How to Improve Public Schools...

Here is an email from my cousin Mark (courtesy of my Aunt Betsey), who is an investment banker in Chicago:

I went to a conference at Kellogg last week and one of the keynote speakers (there were several) was Arne Duncan, CEO of the Chicago Public School (CPS) System.  I am really embarrassed at how little I knew of his story.  I will give you a quick background and my notes from his talk. 
 
Arne grew up on the south side of Chicago (he is white) in Hyde Park.  This is a beautiful part of the city that includes the University of Chicago and the Museum of Science and Industry.  However, it is surrounded by some of the worst poverty in the city.  Arne’s Mom created a program where kids came to her after school and received tutoring to make up for what then had been dubbed the “worst public school system in the nation.”  After participating in the program Arne became one of the tutors.  Arne graduated magna cum laude from Harvard in 1987.  He was co-captain of the Harvard basketball team and an Academic All-American.  He went to Australia to play professional basketball from 1987 to 1991.  He moved back to Chicago in 1992.
 
After starting a separate education initiative in Chicago, Arne went back to his Mom’s program (his Mom is still running the program today 40 some years later) and ran a 6 year experiment.  He took a class of kids that just graduated sixth grade and stayed with them using his Mom’s program all the way through high school.  The class in front of Arne’s had a high school graduation rate of only 33%.  Arne’s class the next year had a graduation rate of 90%!!!!!!!!!  Think of the impact he made on just those kids.
 
He then helped to start a magnet school in Chicago.
 
Next, he was recruited to join CPS.  This was a very difficult decision because he had spent his whole life fighting against CPS and all of its’ problems.  However, he had the vision to see 2 important things that gave CPS a chance:
1.)
    
In 1995, Mayor Daley took control of CPS.  This point simply cannot be over-emphasized.  Unanimously, all critics saw the move by Daley to be political suicide.  How could he possibly take that mess into his realm?  Duncan saw the credibility it would give CPS to get the resources and commitment it so desperately needed (for example, access to the Police Department).  He said several times there is no way he would have joined CPS if Daley had not made this move. 
2.)
    
The second point is not as important, yet it is still critical.  The CPS board is appointed not elected.  He compares notes to CEOs of other major urban school systems and they have a very difficult time getting anything done because board members are voting for separate agendas instead of working together as a team.  In the last 5 years, the CPS board has 0 non-unanimous decisions.  He has a good relationship with the teachers union (see below) but he doesn’t want them on his board.
 
Duncan joined CPS in 1998 and became CEO in June 2001.  He first set out on a path to make improvements in 3 areas:
1)
      
Literacy.  The scores were so bad when he came in the kids even scored lower on the word problem portions of math exams because they couldn’t read the question.  This was a major initiative to get kids to read better.
2)
      
Increase the talent pool.  At times this has created conflict as more talented individuals move into the system but the conflict leads to better decisions for the kids.
a.)
    
There are no good schools without good principals.  They have tapped into places like Kellogg to teach their principals how to act like CEO’s. 
b.)
    
Major recruiting initiatives have increased the number and quality of potential applicants.  In recent years, applications for open teaching positions have gone from 9,000 to 20,000.
c.)
    
The goal is to make Chicago the mecca for people that want to be serious about education.
d.)
    
Baby boom retirements creates a huge opportunity to increase talent.
3)
      
Increase the number of kids that get education starting at 3 and 4 years old.  Most kindergartners that come to CPS had no pre-schooling.  Many didn’t know the front from the back of a book, literally.  Eighth grade test scores are better than 3
rd
grade test scores because so many kids had to play catch-up.
 
Separate notes:
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Renaissance 2010 – Program to open new high quality schools by 2010.  The new schools in the system are highly successful while the controversial closing schools have had about 10% of their population at the median test levels or higher.
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Central office has changed its’ mindset from the “schools work for us” to “we support the schools.”
-
         
One Kellogg graduate joined CPS and is working on a government grant that would give the system funds to create a “pay for performance” opportunity.
-
         
Give top schools more flexibility by removing bureaucracy while mandating exactly how probationary schools spend their money so CPS has more confidence in their results improving.
-
         
“Our job is to fight for children and worry less about parents and bureaucrats.”
-
         
Don’t let kids move through the system without hitting minimal standards.  This was a crucial mistake in the past.
-
         
Close poor performing schools.
 
Two key issues:
1 Honesty.  Focus on making sure there are safeguards and we are hiring the right people so that funds are used for the right reason.
2 Create a culture where people are comfortable challenging each other.  Creates better outcomes.
 
Lessons learned:
1)
      
“When you know something is not the right fit, make the tough call.”
2)
      
Find ways to celebrate success.  The system has 5 straight years of increasing test scores.  People need to be rewarded and thanked.
3)
      
Take care of each other.
4)
      
Give people the sense of importance of their work.  This is a:
a.)
    
Civil rights issue
b.)
    
Social justice issue
 
More notes:
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North Lawndale in Chicago has received millions in grant money to better the neighborhood over the years and has absolutely nothing to show for any of that money.  The reason is that the education system never changed.
-
         
New Orleans.  The tragedy wasn’t created by hurricanes or levies braking, those just revealed the tragedy that was already there.  Officials have contacted Duncan about New Orleans and he has told them they can rebuild structures but unless they rebuild the school system effectively it will all be for naught.
-
         
He has a good relationship with the teachers union.  The leader of the union was a great CPS teacher.  She has no desire to protect bad teachers.  They can now fire any teacher in their first 4 or 5 years without cause.  There is no seniority.  If a school is closed jobs are not guaranteed.  Retention of the good teachers is the biggest issue.
-
         
High schools improvements have not kept pace with elementary school improvements.  The biggest issue for the high schools is that they need to get harder.  Kids are not adequately prepared when they graduate.
-
         
Stay focused.  CPS has declined grants that don’t fit within the strategy to which they have committed.
-
         
Learn lessons from the successful schools.  Louise Alcott (where Meredith did her student teaching) has dramatically increased their capture rate (percent of kids eligible to go to the school that actually go there).
 
Arne Duncan is just a young guy who grew up on the south side of Chicago.  He is not eloquent, but as you listen to him you are bombarded with all of these issues he understands so clearly.