New York Regional Networks
Overview of New York Networks
Beginning in 2006, Middle Start began working with two networks in the New York Metropolitan area: one in New York City and one in Long Island. The New York City initiative has begun to implement the Middle Start's DataSmart program, and the Long Island Network is beginning with the Middle Start School Study program.
New York City
Middle Start has launched the first phase of the Middle Start initiative in New York City with two partner schools: the Cypress Hills Community School, P.S. 89 (Cypress Hills), in East New York, Brooklyn, and the Twenty-first Century Academy for Community Leadership, P.S. 210 (Twenty-first Century), in Washington Heights. Both schools were selected because of their commitment to improve their middle grades and because they participate in educational networks and community coalitions (e.g., New Visions for Public Schools, the Community Involvement Program, and the New York City Department of Education Empowerment Schools Initiative) possible vehicles for collaboration on and advocacy for creating excellence and equity in the middle grades.
The AED Middle Start Initiative in New York City has two main goals to be achieved over three- to -five years: 1) Improved Academic and Developmental Outcomes for Middle-Grades Students, and 2) Systemic Impact on Middle-Grades Education in New York City. In the first year of implementation these schools work primarily with the Middle Start DataSmart program, which helps schools build the capacity to analyze and apply data to improve instruction and overall school outcomes. With regular support from their on-site Middle Start coaches, data is used at every step of this process: from developing school improvement goals, to measuring and identifying gaps in student learning and achievement, to determining progress toward school wide goals and objectives. The New York City lead coaches veteran New York City principals Barbara Barbara Ghyll and Stefan Zucker.
Long Island, New York
Middle Start AED is working with three schools in Nassau County to be part of a pilot of the Middle Start School Study peer review program this spring. The participating schools are Wisdom Lane Middle School, Manhasset Middle School, and Salk Middle School. As part of the School Study program, peer review teams made up of representatives from all pilot schools come together to conduct a three day, evidence-based observation at each of three locations.
Staff from these pilot schools, as well as some of the neighboring schools in Nassau County, will have an opportunity to participate in 4 1/2 days of professional development to become specially-trained observers for the three pilot schools. The three pilot schools are the first of what is expected to become a network of schools that participate in this School Study project.
The review team is trained in how to gather evidence of the school's goals, develop a common perspective, and pose powerful reflective questions to the school to help them deepen their work. Some elements of the review include: shadowing students, interviewing students, observing all classrooms, talking to teachers, support staff, school administrators, reviewing student work and the accompanying teacher assignments, and looking at other data (such as demographic, assessment data, student learning data). In the Middle Start School Study teachers are not reviewed nor are classrooms, but rather the school as a whole is being reviewed. All evidence gathered is anonymous (no teachers names are used).
To date, planning committees of up to ten teachers and administrators from each of the pilot schools participated in a full day workshop to prepare their school for the Middle Start implementation. These committees then presented what they learned to their own faculty during a scheduled meeting.
The Middle Start School Study was developed to help schools build, deepen, and sustain a reflective, collaborative culture focused on the improvement of teaching and learning for all students. Cecile Wren, former principal of Jericho Middle School, will be providing on the ground coaching to the three pilot schools. As part of her coaching responsibilities, Ms. Wren will help these Middle Start schools refine their goals regarding what they want their observers to review, gather data and other documentation in preparation for the onsite observation, and prepare for all aspects of the three-day review.
