200304 Update on Best Practices in San Diego Education

1
2003-04 Update on Best Practicesin San Diego
Education

• Report Prepared for

Report Prepared by January 5, 2004
2
Summary of Findings

• Between 2000 and 2003, the Business Roundtable
  for Education recognized 79 programs in San
  Diego County schools as Best Practices.
• 36 of these programs were for grades K-8, while
  43 were for grades 9-12.
• Details about these 79 programs may be found on
  the Roundtable's website at http//www.educationro
  undtable.org/BestPractices (Note This URL is
  case sensitive.)
• The majority of the 79 Best Practices are still
  active.
• 67 of the 79 programs (85) had students
  participating in 2003-04.
• Tens of thousands of students benefit from these
  Best Practice programs.
• Conservatively, 18,500 San Diego students
  participated in 2003-04.
• The Roundtable's recognition and support of these
  programs
  has helped teachers to help other educators
  replicate
  these Best Practices both locally and nationally.
• Best Practice teachers met with 332 educators who
  were
  interested in starting a similar program at their
  school.
• Best Practice teachers know of 45 new programs
  that are based on a Roundtable-identified Best
  Practice.

3
Table of Contents

• Background
• Study Objectives, Methodology, Definitions and
  
  Background on Changes in
  Education
• Status of the 79 Best Practice Programs
  Recognized
• Program Results
• How Best Practice Programs Have Changed
• Program Replication
• Value of Recognition
• Profile of the Active Best Practice Programs
  Surveyed
• Appendices
• List of All Best Practice Programs by Subject
• List of the Active Best Practice Programs
  Surveyed by Changes in the Number
  of Students Involved
• Project Team

4
Background on "Best Practices" Project
As an advocate of educational excellence in San
Diego, the Business Roundtable for Education
initiated the Best Practices project in 1999.

• Goal To share with educators and business
  leaders the outstanding programs that are taking
  place in San Diego County schools.
• Strategy Identify and highlight promising
  practices from within San Diego County schools
  (grades K-12). Make program replication and
  contact information readily available to teachers
  and business leaders.
• Result A total of 79 programs were recognized as
  a "Best Practice."
• The 2002-2003 book showcased 36 Best Practice
  programs in San Diego elementary and middle
  schools (grades K-8).
• The 2000-2001 book showcased 43 Best Practice
  programs in San Diego high schools (grades 9-12).

5
Research Study Objectives

• Provide an update on all 79 previously recognized
  Best Practices.
• Current Status Number of programs that are
  active and inactive as of 2003-04.
• Size Number of teachers, staff, administrators
  and students who participated in 2003-04.
• Program Profile Program scope, meeting time and
  location.
• Results Impact of programs on student
  achievement.
• Changes How and why the number of students
  participating in the programs has changed over
  the past few years.
• Replication Have teachers presented their Best
  Practices to other educators? Have other
  educators started similar programs?
• Value of Recognition How Best Practice
  recognition has impacted teachers.

6
Three-Phase Methodology

• Phase 1 Update Contact List
• Contact schools by phone and fax to determine
  which Best Practices are still active. Update
  contact information for the programs and
  teachers.
• Phase 2 Survey Active Programs
• Mail/fax a customized five-page profiling survey
  to the active Best Practice program teachers.
  Survey either the original teacher of the program
  (if he/she is still involved) or survey the
  teacher who took over the program because the
  original teacher retired or left the school.
• A few surveys were conducted via telephone.
• A detailed explanation of what defines a program
  as "active" or not is provided on the next slide.
• Phase 3 Focus Groups
• Conduct three focus groups among teachers who
  completed the Phase 2 survey.
• Discussions were held at National University
  locations in Carlsbad, Kearny Mesa and Chula
  Vista, and were moderated by Dr. Ginger Hovenic.
• A total of 13 Best Practice programs participated
  in this phase.

7
How Program Status Is Defined

• One of the research objectives was to understand
  what has happened to the 79 programs since being
  recognized. While some are still active at the
  same school, others have expanded or moved to
  different schools.
• To be considered an "active" Best Practice
  program, the following two criteria were met.
• The program was active in the 2003-04 academic
  year at the original school where the Best
  Practice was recognized.
• When possible, the teachers originally recognized
  were surveyed to collect profiling information
  about their programs as of 2003-04.
• If the original teacher(s) recognized were no
  longer involved in the program, the teacher
  who took over the program was
  surveyed.
• The program was inactive in 2003-04 at the
  original school, but active at a different San
  Diego school in 2003-04.
• This occurred because the teacher who started the
  Best Practice moved to a different school and
  implemented the program there or the teacher
  moved to a school where the program was already
  active.
• In the few instances when this did happen, the
  original teacher answered the survey for the
  "new" school where the program was active during
  2003-04.

8
How Program Status Is Defined (continued)

• Only programs that qualified as "active"
  completed the five-page profiling survey.
• In some cases, more than one teacher answered the
  profiling survey for the active Best Practice at
  their school. In these instances, survey answers
  were compiled so there would only be one survey
  per program. Program status results, therefore,
  are based on one survey per program unless
  otherwise specified.
• If a program was "inactive," a short,
  one-question survey was administered to
  understand why.
• Note This study focused exclusively on the 79
  Best Practices originally recognized in the two
  Best Practices in Education books. This study was
  not designed to survey all San Diego public
  schools to see which ones have started a program
  in the past few years based on one of the 79 Best
  Practices.

9
Background on Changes in San Diego Public
Education Since 2000

• The following major initiatives and budget crises
  have made it challenging for educators to sustain
  Best Practice programs.
• No Child Left Behind In 2002, President Bush
  signed the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act.
  This education reform measure set forth new
  requirements and strategies so that all schools,
  regardless of socio-economic factors, would be
  held to high, measurable standards while raising
  student achievement. Since this reform was
  enacted, San Diego County public schools have
  been involved in an ongoing effort to restructure
  programs, operations and budget to be compliant
  with NCLB.
• Budget Challenges The State of California's well
  documented budget problems have directly impacted
  public education. During the past 18 months,
  budget levels have changed numerous times,
  causing San Diego County schools to continually
  revise their budgets. This environment of
  uncertainty has made it challenging for educators
  to focus efforts and resources on classroom
  innovations.
• Blueprint for Education In 2000, the San Diego
  Unified School District adopted its Blueprint for
  Student Success in a Standards-Based System. This
  reform, designed to improve academic performance,
  requires a comprehensive look at teaching and
  learning strategies focused on reading, writing,
  and math.

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Status of the 79 Best Practice ProgramsAs of the
2003-04 Academic Year

• -Number of Active Programs
• -Number of Students Benefiting from Active
  Programs

11
Profile of Previously Recognized Best Practices

• Grades (K-8)
• 36 Programs
• A total of 36 K-8 programs were recognized in the
  2002-03 book.
• 14 focused on reading/writing/ study skills
• 10 focused on math/tech prep
• 12 focused on history/social science/science

• Grades (9-12)
• 43 Programs
• A total of 43 high school programs were
  recognized in the 1999-2001 book.
• 7 focused on reading/writing/ study
  skills
• 24 focused on math/tech prep
• 12 focused on history/social science/science

An electronic copy of the two Best Practice books
is available at www.educationroundtable.org/BestP
ractices Note The above URL is case sensitive.
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Overall Program Status for 2003-04

• All 79 programs were contacted to determine if
  the Best Practice was still active.
• Results
• 67 of the 79 programs previously recognized as a
  Best Practice were active in 2003-04.
• This is 85 of all the programs!
• The next slide provides the details by grade
  level (K-8 and 9-12).

Program StatusAs of 2003-04
Inactive N12
Active N67
Base All Best Practice Programs (N79).
13
Program Status as of 2003-04By Grade Level
Program Status (K-8)As of 2003-04

• Grades K-8 33 of the 36 programs recognized as a
  Best Practice in 2001-03 were active in 2003-04.
• This is 92 of these programs!
• Grades 9-12 34 of the 43 programs recognized as
  a Best Practice in 1999-2001 were active in
  2003-04.
• This is 79 of these programs!

Base All K-8 Best Practices (N36).
Base All 9-12 Best Practices (N43).
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Number of Students Who Benefited from Best
Practices in 2003-04
64 Best Practices Were Active and Completed the
Survey (Remaining findings are based on these 64
programs.) 797 Teachers/Staff/Administrators
Directly Involved 18,478 Students Benefited in
2003-04
Thousands of San Diego County students benefited
from Best Practices in 2003-2004! However, this
is a conservative estimate ?
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Why 18,478 Students Is a Conservative Estimate

• All teachers/programs surveyed, with the
  exception of LemonLINK, answered the survey
  specifically for the Best Practice program at
  their school.
• LemonLINK is a districtwide program that impacts
  all the schools/students in the district.
  Therefore, all the students in the district were
  included in the total.
• Several Best Practice programs are active in
  multiple schools across San Diego County.
• In fact, 18 of the 64 Best Practices surveyed are
  active in multiple schools, countywide, or even
  active in multiple districts.
• Three active programs did not complete the
  profiling survey. Two of these three programs are
  active in multiple schools across San Diego
  county.

The 18,478 students benefiting from Best
Practices in San Diego in 2003-04 is a
conservative estimate. The actual number is
likely many thousands more.
16
Program Results

• How Best Practices Have Impacted Student
  Achievement

17
Impact of Best Practice Programs on Students

• Teachers provided anecdotal information regarding
  the impact their programs had on student
  achievement.
• Some were also able to provide student
  performance statistics.
• According to the teachers, Best Practice programs
  have had a positive impact on many student
  achievement metrics including
• Improved performance on standardized tests.
• Higher GPAs.
• Decreased failure rates.
• Increased program retention rates.
• Better attendance.
• Higher graduation rates.
• Increased pursuit of post-secondary education.
• Improved employability.

18
Program Impact on Student Achievement
(Self-Reported by Teachers)

• Teachers reported the impact their Best
  Practice has had on five student achievement
  metrics.
• Nearly 6 in 10 programs "somewhat" or
  "dramatically" increased classroom performance
  metrics.
• Only one in three know how their Best Practice
  influences student performance on
  standardized tests.
• Following are some insights from teachers on
  their program's impact
• The number of students in the program accepted to
  college has increased from 45 to 90.
• The number of students in AP classes has
  increased from 15 to 64 90 of AP enrollees are
  from program students.
• GPAs have increased and failure has decreased
  across the board for students in the
  program.
• "Average" kids developed above-average
  competencies in physics due to the program.

Increased Same/Decreased DK or
NA
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Program Impact on Student Attitude Behavior
(Self-Reported by Teachers)

• Teachers reported the impact their Best Practice
  has had on five student behavior metrics and on
  parental involvement.
• Teachers are significantly more aware of the
  impact of their programs on student attitude and
  behavior than on student performance.
• Following are some insights from teachers on
  their program's impact
• School attendance has jumped from 14th to 5th or
  higher in the district consistently.
• Behavior referrals were cut in half the first
  year of the program, and 25 the next year.
• Program has had a dramatic effect on school
  culture, and on the lives of students who, prior
  to this program, hadn't planned on attending
  college.
• Success was demonstrated in how students viewed
  themselves as life-long readers and learners
  after participating in the program.

Increased Same/Decreased DK or
NA
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Program Changes

• How the Best Practice Programs Have Changed Since
  First Being Recognized

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How Student Enrollment in the 64 Active Best
Practices Surveyed Has Changed

• Compared to a few years ago, 81 of the Best
  Practices surveyed (52 out of 64) have either
  more or the same number of students
  participating.

• Only 19 (N12) of the active programs surveyed
  experienced a decline in the number of
  participating students over the past few years.

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Why the 29 Programs Had an Increase
in the Number of Students

• Teachers gave the following reasons for the
  increased number
  of students participating in their program
• The Best Practice program itself was expanded
  (N14).
• Student enrollment in the school increased
  (N13).
• Greater awareness and interest in the Best
  Practice itself (N4).
• UC approval of courses offered (N2).
• Eight teachers mentioned "other" reasons (N8).
• Note This was a multiple response question
  teachers could provide more than one reason. The
  names of these 29 programs that had an increase
  in the number of students are in the Appendix.

23
23 Programs with the Same Number of Students

• Although not directly asked why their programs
  remained the same in
  terms of the number of students involved,
  some Best Practice
  teachers provided this information in
  a general comments area of the
  survey. Below are some
  of the reasons.
• The program was not trying to expand.
• The program works best with a maximum number of
  students that they do not want to
  exceed.
• New schools opened which impacted student
  enrollment/involvement.
• Budget cuts, policy changes and/or resource
  constraints impacted student numbers.
• Note The names of these 23 programs that
  remained the same with respect to the number of
  students involved are listed in the Appendix.

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Why the 12 Programs Had a Decrease in the Number
of Students

• Teachers gave the following reasons for the
  decrease in the
  number of students participating in their
  programs
• Declining student enrollment (N5).
• Sometimes enrollment declined because of a new
  school.
• Budget cuts (N4).
• Interest in the program declined (N2).
• One of the teachers left (N2).
• Five teachers mentioned "other" reasons (N5).
• A-G requirements impacted the program.
• Increase in academic requirements.
• Program elements changed from required to
  optional because a few parents complained
  about the workload.
• Another Best Practice program academy started on
  a different subject, and some
  students changed from one to the other.
• Teacher association felt this was more work
  without pay.
• Note This was a multiple response question, so
  teachers could provide more than one reason.
  
• The names of these 12 programs that had a
  decrease in the number of students are in the
  Appendix.

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Why 12 Programs Were Not Active in 2003-04

• Twelve of the 79 Best Practices originally
  recognized were no longer active in 2003-04.
• A short one-question follow-up survey was
  administered to understand why. Below
  are the reasons
• Teacher left the school OR could not lead the
  program due to outside commitments (N3).
• The teacher's partner left to go to another
  school. Also, a proposal to make the program
  schoolwide did not pass (N1).
• The principal who championed/supported the
  program retired (N1).
• Administration cut the program (N1).
• The class must have smaller numbers than 40
  students, so the school would not fund it (N1).
• School-to-Career would no longer fund an
  important part of the program (N1).
• Administrative policy and lack of available
  computers (N1).
• Lack of technical support and classroom space
  (N1).
• Changing science requirements (N1).
• Don't know (N1).
• Note The names of these 12 programs that were
  not active in 2003-04 are in the Appendix.

26
Program Replication

• Have Previously Recognized Best
  Practices Inspired New Programs to Develop?
• YES!

27
Best Practices Are Spreading in San Diego and
Beyond
332 educators have contacted Best
Practiceteachers to learn more about their
programs.
At least 45 educatorsare implementing a program
based on a Best Practice.
45 Best Practice teacherspresented their
programsat conferences, other schoolsor
directly to peers.
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Other Ways Best Practices Are Spreadingin San
Diego and Beyond
2,000 of the 9-12 Best Practices books were
distributed nationwide.
3,000 of the K-8 Best Practices books were
distributed nationwide.
82 San Diego businessleaders participated in
the high school site visits.
81 San Diego businessleaders participated in
the K-8 site visits.
The Best Practiceswebsite receives over 450
hits per month.
29
Value of Recognition

• The Value of Being Recognized
• as a Best Practice Teacher

30
Perceived Value of Being RecognizedAs a "Best
Practice Teacher"

• Seven out of 10 teachers felt it was "very" or
  "extremely" valuable to receive recognition for
  their Best Practice programs.
• The top benefits teachers mentioned for being
  recognized include
• Earned professional prestige (55).
• Received a congratulatory note from school
  or district (54).
• Honored with program showcased at school
  (49).
• Improved credibility with parents (42).
• Garnered personal satisfaction/gratification for
  being recognized (24).
• Benefited the program/kids in terms of grants,
  supplies, prestige, expansion and increased
  support (18).
• Note "Benefits" was a multiple response
  question, so teachers could provide more
  than one answer.

31
Profile of Active Best Practices Surveyed

• Profile of the 64 Active Best Practice Programs
  Surveyed

• What is the program scope?
• Where do they meet?
• When do they meet?

32
Program Scope

• The majority (63) of Best Practice programs
  extend beyond an individual teacher or classroom
  scope.
• Based on additional profiling information, nearly
  30 (18 of 64) of these programs are active in
  multiple schools across San Diego County.

33
Program Meeting Place

• About 6 in 10 Best Practices meet outside of the
  classroom for all or part of the program.
• One-third of the Best Practices meet off campus
  for all or part of the program.

34
Program Duration

• The majority (75) of Best Practice programs
  surveyed run for the entire academic year.
• Five of the Best Practice programs run for
  multiple years.
• One of these is the districtwide LemonLINK, the
  other four are all high school programs.

35
When The Program Meets

• The majority of programs (70) meet during
  regular school hours.

36
Appendices

• List of All 79 Best Practice Programs by Subject
• List of the 64 Active Best Practice Programs
  Surveyed by Changes in the Number of Students
  Participating in 2003-04
• Project Team

37
Names of All 36, Grades K-8, Best Practices
By Subject
38
Names of All 43, Grades 9-12, Best Practices
By Subject
39
29 Programs with an Increase in the Number of
Students Participating

• K-8 Best Practices (N12)
• Balinese Dance and Gamelan
• Brain Highways
• Differentiating Instruction Across the Curriculum
• GLAD About Math
• Hippocrates Circle
• Integrating Technology in Math
• JASON Project
• Kids Giving to Kids
• LemonLINK
• Mariachi Griego
• Peace Patrol
• School Broadcasting Program

• 9-12 Best Practices (N17)
• Agricultural Science
• Autobody and Refinishing
• Biotechnology
• Constructing Physics Understanding
• Distance Learning Online Courses
• Freshman Academy
• Integrating Technology
• Introduction Packet
• Navy Internship Training Program
• Oral History Project
• Poseidon Academy Marine Science
• The Principles of 2-D Animation
• Ranger Project
• Senior Projects
• Video Production
• Virtual Enterprise
• Visual and Performing Arts

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23 Programs with the Same Number of Students
Participating

• K-8 Best Practices (N14)
• Career Explorations
• Carmel Creek News
• CHOICES Intervention Program
• Cultivating Classroom Culture
• Exploring Science Through Technology
• Growing Discoveries Garden
• The Literacy Connection
• Literacy Council
• Mason Student Center
• Robotics_at_Lewis
• The Stock Market Game
• Student Support Plan
• Students Teaching Students
• Watch Your Stories Come to Life Through
  Multimedia

• 9-12 Best Practices (N9)
• 3-D Animation
• Astronomy Program
• Child Development and Teaching Tech Prep
• City Middle College Program
• Culinary Arts
• DECA, An Association of Marketing Students
• Honors Biotech Lab
• School for Creative and Performing Arts (SCPA)
• Telecommunications Academy

41
12 Programs with Fewer Students Participating

• K-8 Best Practices (N5)
• Communities Alive in Nature
• Early Intervention Reading
• MicroSociety
• Polyhedraville
• Repeated Reading Lab

• 9-12 Best Practices (N7)
• Academy of Information Technology
• Academy of Travel and Tourism
• CHAPTECH Teenage Biotechnology
• Computer-Aided Drafting and Design
• Drafting/Landscape Project
• Graduation Portfolios That Really Work
• Physiology Job Shadow Program

42
12 Programs That Were No Longer Active
in 2003-04

• K-8 Best Practices (N3)
• Character Education
• Cross-Age Tutoring
• Service Learning for San Diego Water Quality

• 9-12 Best Practices (N9)
• Careers and Decision Making
• Computer Repair Technician Class
• International Media Publications Communication
  Technology (IMPACT)
• Second Chance Reading
• Student-Managed Schoolwide Computer and Network
  Maintenance
• Tech Center 21
• Video Conferencing Distance Learning
• Wild Ride Through Physiology
• Work Exploratory Teaching Language Class

43
Project Team

• Business Roundtable for Education
• Dr. Ginger Hovenic
• Diana Hadfield
• Quantum Learning/SuperCamp
• Bobbi DePorter
• National University
• Nancy Rohland
• TechWise Research
• Chip Levinson
• Lauren Levinson

44

• The End