District/School Administration Administration
The Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education

Follow-up Reviews - Holyoke and Winchendon

The Office of Educational Quality and Accountability (EQA) has conducted follow-up reviews in two of the Commonwealth's underperforming districts: Holyoke Public Schools and Winchendon Public Schools. Copies of these EQA reports are enclosed for your information. The Department is currently reviewing these reports with district leaders from Holyoke and Winchendon and their district turnaround partners. Following our review, I will present my recommendations to the Board on any changes that are warranted. Dr. Joseph Rappa of EQA will be available at the Board's November 27th meeting if members have questions for him about the follow-up reviews.

Background

Holyoke Public Schools

In November 2003, the Board of Education acted on the Commissioner's recommendation under M.G.L. c. 69, section 1K, to declare the Holyoke Public School district to be underperforming. As a result of this formal determination, district leaders were instructed to develop a turnaround plan for the Board's approval. In August 2004, Superintendent Eduardo Carballo presented the district's plan for improvement and in September the Board approved the plan.

The Holyoke Turnaround Plan identified six key areas of need and proposed major district initiatives to be undertaken in response to those needs. The initiatives recommended that the district:

1. Develop a centralized student data management system to store all student assessment and demographic information in order to provide Holyoke staff at all levels with accurate and timely access to information critical to tracking progress.
2. Align curriculum in English language arts and mathematics for PreK-12.
3. Hold educators accountable for delivery of instruction.
4. Consistently assess, analyze and monitor student performance.
5. Develop and sustain a comprehensive professional development program.
6. Provide a program to stabilize highly mobile students so that they will have access to high quality instruction that meets their individual needs.

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has supported the Holyoke Turnaround Plan in substantial ways. After a period of joint exploration and research, Holyoke Public Schools and the Department entered into a partnership agreement with America's Choice, Inc. The America's Choice model is designed to provide the district with the tools and technical assistance needed to improve the quality of education delivered in the district's schools and ensure that all students graduate ready to enter college without need for remediation. America's Choice began its work with the district in May 2005 with a summer planning effort and implementation of the design began in September 2005. Since that time, the America's Choice school reform model has been implemented across the district.

The Department provided Holyoke school and district leaders with the opportunity to participate as a stand-alone cohort in the National Institute for School Leadership (NISL) training during the 2005-2006 School Year. The program's focus on developing leadership for improved instruction supports the district's improvement plan.

The Office of Educational Quality and Accountability (EQA) conducted a follow-up review in the district in May 2007. The focus of the review was to assess the district's implementation of its turnaround plan and determine improvement.

Winchendon Public Schools

In November 2003, the Board determined the Winchendon Public School district to be underperforming. Following an EQA Tier III review in March 2004, the superintendent resigned and the Department appointed interim leadership to stabilize the district over a period of time extending from July 2004 through March 2005. During that time, interim leaders developed a short-term plan for district improvement, focused on three central goals:

1. Aligning the district's curriculum in English language arts and mathematics with state standards.
2. Developing systems to collect, manage and use student performance data to inform teaching and learning in all the district's schools.
3. Developing an initiative designed to increase community support of education, and foster better communication and understanding of the district's goals.

In March 2005, the district hired a new, permanent superintendent and in April 2005, Superintendent Peter Azar submitted a revised turnaround plan for Board consideration. The plan leveraged work that had already begun in the district and the Board approved it. The Department enlisted the support of the Education Development Center (EDC) as the district turnaround partner. In July 2005, partnership- planning work began and five areas of specific focus emerged:

1. Developing a comprehensive instructional program
2. Tailoring instruction to meet students' needs
3. Establishing set standards and high expectations for all students
4. Providing preventive programs to address students' social needs
5. Strengthening the system of governance and communication between the school committee and other town committees

District leaders, in concert with EDC personnel, developed detailed action plans and identified specific strategies to guide the district's work in each of the five areas.

The Department has provided Winchendon school and district leaders with the opportunity to participate in the National Institute for School Leadership (NISL) training during the 2006-2007 School Year. The program's focus on the development of leadership for improved instruction supports the district's improvement plan.

The EQA Office conducted a follow-up review in the district in January 2007. The focus of the review was to assess the district's implementation of its turnaround plan and to determine improvement.

Enclosures:

Holyoke Report

Winchendon Report