Schools Seek Parent Feedback
by | May 7, 2010 1:17 pm | Comments (3)
Do you feel welcome in your child’s school? Is the building clean? Does the principal treat you with respect?
School Reform
Students Take Aim At Suspensions
by | May 5, 2010 11:43 am | Comments (6)
Over 100 students got suspended at Wilbur Cross High School in January for using iPods and cell phones, Dawn Washington noted to a group of her peers.
“Do you think this is too extreme?” she asked.
“We do,” she said, answering her own question. “We believe that suspensions should be consistent across all schools.”
New Evals Link Teacher, Student Performance
by | Apr 27, 2010 11:02 am | Comments (24)
Under a new evaluation system unveiled Monday, city teachers would be graded based on their students’ progress — but not just on their test scores.
Continue reading ‘New Evals Link Teacher, Student Performance’
Betsy Ross Kids “Caught Being Good”
by | Apr 21, 2010 11:22 am | Comments (2)
Heriberto Santiago rescued two classmates’ abandoned book bags. He came away with a stuffed monster.
He was receiving a reward in an experiment taking place at Betsy Ross Arts Magnet School in improving kids’ behavior — a challenge that principals citywide say they need more help with from their bosses at the central school board office.
“Turnaround” Work Begins At Urban Youth
by | Apr 15, 2010 8:03 am | Comments (12)
Thomas MacMillan Photo
Teachers began interviewing Wednesday to keep their jobs, as a charter group set to work on its plans to make major changes at one of New Haven’s most struggling schools.
DeStefano Pitches Longer School Day
by | Apr 14, 2010 7:30 am | Comments (30)
Guest-starring in a Truman School classroom, Mayor John DeStefano tried out his school reform ideas on his youngest audience yet.
Goal Missed—In Plenty Of Time
by | Apr 6, 2010 2:06 pm | Comments (17)
Paul Bass Photo
Tamara Raiford and her colleagues vowed to have 90 percent of their first-graders reading at grade level by the middle of the school year. It didn’t happen. Now they have a new plan.
To Principal, “Tier 1” Means “New Challenge”
by | Mar 17, 2010 7:47 am | Comments (20)
Paul Bass Photo
Rushing back from City Hall, about to rush back to a press conference, Lola Nathan gathered together her teachers in a third-grade classroom. She had news for them. And a question.
Continue reading ‘To Principal, “Tier 1” Means “New Challenge”’
Schools Get Graded—& Shaken Up
by | Mar 16, 2010 7:51 am | Comments (13)
(Updated: 7:51 a.m.) One “failing” school, Urban Youth, will reopen as a charter; another, Katherine Brennan, as a reconstituted public school with a longer year and new rules.
The leaders of top-performing Davis and Edgewood Schools will get new flexibility to do more of what they’re already doing right.
And Principal Iline Tracey (pictured) got encouragement to continue whipping King/Robinson School into shape.
Which Balloon Is Your School?
by | Mar 9, 2010 1:39 pm | Comments (24)
NHPS
Does your balloon fly high? Or does it bobble near the ground?
The answer may determine whether your school stays open in its current form.
Non-Profits Give School Reform a BOOST
by | Mar 5, 2010 8:21 am | Comments (5)
Allan Appel Photo
Top New Haven not-for-profits have invited 150 colleagues to design their contribution to New Haven’s ambitious school reform drive. City and non profit leaders announced a new partnership called BOOST at city hall press conference Thursday afternoon.
Dining With Dad
by | Feb 26, 2010 12:20 pm | Comments (2)
Allan Appel Photo
The menu: salad, ziti with meat sauce and peppers, and pineapple upside down cake. The deeper nourishment was provided by the fathers and sons sitting down at the table and talking with each other.
CMT Fever Draws In The Drivers
by | Feb 25, 2010 8:24 am | Comments (4)
Melissa Bailey Photo
When Lianys Costas sang at a CMT rally, her mom — and bus driver — captured her performance on video. Next week, mom will make sure Lianys eats her cornflakes — and gets to school on time for the biggest test of the year.
Criteria OK’d For Grading—& Closing—Schools
by | Feb 23, 2010 9:11 am | Comments (6)
Melissa Bailey Photo
Will each school get a number grade, or a letter from A to F?
Neither, said Garth Harries. The schools’ first report cards, which are due March 15, will look more like a 3‑D matrix.
Continue reading ‘Criteria OK’d For Grading—& Closing—Schools’
Teachers Spend Vacation ... Teaching
by | Feb 19, 2010 12:06 pm | Comments (6)
Paul Bass Photo
Fallon Daniels had this week off. So she went to work.
She didn’t get paid. But she did what usually does on weekdays — teach kids science.
Mom Helps Citlaly Reach 100
by | Feb 12, 2010 2:57 pm | Comments (2)
Melissa Bailey Photo
Marisol Sampedro trekked across town on her day off to celebrate a milestone, help her daughter with her math skills — and do her part in one school’s effort to get parents more involved.
School Grading Plan Evolves
by | Feb 10, 2010 4:47 pm | Comments (5)
Melissa Bailey File Photo
How many kids show up to school each day? Do they play well with others?
Parent Leader Reaps 95% Turnout
by | Feb 10, 2010 12:50 pm | Comments (14)
Melissa Bailey Photo
Acting on a challenge from the school reform team, Rosa Rodriguez found a way to bring almost every parent in school out to report card night.
Pledge Call Gets Mixed Reactions
by | Feb 8, 2010 12:20 pm | Comments (21)
Paul Bass Photo
When the mayor appealed to aldermen to join his school reform drive, not all headed right to the trenches. Mike Jones, for one, isn’t sure if he can do what the mayor asked.
Parents: Where Do We Start?
by | Feb 4, 2010 1:14 pm | Comments (25)
Melissa Bailey Photo
As the school reform road show hit East Rock, two of the most active parents in town said they still don’t get what their role is in the change campaign.
Teachers Give Tough Grades—To Themselves
by | Jan 29, 2010 11:59 am | Comments (18)
Paul Bass Photo
(Updated 2:30 p.m.) New Haven teachers want to see truly bad teachers fired, not protected, their union president said — pointing to a new survey that may open the door to dramatic school reform.
Charters, Unions Clash Over State Money
by | Jan 27, 2010 4:26 pm | Comments (49)
Melissa Bailey Photo
HARTFORD — Charter school advocates – including a member of the city’s Board of Ed – clashed with union reps Wednesday over a plan that would take $27 million from the New Haven public schools and give it to charter schools.
Failing Schools Deadline Set
by | Jan 26, 2010 8:38 am | Comments (13)
Melissa Bailey Photo
The school board will decide by March 15 which two failing schools to close — and it claims it will make the decision in a way that the public can watch.
Are Parents Doing The Job?
by | Jan 25, 2010 12:50 pm | Comments (5)
Neena Satija Photo
When Billy Johnson (pictured) was a student at Wilbur Cross High School, his parents were constantly working. They didn’t have time to help him with schoolwork or girls. So when it came time for getting his driver’s license, a teacher took him to take the test. A teacher bought him his prom ticket and tuxedo. Another teacher even picked out his date.
Achievement Gap Obliterated
by | Dec 28, 2009 12:28 pm | Comments (11)
One city public school did it. Forty-three to go.