!!!

!!

!

!

!

!

!

!

Growing Quality Urban Education for the 21st Century !

! OUR NATION’S CHALLENGE

AN URGENT CALL TO ACTION

The work of Schools That Can (STC) is essential to the future well-being of our country. Here’s why.

Similar to the decisive time we committed ourselves to win the race to the moon in the 1960's, America is at a Sputnik moment. In the next five to ten years, the destiny of our country will be determined by our response to the current education to employment crisis.

We must immediately change the disheartening reality that 41% of college graduates in 2012 were underemployed or unemployed yet 3 million jobs went unfulfilled due to lack of qualified applicants. We must turn around the fact that only 8.2% of children in poverty graduate college when one in four children in the U.S. live in poverty. These losses of human capacity not only risk our ability to compete in the global economy but also predict a future dire quality of life for millions of American students.

In an increasingly more interconnected, knowledge-based global economy, education is key. By prioritizing education to employment, BRIC and MINT countries are emerging economic giants, while comparatively, our K-12 education outcomes have deteriorated. If we do not find solutions to our current decline, our standard of living will drop too. In a 2012 ranking of the quality of living in 221 world cities, no U.S. cities appeared in the top 25.

STC is ideally positioned as a critical source for solutions. As the largest cross-sector network of schools serving low-income communities in the U.S., we can launch change from the ground up. We build collaborative, peer-to-peer networks of high-performing and high-potential schools to accelerate student achievement across education sectors. In a climate where education conversations emphasize failure and sector differences, we are apolitical and driven by what works.

We cannot wait for top-down solutions. Only urgent, on-the-ground solutions will meet the time-sensitive challenge to strengthen our position in the 21st century’s global economy. To overcome adversity in a Sputnik moment, we must first change our conception of what is possible.

We appreciate your interest and hope you join us in our commitment to grow quality seats in urban education for the 21st century.

Cordially,!Michael DruckmanExecutive Chairman

! WHO WE ARE

OUR MISSION IS TO GROW QUALITY IN URBAN EDUCATION FOR THE 21ST CENTURY Schools That Can (STC) is a national not-for-profit 501c3 organization committed to growing quality in urban education for the 21st century. We form collaborative networks of high-performing (STC Members) and high-potential (STC Partners) urban schools to grow access to quality schools nationwide. To broaden our impact at the local level, we also work with Collaborating schools that have strong leaders and show promise, but which do not meet criteria for STC Member or Partner status.

STC schools are district, charter, independent, and faith-based. Our methodology crosses sectors by facilitating peer to peer learning, partnerships, equipping students and leaders with 21st century skills, and providing peer recognition and support locally between schools and nationwide between cities for the purpose of sustaining and growing high-performing urban schools.

We are increasing the number of high quality schools preparing students for the 21st century and expanding our network of schools in low-income areas to reach a tipping point in each city where quality education for all students, regardless of income level, becomes the norm.

REACH

WE ARE THE LARGEST CROSS-SECTOR NETWORK OF SCHOOLS INTHE U.S. SERVING PREDOMINANTLY LOW-INCOME STUDENTS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

! OUR VISION !!!!Schools That Can (STC) has taken on the mission of ensuring 150,000 students attend high-performing schools in 20 cities by 2020. By growing quality education for the 21st century in urban schools, we can reach tipping points in each city and nationwide creating quality education as a norm for all students, regardless of income level. Currently, STC supports more than 250 urban school leaders in 129 district, charter, and independent schools that serve more than 53,000 students nationwide.

PATHWAYS TO GROW QUALITY AND ACCELERATE 21ST CENTURY LEARNING IN URBAN EDUCATION

Support and grow high-performing schools by building a collaborative network of district, charter, and independent schools using peer-to-peer learning to accelerate student achievement.

Accelerate high-potential schools into high-performing schools by facilitating partnerships and optimizing use of our methodologies such as roundtables, study tours, consultancies, coaching, mentorships, and effective practice sharing.

Equip students and school leaders with 21st century skills to prepare students for success in college and jobs of the future. We focus on providing partnership opportunities to enhance students’ 21st century skills throughout their education journey.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Key Achievements: Our school validation process is aligned to new Common Core standards and ensures the reliability of our 89 cross-sector Member schools to provide peer modeling for our high-potential Partner schools and Collaborating schools.

!!!!!!!!!!Key Achievements: In 2013-14, 250 STC school leaders and teachers will participate in 128 STC professional development events. We filled the 320 seat capacity of our 2014 Forum, a national symposium on urban education held in Harlem. Our 2013 Forum in Milwaukee engaged 400 school leaders and teachers.

Key Achievements: In 2014, our Summer STEM scholarship program with i2 Camp grew to offer 200 scholarships for STC middle school students in 8 cities to attend a high-caliber STEM camp with courses by NASA, MIT, & more. Our West Point collaboration resulted in 40 seats for STC students in the Fall 2014 entering class and continues to progress through school visits and applications.

WHAT WE DO

OUR 21ST CENTURY INITIATIVES BUILD EDUCATION TO EMPLOYMENT PIPELINES

We streamline grade levels into one journey then build an ecosystem to enable 21st century learning.

DIRECT STUDENT SERVICES

Enrichment Programs to Prepare Students for Learning 21st Century Skills

i2 Summer STEM Camp Scholarships

Summer College Experience

21st Century Aspirational College Scholarships & Collaboration

GRADE LEVELS

pre-K K 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th 11th 12th College & Career

SUPPORTS FOR

EDUCATORS

21st Century Leadership Academy at Da Vinci Schools

Engagement Between Industry & K - 12th

THE NATIONAL DILEMMA

• 53% of all graduates with bachelors degrees under the age of 25 are under-employed or unemployed

• 3 million jobs went unfilled due to lack of talent

• Only 8.2% of low-income students graduate college

• 1 in 4 U.S. children live below the poverty line * Please see our website for sources.

OUR SOLUTIONS

✓ Build trustful, local cross-sector urban school networks through open dialogue and collaboration at all levels of education

✓ Facilitate peer-to-peer learning nationwide by leveraging our national platform of local networks that share, support, and learn from each other’s practices

✓ Grow an ecosystem with effective education to employment pipelines by facilitating collaboration and partnerships among education and industry leaders

✓ Accelerate the learning of 21st century skills to ensure students are career-ready for jobs of the future through direct student services, professional development for school leaders and teachers, and industry engagement

Goal: Fulfill the Potential of Urban Youth

Accelerate 21st Century Learning

National STC Network

Local STC Network

STC Network School

CITY INITIATIVES

SCHOOLS THAT CAN NEWARK STC Newark (STCN) builds a collaborative network of district, charter, and independent schools using peer-to-peer learning to accelerate student achievement. STCN creates the bridges and relationships for educators to effectively learn from one another, so that together, all schools successfully prepare their students for college and careers.

“Schools That Can Newark has provided support above and beyond what we could have expected.” - Philip’s Academy Charter School

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!CONTACT GENEROUSLY SUPPORTED BY

Stephany Lin Gary DeBode Executive Director Co-Chair slin@schoolsthatcan.org garyd@edprop.com

!

PROGRAM

In 2013-2014, STCN will hold over 15 Roundtables and Study Tours for school leaders, administrators, and teachers. In addition, we offer an annual teacher peer learning conference, joint opportunities with other Newark organizations, and participation in national STC initiatives. !!!

!!!!!!!!!!!2013-14 Focus Areas

✓ Common Core Curriculum ✓ Increasing Rigor ✓ Teacher Development ✓ Family Engagement

IMPACT Through collaborative sharing, schools have implemented new teacher observation systems and technologies, shared operations templates, and adopted innovative curricula and lesson resources, to name a few examples. Participants report improvement in their leadership practices and continue returning to our events to further their collaboration. Today, STCN represents 20% of all Newark schools, a critical mass of dedicated educators.

!! CITY INITIATIVES

SCHOOLS THAT CAN NEW YORK CITY !

STC NYC is a local network of leaders collaborating across sectors to improve their schools. We bring together outstanding leaders from district, independent, charter, & faith-based schools* to break down sector-specific silos and refocus the dialogue on what works. Through monthly Roundtables, Study Tours, Workshops, and local partnerships, leaders learn from one another’s success and provide support to overcome the challenges inherent in running a high-performing urban school. In addition to the 14 nationally validated schools, we work with 4 Collaborating schools eager to learn and share to increase collective impact locally. * STC NYC schools‘ populations are on average 75% low-income (as determined by Federal Free & Reduced Lunch Rates) “Open collaboration, a mutual sharing of ideas, and constructive feedback from colleagues are the most powerful tools we have to improve the work we do for our students. Creative partnerships that are being fostered by organizations like STC offer me great hope and excitement for what lays ahead.” - Antwan Allen, Saint Mark the Evangelist School

CONTACT GENEROUSLY SUPPORTED BY Casey Lamb 617.512.6442 Executive Director clamb@schoolsthatcan.org

!

PROGRAM

In 2013-2014, STC NYC will hold over 15 local events for school leaders, administrators, and teachers. These events include Roundtables, School Study Tours, and Teacher Workshops. In addition, through local and national partnerships and initiatives, STC school leaders, teachers, and students have access to further opportunities for learning and growing.

!!!!!!!!!2013-14 Focus Areas

✓ Common Core Implementation ✓ Data-Driven Instruction ✓ Technology Integration ✓ School Culture ✓ Family Engagement

IMPACT Through collaborative sharing, participating schools have implemented new teacher observation systems and technologies, incorporated data analysis and planning templates, and adopted innovative curricula and assessment strategies. Participants indicate that they leave STC events with tangible resources to support continued improvement across their schools in the areas of leadership, culture, and instruction.

! OUR IMPACT

EXPANDING OUR IMPACT IN 2014-2015 EVENTS

In 2013, we held a network record 112 events nationally. In 2014, we expect our network to grow to 150 schools serving over 65,000 students.

The Power of Transformation in Urban Education, the 2014 STC National Forum, was held May 14-16th in New York City’s Harlem to 370 guests. The Forum’s workshops, panels, and presentations are led and attended by thought-leaders in education, STC School Leaders, and guests gathered for a discourse on urban education. Featured 2014 participants included Geoffrey Canada, Angela Duckworth, John B. King, Jr., & Norman Atkins.

PARTNERSHIPS AND INITIATIVES Through a collaboration with the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights in 2014, STC will proudly present the first RFK Urban Education Awards to a school leader, teacher, and student from the STC network in May at our Forum to recognize each’s profound ability to transform adversity into opportunity. Additionally, we will facilitate integration of the RFK Center’s Speak Truth to Power (STTP) curriculum to interested STC schools. By using the experiences of courageous defenders through history, STTP empowers students to exert control over their own

educations, overcome difficult life circumstances, and illuminate brighter futures for themselves and our shared world.

By partnering colleges like Purdue and Cal Poly (currently in discussion) with middle and high schools, our 21st Century Aspirational College Scholarships and Collaboration initiative improves communication between college faculty and educators to ensure schools are preparing students to meet college expectations. To better inspire students for college and engage learners in their own future success, 7th grade students will be introduced to scholarships they aspire to receive as 12th graders.

We’ll expand the i2 Camp Scholarship Program, which allows STC students free enrollment to a high-caliber Summer STEM camp, to reach more students in additional cities in 2015. Begun in 3 cities in 2013, we’ve grown to offer 200 scholarships in 8 cities in 2014.

We’re planning to provide urgently needed professional development to school leaders around the implementation of 21st Century learning environments with the launch of our 21st Century Leadership Academy at Da Vinci Schools in L.A planned for Summer 2015.

To better prepare students for success in jobs of the future, we’ll complete the STC 21st Century Education Pipeline by launching a 21st Century Skills Enrichment Program in grades pre-K - 4 and the STC Summer College Experience for high school students. !

! OUR VALUE

THE VALUE OF OUR NETWORK

DIVERSE STYLES

We believe school quality and student success are more important than differences in governance styles. Our network consists of district, charter, faith-based, and independent schools. By networking these schools and leaders across the country, we can give unprecedented access to the know-how and practices to support quality education.

!

ORGANICALLY GROWN FROM THE BOTTOM-UP

We work with and between schools at the local level and share practices nationally, so our schools can improve organically. Our network has grown from 57 schools in 2009 to 125 schools in 2013 with plans to reach 165 schools in 2014.

!!QUALITY VALIDATED

We believe the high-performing urban schools in our country can create widespread change by sharing their effective practices. By identifying and recruiting high-performing schools to be STC Members and collaborating with them to study and share their methods through peer-to-peer learning, we help sustain their success and guide high-potential schools, like our Partners, on their individual roads of quality, ultimately increasing the number of high-performing schools.

!

75#12#

34#

8#

SCHOOL SECTORS

Charter District Faith-Based Independent

89#

40#

MEMBERSHIP STATUS

Member Partner

! OUR IMPACT

TESTIMONIALS FROM OUR NETWORK SCHOOLS

SHEILA DURANT, PRINCIPAL, P.S. 69X JOURNEY PREP, BRONX, NY!

Being a part of the STC network has had a major impact on the learning of my school community as well as my own personal learning. We are able to engage with other schools around common dilemmas, possible solutions and concrete next steps and are able to re-examine and redefine our shared purpose of teaching and learning.

THOMAS GILL, CHIEF OPERATING & DEVELOPMENT OFFICER, URBAN COMMUNITY SCHOOL, CLEVELAND, OH

It is the simplest of lessons: share. STC has become a central nervous system where high quality schools around the country come together and share best practices to help others meet the challenges of urban education. The national conference in particular brings together educators from throughout the U.S. and provides a space to take a deep breath, dive into key questions, and gather ideas from other school leaders.

ALEXANDRA PARDO, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, THURGOOD MARSHALL ACADEMY, WASHINGTON D.C.

STC is the only organization that brings together high performing public, charter, private schools to work collaboratively to improve school leaders, programs, and share best practices. STC doesn’t focus on the type of school and politics associated with education. STC focuses on quality education.

VINNY DOTOLI, FOUNDER & HEAD OF SCHOOL, HARLEM ACADEMY, HARLEM, NY

STC is a perpetual spark in our thinking about collaboration and sharing best practices. Last year, we shared Harlem Academy’s approach to building academic vocabulary and our use of primary source documents in history with a group of STC schools in New York. This year, we are participating in the planning for the STC 2014 National Forum in Harlem, and we look forward to learning from and sharing with an even broader group. The National Forum will also offer an opportunity to share our work on advisory and character growth. And we are interested in exploring how our peers approach family partnership, technology integration and close reading of non-fiction texts.

6TH GRADER, HARLEM ACADEMY, HARLEM, NY

I want to say thank you Schools That Can. You really gave me a treat with i2 Camp. I would recommend i2 Camp to my friends because they would learn what they are really eating and take it home, and then they would tell their parents and they would get more products that are actually natural. That will make it better for farms and farmer’s markets. !

! GET INVOLVED

HOW YOU CAN HELP Our response in the next five to ten years to the current education to employment crisis will determine the destiny of the U.S. STC leads a grass roots effort to meet these challenges and help students meet their potential in the global economy. As a not-for-profit organization, our work to grow a network of high-performing schools preparing students for the 21st century relies on your contributions. Be part of a movement that believes all students can achieve success.

Your tax deductible donation will help us develop urban school leaders and staff to transform their high-potential schools into high-performing schools, provide our schools with more partnerships to ensure urban students graduate with 21st century skills, and connect bright-spot schools nationwide to grow their collective impact.You will contribute to overcoming one of the greatest challenges of our time. Thank you.

Join our supporters to meet the challenge:

The Charles Hayden Foundation The Friedman Foundation Eastdil Secured Morgan Stanley

GreenbergTraurig Beacon Capital Partners Edison Properties, LLC Boston Properties

The San Francisco Foundation HighBrook Investment Management

!!!!!

Schools That Can is a registered 501c3 not-for-profit organization.

Donate online at schoolsthatcan.org and click on “Make a Donation.”

Please return the completed form by mail to:

Schools That Can1040 First Avenue, #346New York, NY 10022

Your Name __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Address __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

City _____________________________________________________ State___________________ Zip __________________________

Telephone _____________________________________________________ Email ________________________________________________ Payment A Check (Please make checks payable to Schools That Can)

A Credit Card A Amex A Visa A MasterCard

Card Number _____________________________________________________________________________________________ Exp___________________

Signature _____________________________________________________________________________________________

A My company will match this gift. I will direct the gift form to Schools That Can.

A Please contact me about volunteer opportunities.

!

!

!

!

!

!

!

!

!

!

!

!

!!!!