11 teach for america – eastern north carolina leadership transforming lives
TRANSCRIPT
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Teach For America – Eastern North Carolina
Leadership Transforming Lives
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1 The Achievement Gap in North Carolina and the Crisis in Education
3 Transformational Change is Possible
2 Teach For America’s Mission and Approach
4 A Vision for Eastern North Carolina
Agenda
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3 9 year olds in low-income communities are already three grade levels behind their higher income peers*
50%
50 percent of low-income students will graduate from high school by the time they are 18 years old*
8th Those that do graduate will have the skill set of an 8th grader in a middle class community
<10%
They have a less than 10% chance of graduating from college
Educational inequity is a massive injustice
*Source: National Assessment of Educational Progress, 2005
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North Carolina’s achievement gap is staggering
Chapel Hill-Carrboro Schools
Students on grade level*•Reading: 87%•Math: 93%
Median household income: $51,994**
Halifax County Schools
Students on grade level*•Reading: 37%•Math: 48%
Median household income: $31,495**
*Source: North Carolina School Report Cards, end-of-grade (3-8) exams, 2009-10
**Source: United States Census, 2008
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We believe three factors cause the achievement gap.
Poverty
Inadequate health care and nutrition
Low-income Kindergarteners recognize 3,000 words; affluent children recognize 20,000 words*
Capacity
Hours in the school day are not enough to bring students who are significantly behind to grade level
Lack of high-quality enrichment opportunities
Need for additional great teachers
Prevailing Ideology
Gallup poll: Most Americans attribute achievement gap to students/parents**
Our beliefs have not led to the necessary policies and investments to provide a level playing field for low-income students.
Teach For America’s analysis of the problem
Achievement Gap in North Carolina
*Source: Hart and Risley, 1995
**Phi Delta Kappa/Gallup Poll of the Public’s Attitudes Toward the Public Schools
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Teach For America is working to solve this problem by:
1. Enlisting Committed Individuals
We recruit a diverse group of leaders with a record of achievement who work to expand educational opportunity, starting by teaching for two years in a low-income community.2. Investing in Leaders
We provide intensive training, support, and career development that helps these leaders increase their impact and deepen their understanding of what it takes to close the achievement gap.
3. Fueling Long-Term Impact
A growing movement of leaders, now 33,000 strong, works at every level of education, policy, and other professions, to ensure that all children can receive an excellent education.
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Facts about Teach For America’s ENC Corps
In the 2013-14 school year:
272 corps members are teaching in K-12 classrooms in 77 schools and 15 LEAs across Eastern North Carolina
40% of our corps members are teaching STEM subjects
21% of our corps members identify as people of color
19% of our corps members had professional experience prior to joining Teach For America
15% of our corps members are originally from North Carolina
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Steffi Wild (2009 corps)Bertie County Schools
Algebra I district pass rate (2009): 61%
Steffi’s students’ pass rate (2011): 100%
A growing body of rigorous research demonstrates that Teach For America
corps members are highly effective classroom teachers
In April 2010, the University of North Carolina released a study which found
that, at every grade and subject level studied, corps members did as well or
better than traditionally prepared UNC graduates. More specifically, it found
that corps members add the equivalent of an extra half-year of learning in
middle school math.
Eastern North Carolina corps members have an immediate impact on the achievement gap
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Composite Score*
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Fall 2008 Spring 2010
Eastern North Carolina corps members help fuel change at the school level
At Northampton West High School, the school’s
composite score increased dramatically in just one year
after the school hired additional Teach For America
corps members.
12% of faculty was Teach For America
corps members
57% of faculty
was Teach For
America corps
members
“Test scores, spirits are up at Northampton West”
-Daily Herald, March 1, 2010
*percent of students in a school who have test scores at or above Achievement Level III (consistent mastery of subject/course content matter) in the subjects tested
Source: Northampton County Schools & North Carolina Department of Public Instruction
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Placement Process
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Once placement is confirmed
- Corps members continue training for entering the classroom Attend Induction in Eastern North Carolina (June) Complete intensive 5 week training at Summer Institute (June-July) Attend regional workshops and training in ENC (July-August) Attend district professional development for new hires (August)
- All necessary hiring paperwork is submitted to HR
- Corps member begins teaching on first day of school with support from Teach For America staff
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Instructional Support
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All children – including the more than 48,000 children currently living in poverty - will have the skills, knowledge, character traits, personal support network, and surrounding environment that provide them with the opportunity to go to and successfully through college.
A Vision for Eastern North Carolina
1515
One day, all children in this nation will have the opportunity to attain an excellent
education.