The Top 11 for 2011
Ensuring that all children in Newark receive a quality education is at the top of the list of goals for 2011. With all the attention that is currently being focused on what is "broken" in Newark schools, it would do us all good to pause over successful programs that should be carried forward and supported in the New Year. With full understanding that the list is incomplete, and that a lot of work remains to be done, here are the programs, projects, initiatives, and partnerships that make up The Trust's “Top 11 for 2011” list. They give us hope, and show what is possible when educators, community members, policy makers, and non-profits come together to provide a quality education for all.
1. The Children’s Literacy Initiative: This Philadelphia-based non-profit has been successfully training primary grade teachers in Newark in how to improve reading and literacy skills for over 10 years with great results. Click here to read more about The Children’s Literacy Initiative.
2. Universal Pre-School: While investing in pre-school alone is not the answer to closing the achievement gap, today thousands of children are succeeding in school because of their participation in high quality pre-school programs. Entering kindergarten ready to learn matters. Click here to read more about the Universal Pre-School Movement.
3. Brick Academy: Started in September 2010, as a “charter-like” district school, founded and run by two former Teacher for America Corps members, Brick Academy at Avon Street School, is demonstrating that schools with a distinct mission, autonomy and accountability, as well as a deep commitment to succeed on the part of parents and teachers can be operated within a traditional district governance structure. Click here to read more about Brick Academy in Newark.
4. The Global Village School Zone: This remarkable concept being developed through a partnership between Newark Public Schools and New York University, based on a design developed by the nationally recognized educator, Pedro Noguera, connects all of the schools in the Central Ward in order to share services, better meet student and family needs, and address both academic and social issues related to increasing student achievement. This is the initiative to watch in 2011. Click here to read more about The Global Village School Zone.
5. The YE2S Center: The Youth Education and Employment Success Center is a brilliant district, university, City, and non-profit collaborative located at 200 Washington Street. The YE2S Center is a “one-stop” shopping approach to youth development, education, and job training. With childcare available, and an extensive array of programs tailor-made to meet the diverse needs of diverse students, the YE2S Center is posting impressive results and annually putting hundreds of disaffected youth on a path to a better life. One day, the programs at the YE2S Center may simply be part of the traditional offerings of the school district. Click here to read more about the YE2S Center.
6. MET Schools: This highly successful small school model is radically different from traditional approaches to high school. One key to success are the meaningful internships students engage in based on their interests. Like so many “alternatives,” one day MET Schools will be considered part of the traditional menu of educational options offered to students. Click here to read more about MET Schools.
7. The Charter School Movement: If you count all the highly successful KIPP and NorthStar Schools, there are now 22 charter schools operating in Newark. In addition to stellar examples of charters like Robert Treat Academy, and Discovery Charter, charters are now evolving past their initial role as alternatives to low performing district schools, to options for parents and children who value choice as a cornerstone of effective and efficient educational systems. At the rate charters are expanding, autonomy in exchange for accountability will apply to all schools in the not too distant future. Click here to read more about charter schools, and click here to learn more about the charter schools in Newark.
8. Newark Montclair Urban Teacher Residency Program (NMUTR) In September, 2009 Montclair State University in Montclair, NJ received a Teacher Quality Partnership Grant from the Office of Innovation and Improvement in the U.S. Department of Education. The project focuses on improving student achievement through implementation of a research-based teacher preparation program aligned with the educational priorities of Newark Public Schools (NPS). During 2010, cohorts of teacher residents participated in clinical apprenticeships with mentor teachers experienced in the residents’ areas of certification. Partnerships that assist in improving the preparation and quality of teachers specific to the needs of the communities they serve will have a lasting impact on the quality of teaching and learning in 2011 and beyond. Click here to read more about the Newark Montclair Urban Teacher Residency Program.
9. New Jersey Center for Teaching and Learning’s Progressive Science Initiative (PSI): Whether you think physics should be taught first or last in the sequence of science courses in high school, there are few physics teachers certified in New Jersey. NJCTL’s novel and highly successful approach delivers a program that provides an additional certification in physics for current teachers of biology. After just one year of operation, NJCTL has certified 50 physics teachers who are new teaching physics to over 1,400 Newark high school students who would not otherwise be taught by a certified teacher. Click here to read more about the Progressive Science Initiative.
10. Teach for America: Beyond placing 95 eager, smart, dedicated teachers in, impacting nearly 4,800 students in Newark Schools, several of Newark’s most acclaimed charters, and now, in-district charters like Brick Academy (founded by Dominique Lee), have been founded by former TFA Corps members. Increased applications and interest in serving in Newark is contributing to the quantity and quality of TFA corps members teaching in Newark Public Schools in 2011. Click here to read more about Teach for America in Newark.
11. The Newark Schools Research Collaborative: This research collaborative is a partnership between Newark Public Schools and Rutgers University Newark. Formed in April 2010, The NSRC provides independent, objective research regarding what works within Newark Public and Newark charter public schools and provides important data to improve academic achievement. Investments in programs and initiatives designed to improve student achievement will have a greater likelihood of being successful in 2011 if they are based on credible evidence and objective data. Click here to read more about the Newark Schools Research Collaborative.
