EDUCATION

IPS wants to dump state-assigned turnaround partners

Eric Weddle
eric.weddle@indystar.com

Indianapolis Public Schools Superintendent Lewis Ferebee asked the State Board of Education on Wednesday to remove a mandate that requires outside companies to partner with some of IPS' most struggling schools and redirect funding to the district's own turnaround program.

Ferebee proposed a support system that would be run by IPS staff and be based on a model he oversaw at a school system in Greensboro, N.C. It focuses on substantial teacher training, a goal of students to master topics and behavior properly, and increased monitoring of improvements.

Basically, he said, IPS can do a better job than outside companies.

"I think that the work that needs to be done in our district as it relates to improving student outcomes needs to be driven by us," Ferebee said after speaking to the board. "While we are wanting to take the lead, and we will hopefully be able to take the lead, if we feel the need to partner with another organization we will.

"But right now from my vantage point, we have too many voices that are coming to our school leaders and our principals and teachers — and we need one voice. And we believe that voice should be ours."

Once the IPS plan is in place, Ferebee said, student academic improvement is expected to increase at 11 targeted schools in the next three to five years. These schools have failed to show academic improvements. Relying on state-assigned "lead partner" organizations to improve classrooms is costly, he said, and the companies have no vested interest in Indianapolis.

The Department of Education will make a recommendation to the state board about the plan in June.

Ferebee said it's critical for his leadership team, some of whom are from North Carolina, to draw on their experiences and match it with Indianapolis' needs.

The request is part of an ongoing reshaping of who leads schools, and how, in the state's second-largest district. As part of Ferebee's changes, new principals for these low-performing schools are now being sought, and contracts for assistant principals at these schools were not renewed for next year.

Ferebee made the request to the State Board of Eduction because it is responsible for oversight of school performance and intervention. The board would be able to ­release IPS from the ­requirement for some of its schools to work with outside companies.

When a school has been rated an F for six consecutive years on the state accountability system, the board can ini­tiate a takeover. This means an independent company is hired to run the school. Four IPS schools — Manual, ­Arlington and Howe high schools and Donnan Middle School — and one ­Gary school are cur­rently under takeover.

Another option is for the board to act on the recommendation of the Department of Education and assign a "lead partner" organization to assist with specific needs to turn around the school. Consultants work with principals and teachers on teaching methods and other issues.

Three IPS high schools are assigned lead partners: Washington, Broad Ripple and Marshall.

The companies IPS has partnered with ­include Scholastic Achievement Partners, The New Teacher Project and Voyager Learning. These companies are paid with federal funds through the state board.

In 2012, IPS hired Texas-based Voyager Learning under a $4 million contract as a lead partner for Marshall, as an alternative to state takeover, and more than a dozen other schools to aid in turnaround efforts. But last summer, the contract was reduced because of budget concerns, to a lead partnership for Marshall at $620,000 annually.

Ferebee is requesting $900,000 for each of the next three years for the turnaround program. During the meeting, Glenda Ritz, state superintendent of public instruction, said $816,000 was budgeted for the state to spend on the lead partners.

The money would be used to hire coaching staff and provide professional development, Fere­bee said. As part of the program, teachers and administrators will be recruited to IPS. Teachers will receive instructional support, and monitoring of improvements will be increased.

High schools will have graduation coaches. Other positions would help to develop a teachers' curriculum in math and English language arts.

Students will be taught to "master" subjects, ­Ferebee said, and they won't move on until they have learned the material. A behavior model also will be implemented.

"We are going to ensure there is time for corrective instruction or ­enrichment based on where students are," he said. "We not only believe this will help students be more efficient in the ­accountability model, but ensure they have the prerequisite skills that are needed to move on to the next courses."

Ferebee's presentation brought out a rare display of unity during the two days of board meetings, where members were often at odds with Ritz. Brad Oliver commended Ferebee for "walking the walk."

Board members praised Ferebee's forward thinking and appeared supportive of his proposal.

The 11 schools that would be started under the new "transformation" program are: Schools 14, 69, 42, 93, 44, 103, 51, 625, 58, 626 and 61.

Call Star reporter Eric Weddle at (317) 444-6222. Follow him on Twitter: @ericweddle.