Lindsay (Governor) From: Dworkin, Jonathon (Goverror) Sent: Tuesday, October 14, 2014 6:31 PM To: Jonathan Starkey Subject: Here itis Jon, Heres the background info I mentioned just in case it just helps for your thinking to have the context. Again, I'm not. ‘expecting this kind of detail in your story. ‘As the Governor said he's committed to providing the resources to make similar investments in Wilmington’s schools and he welcomes everyone's input for the best way to move forwerd (I know the DOE wants to meet with the Districts on the MOUs). But we need to look ot what we know wurks, atid nul repeat Une same approaches that have led to te current situation for these kids. Schools making progress: Lewis Dual-Language Elementary has seen double-digit gains in reading and math for two years running. ‘At Booker T Washington in reading and math, the average gap in proficiency in 3rd and 4th grade for low-income students was 37 percentage points in the 2010-2011 school year (the highest being 47 percentage points in third grade reading). That was prior to the start of their turnaround process. For the 2013-2014 school year, the average gap was 8.5 Percentage points, with no gap in third grade. In addition, the average increase in the percentage of low-income students reaching proficiency was 38 percentage points. ‘More on programs at Booker T that the Governor alluded to (I realize this isn’t a News Journal story, but hopefully you can forgive me): http://www. wede.ora/68539-cov-markell-renews-pitch-priorty-schools-plan Priority Schools Growth Targets: ‘Students meeting English Language Arts Growth Targets: Priority Schools - 34% All High Needs Schools - 50% Statewide - 55% Students meeting Math Growth Targets: Priority Schools - 37% High Needs Schools - 66% Statewide - 57%Fram: Sweeney, John [mailto:}SWEENEY1 @wilmingt.gannet.corn] ‘Sent: Monday, October 13, 2014 3:15 PM ‘To: Dworkin, Jonathon (Governor) ‘Subject: RE: Priority Schools Op-ed/Mayor Baker Jonathon, Gut it, We will run it Wednesday. Cheers, John From: Dworkin, Jonathon (Governor) {mailto:Jonathon. Dworkin@state.de.us} ‘Sent: Monday, October 13, 2014 3:03 PM To: Sweeney, John Subject: Priority Schools Op-ed/Mayor Baker John, Hope you had a good weekend. {just left you a voicemail to connect about the below op-ed submission. We have been in touch with former Mayor Jim Baker about his support for the state’s plan to help the low-performing schools in Wilmington. He wants to submit the below column ta unica that cupport Since he does nat have accece to email, we thought it might be eaciest for ue to send the column electronically. (As you may know, the Red Clay School Board is scheduled to meet this week, and this, op-ed is also a balance to the recent piece that ran from Rep. Williams and Sen, Townsend.) {’'m sure you have been in touch with the Mayor not too long ago, but in case its helpful, here is his home number: 302- 654-3608, Let me know if you have any questions for me, Jonathon Dworkin Director of Strategic Communications Office of Governor Jack A. Markell - Delaware Office: 302-577-5260 Cell: 302-233-6695 Jonathon.Dworkin@state.de.us O60=Supporting Wilmington Schools By: Mayor James Baker ‘The future of the City of Wilmington is its children. The kids who play today on the East Side, in Southbridge, and in the Ninth Ward are the same kids who will be looking for jobs a decade from now. When that time comes, will Wilmington’s children have the education they need to get those jobs? Will they be in a position to apply for college or be ready to enter the workforze? For too many of Wilmington’s children, the answer to those questions is no. For too long, we have accepted that many of our children are not getting the education thev deserve. Having spent a great deal of time in our schools and with disadvantaged families in our city, it's clear that some of the City schools have shown increasingly poor results, leaving our children without the education they need to build successful lives and eupport families. At the six Priarty Schocle identified hy the Nepartment af Fduration, fewer than two in five students can read or do math at grade level. At some of the schools, only a quarter meet their growth goals each year. But we don’t need to rely on test scores to tell us what we see happening at these schools. Several of the six troubled ‘schools identified by the state operate in half-empty buildings because many parents have moved their children to different settings with dramatically better opportunities - including both charter and other district schools. These schools are revolving doors for staff ~ Stubbs, for example, has had three principals in four years. Business as usual in these schools is no longer acceptable for our children. We need to demand better. We need to demand the resources and personnel that can turn this story around. We know the right set of resources and personnel can make a difference. We see success stories every day at schools like Lewis Elementary, Howard High School, Kuumba ‘Academy, and East Side, all of which have similar student bodies, but have shown radically better results. For decades we have asked the State to invest in the children of the City of Wilmington. We've argued that the cycle of poverty demands that our less well off children receive more financial support and more programming. Wd Red Clay school districts just that ~ $6 million dollars to be spent at six Wilmington schools. That is a 10% increase in funding per student over state averages. So the question is, will these school districts develop innovative plans to use this money to improve the education of our children, or will we see more of the same? I those districts listen to some critics, we'll see more of the same. Opponents of the plan claim it doesn’t meet the unique needs of each school or that the approach is too top-down. In fact, the state's investment in these schools will fund plans developed by the districts and the schools themselves. Each schoo! will have its own plan and its own programs. If the answer in one school is more after-school tutoring and the answer in another school is a new reading program, this plan can fund those ideas. Others oppose the plan because Delaware's school funding mechanism doesn’t account adequately for poverty. They're right about Delaware's school funding formula, But that isn’t any reason to turn our backs an a $6 million investment in City children! That $6 million could pay for exactly the smaller class size and critical services that we all agree are needed.‘There are fans of the status quo who don’t want to see anything change for the children at Wilmington’s priority schools because that is what is easiest for the adults involved. For them, the easiest thing to do is not to rock the boat by ‘making the changes that we know can turn around the educational opportunities of City children. Now is the time to make a difference and change the future for the kids who attend these six Priority Schools. The State is now offering the funding and the flexibility that we have been asking for and that we know can make a difference. City, community, and education leaders need to give this model a fair chance because other approaches have not worked. ‘An excellent education is a right, not a privilege. if our country Is going to remain a democratic republic, as a constitutional democracy of free people, we must fix our education system. We cannot continue with some recelving an excellent education and others not. | urge the Christina and Red Clay school boards not to miss this opportunity for a needed investment in our City and our children.