Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/166026
Award-winning school inspires parental involvement in Sacramento Advocacy The QEIA SCHOOL: Harmon Johnson Elementary DISTRICT: Twin Rivers Unified SUCCESS FACTOR: Parental involvement API SCORE IN 2013: 772 STUDENT DEMOGRAPHICS: 582 students; 70 percent growth of qeia 1988 Hispanic, 10 percent Asian/Pacific Islander, 9 percent African American; 98 percent qualify for free or reduced-price lunches; 69 percent are English learners. California voters approve Prop. 98, which guarantees a minimum amount of state and property tax revenue for K-14 education each year. "The investment we are making with the parents will continue to pay off once QEIA funding stops. Once you grow these parent connections, they keep going," says student learning coach Marc Moorehead, whose position is funded by QEIA. What's working: Harmon Johnson educators meet with parents the first Friday of every month at a forum to hear their priorities and stay connected. Parents use two QEIA-funded computer labs. Parents serve as bilingual instructors in parenting classes for adults, and take nutrition and cooking classes on campus. They even do some cafeteria tasks. Teachers designed a program called "What I Need" or WIN to help students achieve, and test scores jumped. Students take a weekly exam, and if they don't pass, they get tutoring about specific state standards after school from their teachers, paid for with QEIA funds. 2004 The state suspends Prop. 98, resulting in a loss of $3.2 billion to schools. They're proud: Parent volunteering soared. Located in a high-poverty neighborhood plagued by drug crime, Harmon Johnson is a safe haven and a community hub where parents can take classes at night and feel part of the team. Principal David Nevarez notes the school is one of only three in the U.S. to receive a National Award for Excellence this year from the respected Coalition for Community Schools in Washington, D.C. "Our kids and parents take ownership of what's happening in this school. We've created a school that reaches beyond the school walls and into the community." 2005 CTA and the superintendent of public instruction sue Governor Schwarzenegger in August 2005 when he refuses to repay the money. 2006 The governor settles the lawsuit with CTA. QEIA is the result of the settlement and is signed into law (SB 1133). Photo by Roman Rykun 2007 The program begins. About 500 low-performing schools are targeted to receive nearly $3 billion over eight years. State Honors Title I School Achievement in Chula Vista QEIA SCHOOL: Lauderbach Elementary DISTRICT: Chula Vista Elementary School District SUCCESS FACTOR: Teacher collaboration API SCORE IN 2013: 845 STUDENT DEMOGRAPHICS: 817 students; 89 percent 2010 CTA holds a symposium in Sacramento to unveil the QEIA progress report "Lessons From the Classroom." Hispanic; about 80 percent qualify for free or reduced-price lunches; 70 percent are English learners. 2012 "QEIA funding makes it possible for our teachers to have time to plan, collaborate and analyze students' work," says literacy coach Evette Ramirez, whose position is funded by QEIA. What's working: Teachers spend hours every week in brainstorming sessions assessing student data, planning lessons together, or watching one another teach and giving feedback. Ramirez, pictured above left, helps model lessons for colleagues and promotes quality professional development. She appreciates smaller class sizes, and says the collaboration QEIA allows by funding substitute teachers to free up colleagues is vital. "It's been very powerful for us." Educator 09 Sep 2013 v3.6 int.indd 33 QEIA is the only U.S. school turnaround program hailed in The Global Fourth Way, a book on top school reform programs in six countries. They're proud: Lauderbach Elementary is one of 56 California public schools to earn a Title I Academic Achievement Award earlier this year from the California Department of Education. To win, schools must double the achievement targets set for them for two consecutive years. Photo by Anthony Millican 2013 CTA unveils the first of five independent research reports that will look at QEIA innovations and lessons for all educators. SEP TEMBER 201 3 www.cta.org 33 9/3/13 2:26 PM