.

hat do crickets and ladybugs have to dowith algebra? Sixth graders at Long

Middle School in Houston IndependentSchool District demonstrated just that, duringa hands-on math lesson on May 8 showcasingthe new Houston A+ Challenge/ExxonMobilMiddle School Math Initiative.

Using tangible items like plastic bugs is justone technique to help students understand theconcrete relationship between abstractnumbers. This and other mathematicsteaching strategies have been central to theHouston A+ Challenge/ExxonMobil K-5 MathInitiative that began in 2000.

“There are different ways to get to the sameanswer. It helps me think and show mywork,” said Jessica Rodriguez, 11, a Longstudent who previously attended SuttonElementary, a K-5 Initiative school.

Next fall, more than 5,000 middle schoolstudents in Houston ISD will benefit from thissuccessful initiative, thanks to an $840,000contribution from the ExxonMobil Founda-tion. Houston A+ Challenge will partner withHouston ISD to train, place and support amath specialist at each of the participatingHISD West Region middle schools –– Long,Sharpstown, Revere and Fondren.

The full-time math specialists will helpteachers and administrators enhance theirunderstanding and instruction of math in theclassroom, and ultimately impact studentachievement in mathematics. In addition,specialists and teachers will lead Family MathNights, to train parents on how to help theirchildren at home.

“It is imperative that our children have asolid foundation in mathematics in order to besuccessful in the workplace and in life,” saidGerald McElvy, president of the ExxonMobilFoundation. “ExxonMobil has a strongcommitment to improving math education inthis country, and we believe that investing in

our teachers and theirprofessionaldevelopment is thefirst step towardstrengthening oureducation system.”

The West Regionmiddle schools werechosen because theyreceive most of thestudents who attendedelementary schoolsthat are active in theK-5 math initiative.All schools in bothinitiatives serve a highmajority of low-income students.

“By offering newand different teachingstrategies, we are able

to increase student learning and teacherknowledge in mathematics,” said MichelePola, executive director of Houston A+Challenge. “This type of training can reallyhelp bridge the gap we see in math educationbetween American studentsand their internationalcounterparts.”

The K-5 Math Initiativebegan with five specialists ateight schools in 2000-01, andhas grown to 21 specialists in19 schools in 2006-07. Since2003, participating schoolshave seen an average of a 22-point gain on the math portionof the Texas Assessment ofKnowledge and Skills (TAKS)test. Sixty-nine percent of theelementary schools thatreceived additionalprofessional development

through the program scored higher than thedistrict average on the 2006 TAKS math test.

“Based on the promising results we haveseen from the K-5 Math Initiative, we areexcited about the middle school expansionand eager to see the impact it will have on thestudents as they continue the program,” saidAbelardo Saavedra, superintendent of theHouston Independent School District.“Thanks to ExxonMobil and Houston A+Challenge, HISD students will be prepared tosucceed in a world that is increasinglydependent on science, math, engineering andtechnology.”

According to a 2003 Trends in InternationalMath and Science Study, only 7 percent of U.S.4th and 8th graders achieved an advancedlevel in mathematics, compared to 38 percentof their international peers.

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E x x o n M o b i l M a t h P r o g r a mE x p a n d s t o M i d d l e S c h o o l s

Long Middle School sixth graders Alicia Dueñas andJosé Hoyos use hands-on problem-solving to find thecorrect answer in multiple ways.

Long Middle School teacher Linh Hoang helps sixth graders JacquelineMartinez and Rashad Tate solve an algebra problem, using toy bugs ashands-on learning tools.

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ExxonMobil Foundation President Gerald McElvy presents $840,000 check to Houston A+ Challenge Executive Director Michele Pola, Houston ISDSuperintendent Abelardo Saavedra, Houston A+ Board Chair Joe B. Foster, and Houston ISD Board President Manuel Rodriguez.

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“The reason we have a continuing, serious dropout problem is that there are not any simple answers. If it were simple, we would have fixed it by now.”

–– Dr. Abelardo Saavedra, Superintendent, Houston Independent School District

TOWN HALL FORUMS ON STUDENT DROPOUTS CALL

QUESTIONS TO ASK STUDENTSParent and adult interest and involvement in a student’s education is critical tosuccess. Use these questions to start meaningful conversations with students.

■ If you could create a great public school, what would it be like? How is the school you just described like, or unlike, the school you attend now?

■ In your opinion, what is your school doing well? Where could things improve?

■ What are the biggest challenges you face in school? Are there things that teachers, sport coaches, guidance counselors or community members can do to help?

■ Do you feel safe at school? Why or why not?

■ What classes do you need to take to graduate from high school? Are you on track?

■ Are there additional classes or programs that you would like to see offered in school or in the community?

■ What are your plans for the future? Do you know what skills, training or additional education you’ll need in order to get there?

■ Do you feel confident that the skills you are learning are preparing you for work or education beyond high school?

Reprinted with permission from the Public Education Network.

“What can your family members and the community do to help you succeed in school?” To frame the conversations during the town hall meetings, Houston A+ Challenge asked this questionin focus groups and surveys of about 400 students at four high schools. Here’s what they said:

■ Please motivate us■ Inspire us■ Help us stay focused■ Parents: Please ask us more questions■ Business and community members: Donate money & scholarships

n February and March of 2007,Houston A+ Challenge convened a

series of three town hall meetings aimedat spurring new ideas on how to lower thehigh school dropout rate among studentsin Houston. Nearly 350 parents, students,educators, civic leaders and communitymembers came together at Aldine, Austinand Wheatley high schools to discusshow to increase the number of highschool graduates who have the skills they need to succeed in college and theworkforce.

Houston A+ Challenge joined withHouston ISD, Aldine ISD and the City of Houston to host these meetings.Participants offered their thoughts andsuggestions through focus groups, writtensurveys and videotaped interviews.

A common theme emerged: Thereare no simple answers. But there are

steps that each of us can take. Pleaseconsider which of these steps you mighttake, to help chip away at the big,complex, many-faceted social crisis that is the dropout problem.

Parents spoke passionately about the need to feelwelcome at school, in order to stay active in theirchild’s education. Open communication is the key.

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Since these town hall meetings, Houston A+ Challenge and The MetropolitanOrganization (TMO) have held follow-up meetings to continue engaging parentsand cultivating relationships with schools. Other follow-up is planned to specifically address communications between school systems and parents.

If you would like to be notified of these upcoming events, please send an e-mail toamorua@houstonaplus.org.

What’s Next

5

✮ Improve communication among all stakeholdersTwo-way school-parent communication is crucial to student success, and building and maintaining these relationships is a shared responsibility. To effectively reach parents, schools should use a variety of delivery methods for communication – e-mail, automated phone system, website, postal mail, social functions at school, town hall meetings – and send important messages multiple times. On their part, parents need to let schools know if they suddenly stop receiving communication.

✮ Increase parent involvement in the schools and in student performanceResearch shows that parental and family involvement and engagement is a critical element of student success. Parents need to have high expectations, and communicate them to their children. Schools need to make parents feel welcome and show them how to participate effectively in their children’s education, so that parents want to get involved and spend time at the school.

✮ Involve all of the community in student successNeighborhoods, businesses, community organizations, faith organizations all benefit from student success, all are hurt by student failure, and all have a role to play in schools. Financial and physical resources, awareness, mentoring, time and influence are all needed. Community organizations and schools can collaborate on skill development, tutorials, internships and mentoring.

✮ Support students to expect successPositive habits and high expectations formed early can make a big difference in student success. Development of life skills and support of social services help make those expectations a reality. Students need guidance to develop interpersonal, social, business and financial awareness skills. Exposure to college and the workplace can help them envision a positive future.

✮ Personalize schools and curriculum to meet 21st Century student needsToday’s students come to school with a broad spectrum of needs – academic, social, financial, emotional. Schools and school systems meet the students as they are and must adapt to address these needs. Thus, schools must be aware of differing cultural backgrounds and prepare teachers and staff to handle them respectfully. Smaller schools and classes can help teachers and students come to know each other personally. What is taught and how it is taught matters. Schools can teach and value thinkingskills – critical thinking, performance-based learning, real life, portfolio assessments – not just test-taking skills. If instruction is linked to purpose, it will be more relevant to the students’ real world.

Officially reported dropout rates in Texas and around the country aregenerally believed to understate the number of students who do notsuccessfully complete high school. Many scholars and researchers offerdifferent ways to report and understand this information. One methodcompares the number of freshmen to the number of graduates four yearslater (with statistical adjustments for expected changes in enrollment).

Using this method, for the class of 2006, in Harris County:

Forty percent of students who began as freshmen in 2002-03left prior to graduation with a high school diploma. Thisrepresents more than 26,000 students.

Of those students:

• 58 percent are Hispanic • 27 percent are Black • 13 percent are White

Source: Intercultural Development Research Association, October 2006

SCHOOLS, PARENTS AND COMMUNITIES TO ACTION

Five key ideas from the 2007 Town Halls:

During the town hall forum at Austin High School, Al Mock, a teacher atWestbury High School in Houston ISD, leads a group discussion on solutionsto the dropout problem.

D R O P O U T S B Y T H E N U M B E R S

Teacher QualityHaving a high quality teacher in everyclassroom is one of the most importantfactors in student success, and the measure ofquality should include student, parent andpeer evaluations. More recommendations:

■ Hold schools responsible for offering quality professional development in a non-punitive setting if teachers are found to be lacking in skills.

■ Reward teachers who work with at-risk students with recognition and extra salary.

■ Require teachers to participate in ongoing professional development in their field of study, so that students are exposed to the most current knowledge and are more prepared for the real world.

■ Offer more federal and state incentives (grants, funding, forgiveness of student loans) to encourage teachers to continue their education.

.

Testing and AccountabilityNCLB and standardized testing should not

be eliminated, but significant improvementsand supplementary emphases are needed. For example:

■ Deemphasize high-stakes testing and place more emphasis on educating the "whole child" through the arts, sciences, physical education, and hands-on/real-world skills.

■ Require states to use metrics that capture and report on student and school achievement growth, instead of an arbitrary measurement. Limit high-stakes,year-end tests, in favor of diagnostic tests that allow teachers to make productive and timely adjustments in their teaching.

■ Include student portfolios and projects and surveys of parents and community members when evaluating students and schools.

■ Coordinate each state's grade-level standards so that students who move across state lines are not falling behind – as did many students from Louisiana who were displaced by Katrina.

■ Improve the way NCLB captures the progress of English language learners.

Community InvolvementThere should be more oversight andenforcement of the NCLB requirements thatschools and school districts involve parentsand the community in school-based decision-making and more line-item funding forschools to carry out these requirementsOther recommendations:

■ Increase "bottom-up assessment" of schools, through community/parent surveys of teachers, principals and schools.

■ Mail all parents and community members a yearly report on a school's progress, including details on financial oversight.

■ Direct more resources toward translation services and outreach that encourages participation among non-English speaking parents, in order to make them feel welcome, respected and engaged in their children's education.

■ Giving businesses tax incentives for participating in schools.

Interventions for Low PerformanceInterventions should not be punitive, butshould come as a "rallying cry" thatencourages parents/communities to pitch in.For example:

■ Shift the law's focus away from interventions perceived as punitive and toward school improvement that inspires active community engagement.

■ Appoint a high-level ombudsman in each state to oversee compliance when interventions are required.

■ Give low-performing schools additional resources for improvement.

■ Incorporate line-item funding for more social workers in schools at all levels – elementary, middle and high school.

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HOUSTON RECOMMENDATIONS ON NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND

NCLB town hall participants worked in small groups on eachof the four topics and chose a representative to share their

suggestions with the entire assembly. Photo by Ben DeSoto

I don't want

my child to be

left behind.

I want her to be

left in front.––Shantell Thomas,

parent

he observations and opinions shared by more than 250 participants at the March 27 Houston hearing on No Child Left Behind were

synthesized into an executive summary, and were submitted to U.S. Senators by the Public Education Network on March 28. The role of

Houston A+ Challenge in this event was to collect and report public input. Houston A+ does not endorse any specific recommendations, but

does encourage public engagement through communication with elected representatives.

T

In Houston, participants made suggestions on four key topics:

7

n late 2006, the Houston A+ ChallengeBoard of Trustees elected Joe B. Foster, the

founder, former chairman and CEO ofHouston-based Newfield Exploration Co., asits new Chairman. Ann Friedman, Ph.D., waselected President.

Mr. Foster, president of the board since2002, replaces Harry M. Reasoner, a partner inVinson & Elkins Law Firm, who had servedas chair since 2002 and continues on as boardmember. Dr. Friedman is a licensedpsychologist and serves on the board ofseveral other local organizations.

The board also welcomed two newmembers in early 2007. Susan Bischoff, a 32-year veteran of the Houston Chronicle, is thefirst president of Houston Public LibraryFoundation. VJ Turner, Jr., manager of GlobalData Center Operations for ExxonMobilCorporation in Houston, is an electricalengineer who has been active in professionalassociation activities.

In recent management changes:

■ Suzanne Sutherland has been named Associate Director, and continues her duties as Director of Programs.

■ Nan Powers Varoga, Director of Public Affairs since 1999, stepped down to join her husband in Des Moines, where he was national campaign manager for Tom Vilsack.

■ Melissa Milios, a former newspaper reporter, is the new Director of Public Affairs. Melissa previously served as communications director for the Los Angeles School Board President.

■ Dr. Louise Deretchin has retired after seven years as Director of Higher Education. At Houston A+, Louise worked with universities and K-12 districts to reform teacher preparation.

The day after the Houston hearing,Wendy Puriefoy, president of the PublicEducation Network, testified before the U.S.Senate Health, Education, Labor andPensions Committee and delivered a

synopsis of the feedback gathered fromHouston and across the country toWashington lawmakers.

“We're hearing that communities acrossthe nation are concerned by the same things– an over-emphasis on standardized testing,a narrowing of the curriculum to focus ontest preparation rather than academiclearning, using sanctions that do not helpimprove schools, and inadequate funding.”Puriefoy said. “Without significant andeffective community involvement, we willnot be able to deliver on the promise of anexcellent education for every child.”

To read the summary of recommendationsfrom the Houston hearing that was submittedto the U.S. Congress, see previous page.

May 29-30 Regional High School Network Leadership Team Conference

June 4-8 5th Annual Teacher Externship Program

June 11-15 Critical Friends Group (CFG) New Coaches Seminar

June 11-July 21 Baylor College of Medicine Summer Science Institute

June 25-26 New Visions in Leadership Summer Institute

July 24-25 11th Annual Reforming Schools Summer Institute (RSSI)

September 8 Reach Out to Dropouts Walk, Houston ISD

2 0 0 7 C a l e n d a r o f E v e n t s

CHANGES AT HOUSTON A+ CHALLENGE

Something has to give.They need to allow

teachers to be teachersand allow the creativeprocess in the schools

and the classroom.–– Monica Zepeda,

teacher, parent

Houston Hearing. . . continued from page1

From left: Michele Pola, Ed.D., Executive Director,Houston A+ Challenge; Dr. Peter Bishop,Coordinator, Futures Studies, University ofHouston; Linda Clarke, Education Director, Office ofMayor Bill White; Ron Cowell, President, EducationPolicy and Leadership Center; Roberto Gonzalez,Vice President, Education & Training Centers, Inc.;Henry Johnson, Former U.S. Assistant Secretaryfor Elementary and Secondary Education (2005-2006). Photo by Ben DeSoto

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HELP US IMPROVE SCHOOLWORKS:

Please take five minutes to complete our online survey

at www.houstonaplus.org

NON-PROFITORGANIZATION

U.S. POSTAGE PAID

#11363HOUSTON, TEXAS1415 Louisiana, Box 9 Houston, Texas 77002-7332

713-658-1881 fax 713-739-0166www.houstonaplus.org

SchoolWorks is published by: Houston A+ Challenge1415 Louisiana, Box 9 Houston, TX 77002 713.658.1881 / 713.739.0166 (fax)

Executive Director: Michele Pola, Ed.D.Director of Public Affairs: Melissa Milios

Writer: Betsy Broyles Breier

www.houstonaplus.org

THE HOUSTON A+ CHALLENGE

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Joe B. Foster, ChairmanFounder

Newfield Exploration Company

Ann Friedman, Ph.D., PresidentCivic Volunteer

BOARD MEMBERS

Leonel CastilloCivic Volunteer

Jonathan DayManaging Partner

Andrews & Kurth, Mayor, Day, Caldwell & Keeton, LLP

Michael DeeManaging Director, Morgan Stanley

Roberto GonzalezVice President, Employment and Training Centers, Inc.

H. Devon Graham, Jr.R.E. Smith Interests

Jenard GrossPresident, Gross Investments

Steve MillerChairman & President

SLM Discovery Venture Inc.

Karol Musher, M.A., CCC-SLPSpeech, Language and Learning Disorders

Texas Children’s Hospital

Maconda Brown O’Connor, Ph.D.Chairman, Brown Foundation

Harry M. ReasonerVinson & Elkins, LLP

J. Victor SamuelsChairman, Victory Packaging

Yava ScottCommunity Volunteer

VJ Turner, Jr.ExxonMobil Corporation

Andrea WhiteCivic Volunteer

Rosie ZamoraPresident, Houston Wilderness, Inc.

hen you walk onto the campus at Whidby Elementary in Houston ISD, you’ll see

adults working with students and in classrooms. And not all of them are teachers. Local

artists, retired teachers, community members and Whidby parents find themselves welcomed

and encouraged to spend time at the school.

Under a unique program, funded in part by a Focused Impact Grant from Houston A+

Challenge, Whidby Elementary has found ways to increase community involvement at the

school. Retired teachers and community volunteers, as well as paid consultants, mentor and

support new teachers and provide learning opportunities to teachers and students, allowing

for greater collaboration and personalization at the school. Whidby has strategically targeted

classrooms and students in need of extra support and has creatively engaged with

community partners to provide that extra support.

The Parent Resource Center offers classroom connection activities to encourage families to

learn and to effectively contribute time to the school. When parent workshops are held,

light snacks and childcare are provided to promote participation by making it easier for

parents to attend. Whidby’s goal is to build a culture where parents view themselves as

partners in the learning environment.

Whidby Elementary, a Title 1 school, has an enrollment of 580 students. The school is

located in the southeast sector of Houston’s South Union Community. The socio-economic

status of the community varies from very low to middle income. The ethnicity of the school

is: 80 percent African-American; 12 percent Hispanic; 5 percent Anglo; 4 percent Asian.

Eighty percent of the students receive free or reduced-price meals.

Focus on Whidby Elementary:

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