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Board passes Transformation Plan
And now, the work begins
CEO's Message
Dr. Eugene T.W. Sanders
As, one-by-one, members of the Cleveland Board of Education cast their votes of approval for the proposed CMSD Transformation Plan on March 9, I couldn't help but feel the hope of thousands of children whose lives and futures will be positively impacted by this defining moment in our history.
To the visionary members of the Cleveland Board of Education who paved the way for true school reform in Cleveland, I owe more gratitude than I can express. "Vision," some say, "is the art of seeing the invisible." And there is no better way to thank the school board members, city officials, business and community leaders, citizens and school staff who supported and endorsed the Cleveland Metropolitan School District Transformation Plan than to deliver the results we have promised and the success we have envisioned.
Even as students in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District focus on the 2010 Ohio Graduation Test this week, our dedicated and motivated staff is already hard at work, laying the groundwork for implementing a plan to raise CMSD graduation rates from 54% to 90% within five years.
Changes in staffing and a focus on new and innovative academic choices for students are already underway, as the entire school community prepares for the most dramatic school reform initiative in the history of the Cleveland Metropolitan School District.
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Transforming our schools: The days ahead
The CMSD Board of Education's vote of approval and the community's overwhelming support of the CMSD Academic Transformation Plan is an indication that most citizens understand the urgency of the work that must be done to transform Cleveland's failing schools into the productive learning centers they must be today.
If I have learned anything in more than 30 community meetings the past few months, it is that people in Cleveland are passionate about their schools and their neighborhoods. As we move forward, it is my hope that both supporters and opponents of the Transformation Plan will and work together with a focus not on the past, but on the future, and on what we can do to help every child in Cleveland graduate prepared for college and for the 21st century workplace.
We all have a role to play...
School leaders
At the administrative level, we are moving fast to get the Transformation Management Office up and running and to position the Transition Teams that will assist students and parents with student assignments and transitions to a new school. Our focus is, and will continue to be, on the academic success of all CMSD students. Throughout the transformation process, academic achievement will continue to drive every decision we make at every level of CMSD operations.
School staff
CMSD staff will play a significant role in delivering premier customer service throughout the change process and beyond. At no other time has it been more imperative for our school buildings to be welcoming and inviting for students, parents and volunteers. School staff are challenged more than ever to be attentive, patient and helpful, as we work together to make our schools the vibrant, friendly, productive and inspiring learning centers they must be for children and families.
Teachers
Teachers in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District continue to garner awards and recognition for being among the most dedicated and hard-working educators in the state, and our teachers play critical role in student outcome and success. In the days ahead, we will collaborate with teachers and others on the most meaningful and productive ways to incorporate the accountability measures inherent in the CMSD Transformation Plan.
Student success is at the heart of everything teachers do. Although parent involvement is critical to a child's success, lack of parental attention or involvement cannot be blamed for the failure of any child in our schools. As we transform the way we do business in our schools, teachers will play the most critical role in reaching the academic goals of their buildings, in raising graduation rates in our high schools, and in achieving the District-wide outcomes we need to become a premier school district. As we transform the CMSD central office, we are committed to supporting teachers in any way we can to help them meet their academic goals.
Families
It is clear, based on what we have heard at every community meeting, that all parents want their child to succeed. While many parents beg us to hold on to school buildings that have been in their neighborhoods for generations, even more parents ask for increased academic choices for their child, for expanded educational opportunities and for higher levels of student achievement.
This week, we begin a new series of community meetings that will focus on safety and security and on transportation of students who will transition to new schools this fall. These issues dominated more than 30 community meetings held before the board voted on the Transformation Plan.
The feedback we receive at community meetings prior to the vote was helpful in refining the Transformation Plan. The upcoming safety and transportation community meetings will be equally as critical, as we work to modify current policies and procedures to accommodate student needs and parent concerns.
In the days ahead, we will be working with families to allay their fears of change and to excite them about the increased choices that await them and their children. Most of all, we will do our best to emphasize the importance of parent and family support in the academic success of CMSD students now and in the future.
Parents will be encouraged to become more involved in their child's school and after-school activities, to establish a homework area and a regular study time in their household routine each day, and to visit their child at school before an incident requires their attention.
Toward that end, we remain committed to working closely with community agencies on ways to increase family involvement throughout the change process and beyond.
Community
As evidenced by the growing number of endorsements we have received from community leaders and agencies, and by the number of city officials, corporate leaders and citizens who supported the CMSD Transformation Plan, the entire city has a vested interest in the success of our students and the reputation of Cleveland's schools.
To citizens in neighborhoods where schools will be closing, we have pledged to seek cooperation and partnerships with community groups, agencies, and charter schools to make full and productive use of vacated buildings in ways that will enhance rather than detract from the neighborhood. We will be calling on those same citizens, agencies, faith-based organizations and others to join a city-wide effort to make Cleveland's neighborhoods safe and productive for school children and for all citizens.
The business community and our corporate sponsors will continue to play a key role in the success of the Academic Transformation Plan. With the generous support of the Gund Foundation and the Cleveland Foundation, the change process has already begun, and our growing number of sponsors and partners in education will play a significant role in helping us realize the vision we created together.
"We are all in this together," is not simply a cliché being heard throughout Cleveland, as we embark on the most dramatic changes in the history of our schools. It is, in fact, a call to action.
In the days ahead, we will see and feel the difference as we work together to implement the CMSD Academic Transformation Plan. As we move forward on its recommended course, it is my hope that all stakeholders in Cleveland will one day look back and know the critical part they played in making the Cleveland Metropolitan School District a premier school district in the United States of America.
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Gund Foundation donates $2.5 million to help launch CMSD Transformation Plan
In a demonstration of support for Dr. Eugene Sanders' proposed Transformation Plan for Cleveland schools, the George Gund Foundation has pledged $2.5 million to help launch the plan, with a promise to add $4 million more as reform initiatives progress and as student achievement levels increase.
Gund Executive Director David Abbott and the Foundation's Chief of Education Policy, Ann Mullin, said their support of Dr. Sanders' plan represents an endorsement of his vision to increase the number of innovative schools and programs that have been tried and have proven to put students on a path to success.
Under the Cleveland Metropolitan School District's newly adopted Transformation Plan, students will see more individualized academies, focused on a wide variety of topics of interest to them.
The Gund Foundation's initial grant is the largest donation ever pledged for education, and Foundation officials cited CMSD's plan for a Newcomer Academy for immigrants as a key area of strength in the Transformation Plan. Gund representatives say they were also encouraged by guidelines in the plan for restructuring the CMSD central office and for making key changes to labor and management policies.
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Governor Ted Strickland kicks off STEM Education Month with selection of four Ohio school districts, including CMSD, to serve as host to 80 Woodrow Wilson Teaching Fellows. Above, leaders of school districts and universities selected for the program accept, with gratitude.
Governor selects CMSD as host for STEM teaching fellows committed to Ohio schools
As part of a statewide conference held to kick off "STEM Education Month" in Ohio on March 2, Gov. Ted Strickland announced the selection of the Cleveland Metropolitan School District as one of four Ohio school districts and four Ohio universities that will serve as hosts for the Woodrow Wilson Ohio Teaching Fellowship Program.
The program, designed to transform teacher preparation programs and bring new talent into Ohio's public school classrooms, is part of the Governor's effort to promote science, technology, engineering math and medicine (STEM) education and to attract exemplary STEM teachers to work in low income rural and urban schools.
CEO Dr. Eugene Sanders traveled to Columbus on March 2 to meet with the Governor and to express his gratitude that urban school leaders in Columbus, Cincinnati and Cleveland will be part of the governor's "Educate to Innovate" campaign this year. Also joining the Governor at the event were Dr. Arthur Levine, President of the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation, Chancellor Eric D. Fingerhut of the Ohio Board of Regents, and representatives of the four universities and four school districts selected for participation in the program.
"America's schools of education are being asked to rise to the challenge of preparing a new generation of teachers who can teach the most diverse population of students in the nation's history," said Levine. "Educators are being asked to meet the highest standards ever demanded by our schools. These fellowships will recruit accomplished people to meet that challenge and will engage host universities in rethinking ways to help them do it."
As part of the Governor's "Choose Ohio First" initiative, the Woodrow Wilson Teaching Fellowship program is the state's premier model for recruiting and retaining talented Ohio residents in STEM education fields. The institutions selected will host 80 Teaching Fellows each year who agree to spend a year in exemplary teacher education programs and who agree to teach for at least three years in low-income rural and urban secondary schools.
"STEM education is crucial to creating an innovative workforce," said Chancellor Fingerhut. "The Woodrow Wilson Fellowship program will give Ohio's teachers the ability to provide an unparalleled education to students in subjects critical to our state's and our nation's future."
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Rep. Marcia Fudge urges Cleveland community to put children's future first
Rep. Marcia L. Fudge (OH-11) has seen her share of change in Cleveland, and in a demonstration of support for the CMSD Academic Transformation Plan, the Congresswoman issued a strong statement in support of change in Cleveland's schools.
"Transforming Cleveland schools is a challenging and emotionally-charged issue," she said. "Our schools hold our collective memories and stories, and it's hard to see them change. But change that positively impacts our children is worth the discomfort. Our children deserve a quality education and we must deliver."
Rep. Fudge met personally with CEO Dr. Eugene Sanders for what she called an in-depth and thorough meeting about ways to improve educational outcomes for students. Following that meeting, on February 22, she formally announced her support of his proposed plan for system-wide change in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District.
"CEO Sanders' Transformation Plan is the kind of radical change school leaders must take today to increase student achievement, raise graduation rates and prepare our children for the global workforce," she said. "We have a unique opportunity in Cleveland to become part of a new direction in education."
In an official statement, Rep. Fudge said she believes all Ohioans have a role in improving schools in the state and she encouraged constituents to voice their opinions to the Cleveland Board of Education and encouraged the Cleveland Board of Education to listen and carefully consider public comments.
"Only together, can we create an environment that focuses solely on the needs of our children," said Rep. Fudge. "If we all put our children's futures first, every school in Cleveland and in Northeast Ohio can provide the highest quality education possible.
The Cleveland Metropolitan School District Transformation Plan begins the long term task of ensuring every child's academic growth, development, and success," she said.
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Partnership for a Safer Cleveland endorses CMSD Transformation Plan, pledges support
 In a letter to CEO Dr. Eugene Sanders, Michael L. Walker, Executive Director of Partnership for a Safer Cleveland, endorsed the Transformation Plan and pledged his organization will work in conjunction with CMSD officials "to promote and implement policies, programs and activities that support safety in and around our schools."
The Partnership for A Safer Cleveland dedicates its efforts to promoting safe schools and neighborhoods in Cleveland, and is expected to collaborate with both public and private partners on safety issues as CMSD moves forward with implementation of the aggressive school reform plan in Cleveland.
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Hispanic Roundtable endorses CMSD transformation, offers help on 8 issues
In an expression of concern and support for Cleveland Schools, José Feliciano, Chairman of Hispanic Roundtable endorsed the CMSD Transformation Plan with a pledge to support and collaborate on District-wide efforts to raise student achievement.
Since its creation, the Hispanic Roundtable of Cleveland has addressed issues related to the education of Hispanics in Cleveland, and Feliciano said Dr. Sanders' commitment to address issues of interest to Hispanic constituents of the District led him and members of the Hispanic Roundtable to endorse the school reform plan.
In mapping out a pledge for Hispanic Roundtable members to support transformation goals, Feliciano identified eight key areas of interest to the Hispanic community, including development of a strong curriculum, particularly in the areas of STEM, medicine and architecture, a multilingual multicultural program, outreach and funding for psychological services and learning disabilities, and strong teachers, administrators and innovation programs.
With attention to these issues, Feliciano said he expects to see the dropout rate of students reduced and college admission rates increased.
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Greater Cleveland Partnership briefed on details of CMSD Transformation Plan
CEO Dr. Eugene Sanders provided details of the Cleveland Metropolitan School District's Transformation Plan to members of the Greater Cleveland Partnership on March 8, the day before the Cleveland Board of Education approved the reform initiative and cleared the way for what the CEO called the most dramatic and significant work of his life.
The CEO answered questions of representatives at a morning meeting of the GCP, a membership association of Northeast Ohio companies and organizations committed to creating a more vibrant economy in Northeast Ohio.
Dr. Sanders challenged those present to look beyond Cleveland's current unacceptable graduation rate and to envision quality schools in Cleveland with graduates prepared to enter Ohio's workforce.
"The knowledge and skills students need to succeed in the 21st century workplace are far different than the education we provided our students in the last decade," he said. "Students can't leave high school for manufacturing jobs or jobs requiring basic skills anymore. For every technological innovation, we must be prepared to respond with an appropriate educational innovation so our students can compete in this world."
The CEO's vision for Cleveland's schools and the goals of the CMSD Transformation Plan correlate well with the mission of the Greater Cleveland Partnership, an organization committed to economic growth and job creation in Northeast Ohio.
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Students at CMSD's Cleveland School of Science and Medicine don their ceremonial white lab coats during the school's annual White Coat Ceremony, celebrating the students' esteemed path to careers in medicine.
Joan C. Edwards endowment fund creates physicians pipeline for minority students
The annual "White Coat Ceremony" held at the Cleveland School of Science and Medicine, draws proud parents and avid supporters to the innovative school to celebrate the donning of our students' first white lab coats.
This year's White Coat ceremony was made even more special on Feb. 24, when representatives of the Cleveland-based Joan C. Edwards Charitable Foundation announced the establishment of a $10 to $12 million endowment fund that will provide full-tuition scholarships for minority students earning bachelor and medical degrees at Case Western Reserve University.
The 'mega scholarship,' beginning in 2011, includes full tuition, room and board for college and medical school at Case Western Reserve University. Scholarship recipients will be chosen from the senior class at the Cleveland School of Science and Medicine, one of three specialty schools housed on CMSD's John Hay Campus in University Circle.
CWRU resident and keynote Jason Balkman (left) and CEO Dr. Eugene Sanders (right) expressed gratitude to the Joan C. Edwards Charitable Foundation, Case Western Reserve University and University Hospitals for creating a physicians pipeline for CMSD students.
The mission and vision of the Cleveland School of Science & Medicine is to nurture and bridge students into the medical field pipeline. CEO Dr. Eugene Sanders expressed his gratitude at the White Coat Ceremony for the support students have received from CWRU and the Joan C. Edwards Charitable Foundation. This support, he says, is aligned with District goals for students in science and medicine.
Already this year, five students at the Cleveland School of Science and Medicine have indicated their desire to attend CWRU, where university medical students and faculty work regularly with CMSD's high school students.
As part of the endowment, money will be set aside to sponsor work-study jobs, internships and a medical fellowship at University Hospitals' Case Medical Center, where students will be provided extra help and support as they move from high school through medical school and into their careers.
The Physicians Development Program, funded by the Joan C. Edwards Charitable Foundation and administered at UH Case Medical Center, also funds a summer internship program for Cleveland School of Science and Medicine students and Case Western Reserve undergraduates interested in entering medical school.
A key component of the Cleveland physician's pipeline program is the involvement of University Hospitals physicians who visit juniors and seniors in the Cleveland School of Science & Medicine to engage students in innovative educational events collaboratively developed and delivered through UH Case Medical Center and Case Western Reserve.
Foundation representatives, in announcing the Joan C. Edwards Charitable Fund scholarship for CMSD students, said they expect the program to serve as a model for successful physicians pipeline programs in schools throughout the nation.
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Journal editor gives students head start on testing
Fifth graders at CMSD's Waverly School enjoyed a boost of energy and well wishes this month when Sandra Lee, Editor of Woman's Home Journal in Summit County, surprised them with a candy bar cake and needed school supplies to help them prepare for OAA testing (Ohio Academic Assessments). The editor's gift and accompanying letter of encouragement to CMSD students sent a strong and heartwarming message that the greater Cleveland community believes in them.
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Legislative Update President pledges $900 million for nation's 'Turnaround' school programs
To assist schools in their efforts to curtail rising dropout rates, President Barack Obama pledged $900 million on March 1 to fund turnaround programs in low-performing schools across the nation.
The grants will be awarded to districts that demonstrate a commitment to improving their struggling schools, and the reform initiatives already underway in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District puts Cleveland well in line to receive this critical funding.
The President, in an address to education advocates in the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, advocated for the kind of aggressive reform CMSD is currently implementing, including closing ineffective schools and eliminating ineffective teachers. The time has come, the President said, to do what is necessary, including implementing "last resort" strategies to raise student achievement in America.
"Not long ago, you could drop out of high school and reasonably expect to find a blue-collar job that would pay the bills and help support your family," he said. "That's just not the case anymore. Graduating from high school is an economic imperative."
In order to receive turnaround grants, state officials must draft a set of criteria to determine their lowest-performing schools, including rankings in the bottom 5 percent on test scores or high school graduation rates below 60 percent. Once the criteria has been approved by the U.S. Department of Education, schools will be awarded funding based on the strength of their district's reform plans in comparison with reform plans of other schools in the state.
A 54% graduation rate in Cleveland puts the Cleveland Metropolitan School District in a good position to qualify for a share of this federal grant money, as the District moves toward implementation of the CMSD Transformation Plan.
The kinds of dramatic reforms being undertaken in Cleveland appear already to meet the criteria for the most dramatic options included in the President's "turnaround" model, which requires replacing principals and school staff and setting up a new structure of school governance and instructional programming.
"Restart" models in the President's turnaround funding initiative include closing schools and reopening under charter management, and "Closure" models require sending students to better schools in the district.
As act on the critical recommendations in CMSD Transformation Plan, it appears not only that Cleveland Schools have positioned themselves for a share of the unprecedented support being provided by the Obama administration, but that the Cleveland Metropolitan School District is well on its way to becoming a premier school district in the United States of America.
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Ohio among 16 finalists for U.S. Dept. of Education 'Race to the Top' funds
 "This is an exciting day for education in Ohio," said Gov. Ted Strickland on March 4, after he and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Deborah Delisle received official notification that Ohio had been selected as one of 16 states to compete as finalists for federal 'Race to the Top' grant funds.
"The Race to the Top process has been and will continue to be extremely competitive, but Ohio crafted a strong application of which we can all be proud," said Strickland.
Delisle said the Ohio team had already begun preparing for a presentation to the U.S. Department of Education in Washingon, D.C., where school districts among the Race to the Top finalists will compete this month for millions of dollars to fund their school reform initiatives.
"We've made a major commitment to Ohio schools, because we believe that providing every Ohio child with high-quality educational opportunities will better prepare them for jobs and for life," said Strickland. "Our selection as a finalist moves Ohio one step closer to receiving Race to the Top funds. It also confirms the progress Ohio is making through our transformational education reform plan."
The recipients of funds during the first round of Race to the Top funding are expected to be announced in Washington, D.C. on April 1.
Strickland said he is grateful to school districts like Cleveland that agreed to be part of the 'Race to the Top' effort by signing the required memorandum of understanding.
"These districts have shown the strength of our education system and the opportunities that lie ahead for our students and our schools," he said. "We will continue to work together to ensure all students graduate from high school with the skills necessary for college and careers."
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