Courtesy of The 74 Million
https://www.the74million.org/
Brett Peiser discussed the founding of Boston Collegiate Charter School in 1998 and the subsequent formation of Uncommon Schools, a nonprofit charter management organization. Initially, Boston Collegiate started with 120 students and has grown to over 700. Uncommon Schools, established in 2004, now operates 49 schools serving 16,000 students in six cities. Peiser highlighted the importance of small class sizes, professional resources for teachers, and the philosophy of 100 individual 1% solutions. The organization has successfully turned around struggling district schools, such as North Star Alexander Street Elementary School, and partners with district schools to share best practices, including real-time feedback and extended learning hours.
Action Items
- [ ] Continue expanding partnership with district public schools in New York City and Newark to share Uncommon Schools’ practices.
- [ ] Provide training for Newark school leaders and teachers on reading and math instruction.
- [ ] Look to further expand the partnership with Newark public schools.
Outline
Starting Boston Collegiate Charter School
- Speaker 1 started Boston Collegiate Charter School in 1998 with Susan Fortin, aiming to provide educational choices in urban areas.
- Massachusetts was one of the early states to adopt the charter school law, attracting Speaker 1 to the state.
- Speaker 1 met John King and Evan Ruddle from Roxbury Prep and Doug Lemov from Academy Pacific Rim, forming a network of early charter school founders.
- The demand for spots at their schools led to the idea of expanding and forming a charter management organization.
Formation of Uncommon Schools
- Norman Atkins from North Star Academy suggested collaborating to expand their schools and address the growing demand.
- Speaker 1 and others decided to form Uncommon Schools, a nonprofit charter management organization, to close the achievement gap and prepare low-income students for college.
- Uncommon Schools started with five schools and 500 students in 2004-2005, now operating 49 schools serving 16,000 students in six cities.
- The initial schools included North Star Academy, which opened in 1997, and Boston Collegiate, which started in 1998.
Challenges and Philosophies of Early School Operations
- Speaker 1 reflects on the simplicity of opening Boston Collegiate in 1998 compared to today’s higher standards.
- The school initially had a simple approach, focusing on teacher workload, class size, and professional resources.
- Speaker 1 emphasizes the importance of treating teachers as professionals, ensuring they have reasonable workloads and adequate resources.
- The school started with 120 students in grades five through seven, now serving over 700 students in grades five through 12.
Talent Development and Leadership
- Speaker 1 highlights the exceptional talent of the founding teachers, many of whom became leaders in the education field.
- John Clark, the founding math teacher, founded Edward Brooke Charter Schools, now high-performing schools in Massachusetts.
- Toby Jackson, the founding science teacher, is the Chief Academic Officer of Match Charter Public High School.
- Eileen Callahan, the founding history teacher, works with Building Excellent Schools to identify future school founders.
Linda Brown’s Role in the Charter School Movement
- Speaker 1 credits Linda Brown for her significant role in the birth of charter schools in Boston and Massachusetts.
- Linda Brown headed the Massachusetts Charter School Resource Center and was a key figure in the early years of charter schools.
- Speaker 1 met Linda Brown during graduate school and was influenced by her strong leadership and vision.
- Linda Brown played a crucial role in starting charter schools in South Boston and other areas, inspiring many educators.
Turnaround of District Schools
- In December 2013, Cami Anderson, the superintendent of Newark Public Schools, asked Uncommon Schools to take over a struggling district school.
- Uncommon Schools agreed to help turn around the Alexander Street Elementary School, ensuring that all students from the prior school had first priority.
- The school started with 300 Kindergarten through fourth graders, focusing on building a new culture and mission.
- Juliana Warrell, a phenomenal school leader, was appointed to lead the new school, and veteran teachers from other North Star campuses were brought in as pace setters.
Implementing Real-Time Feedback and Partnerships
- Uncommon Schools implemented real-time feedback, allowing principals to provide immediate feedback to teachers during classes.
- This practice was successful in New York City, leading to partnerships with district schools and the Brooklyn Landmark School.
- The partnerships involved sharing best practices and visiting each other’s schools to learn and improve.
- The success of these partnerships led to similar initiatives in Newark, where Uncommon Schools began training Newark public school teachers and leaders.
Expanding Impact and Future Plans
- Uncommon Schools expanded its impact by partnering with district schools, sharing their effective teaching practices and strategies.
- The partnerships aimed to improve education quality in district schools, benefiting a larger number of students.
- The success of these partnerships led to further expansion, with more district schools expressing interest in Uncommon Schools’ methods.
- Uncommon Schools continues to focus on closing the achievement gap and preparing low-income students for college, expanding its reach and impact.
