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Withdrawal/Redaction Sheet Clinton Library DOCUMENT NO. SUBJECT/TITLE DATE RESTRICTION AND TYPE '001. letter Christy [Walton] to FLOTUS (2 pages) 07/22/1997 P6/b(6) COLLECTION: Clinton Presidential Records First Lady's Office Domestic Policy Council (Nicole Rabner) OA/Box Number: 15422 FOLDER TITLE: Correspondence [Alpha File] [T-Z] 2012-1035-S kc1097 RESTRICTION CODES Presidential Records Act - |44 U.S.C. 2204(a)] Freedom of Information Act 15 U.S.C. 552(b)] P1 National Security Classified Information |(a)(1) of the PRA] b(1) National security classified information [(b)(1) of the FOIA] P2 Relating to the appointment to Federal office [(a)(2) of the PRA b(2) Release would disclose internal personnel rules and practices of P3 Release would violate a Federal statute |(a)(3) of the PRA] an agency [(b)(2) of the FOIA] P4 Release would disclose trade secrets or confidential commercial or b(3) Release would violate a Federal statute [(b)(3) of the FOIA] financial information |(a)(4) of the PRA| b(4) Release would disclose trade secrets or confidential or financial P5 Release would disclose confidential advice between the President information |(b)(4) of the FOIA] and his advisors, or between such advisors |a)(5) of the PRA| b(6) Release would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of P6 Release would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy [(b)(6) of the FOIA] personal privacy [(a)(6) of the PRA] b(7) Release would disclose information compiled for law enforcement purposes |(b)(7) of the FOIA] C. Closed in accordance with restrictions contained in donor's deed b(8) Release would disclose information concerning the regulation of of gift. financial institutions |(b)(8) of the FOIA] PRM. Personal record misfile defined in accordance with 44 U.S.C. b(9) Release would disclose geological or geophysical information 2201(3). concerning wells [(b)(9) of the FOIA] RR. Document will be reviewed upon request. NRN 3316 North Chapel Avenue Tucson, Arizona 85716-1416 P.O. Box 66006 Tucson, Arizona 85728-6006 Telephone (520) 322-5090 FAX (520) 323-9402 Zephyr Press John- 3/20/97 pls file REACHING THEIR HIGHEST POTENTIAL Nicole Rabner Domestic Policy Council Suite 100 Old Executive Office Building Washington, D.C. 20502 Dear Ms. Rabner, All of us here at Zephyr Press were thrilled to hear the President speak about his intent to create a conference showcasing the current scientific research on early brain development. That is a subject dear to our hearts, one we've been involved with since 1979, and we search daily for ways to get this information to parents and teachers. The Zephyr Press mission is to help teacher's provide brain-compatible classrooms and to help them understand the way learning truly happens. We fulfill this mission by producing books, videos, posters, workshops and conferences for teachers. Enclosed are a few pertinent materials. Feel free to use them in any way. Many others across the country are vitally working in this area. They would make a great contribution to your conference being a powerful event with lasting impact. I would be pleased to give you a list of names or help in any way. Congratulations to the President and the First Lady for being the intelligent, caring and wise leaders that they are. Somehow they are able to focus on those areas that have possibilities for enormous and positive change for the country. We applaud them. Very sincerely yours, Joey Tanner Publisher P.S. I heard a statement recently that is worth repeating. "If we could raise the IQ of the slow learners in school by 3 points, we would reduce the drop-out population by 28%." This would be simple task if the country was committed to it. Let's do it! Printed on recycled paper. 3316 North Chapel Avenue Tucson, Arizona 85716-1416 P.O. Box 66006 Tucson, Arizona 85728-6006 Telephone (520) 322-5090 FAX (520) 323-9402 Zephyr Press R REACHING THEIR HIGHEST POTENTIAL 3/20/97 Nicole Rabner Domestic Policy Council Suite 100 Old Executive Office Building Washington, D.C. 20502 Dear Ms. Rabner, All of us here at Zephyr Press were thrilled to hear the President speak about his intent to create a conference showcasing the current scientific research on early brain development. That is a subject dear to our hearts, one we've been involved with since 1979, and we search daily for ways to get this information to parents and teachers. The Zephyr Press mission is to help teacher's provide brain-compatible classrooms and to help them understand the way learning truly happens. We fulfill this mission by producing books, videos, posters, workshops and conferences for teachers. Enclosed are a few pertinent materials. Feel free to use them in any way. Many others across the country are vitally working in this area. They would make a great contribution to your conference being a powerful event with lasting impact. I would be pleased to give you a list of names or help in any way. Congratulations to the President and the First Lady for being the intelligent, caring and wise leaders that they are. Somehow they are able to focus on those areas that have possibilities for enormous and positive change for the country. We applaud them. Very sincerely yours, Tanner Publisher P.S. I heard a statement recently that is worth repeating. "If we could raise the IQ of the slow learners in school by 3 points, we would reduce the drop-out population by 28%." This would be simple task if the country was committed to it. Let's do it! Printed on recycled paper. THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON July 3, 1997 Gail Tomlinson Executive Director Citizens Committee on Public Education in Philadelphia Suite 307 311 South Juniper Street Philadelphia, PA 19107 Dear Ms. Tomlinson: Thank you very much for sharing information with us about the Citizens Committee on Public Education in Philadelphia (CCPEP). President Clinton has made improving public school education a top priority of his Administration, and we appreciate hearing about innovative community efforts. I am particularly impressed by CCPEP's investments in raising education standards, increasing parental involvement, and sharing information with the community on public education. Best wishes in your important work. Sincerely yours, Weole Robert Nicole Rabner Associate Director for Domestic Policy cc: Michael Cohen Special Assistant to the President for Education Policy CITIZENS COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC EDUCATION IN PHILADELPHIA Abby- Citizens Working Toward Excellence in Public Schools FOUNDED IN 1880 pls walk a Suite 307 Hr of Thanks on 311 South Juniper Street Philadelphia, PA 19107 215/545/5433 6 February 1997 my sy. Pam Cicetti Nicrle Office of the First Lady President The White House, West Wing SAMUEL HIRSCH Vice Presidents Washington, DC 20335 JAMIL AKONI MIRIAM MEDNICK ERVIN MILLER LYNNE M. ROBERTS Treasurer ROBERTA GOLDEN Dear Ms. Cicetti: Secretary ILENE BLAIN Diane Weiss was recently with the First Lady at a conference of women in leadership Board Members in the Democratic Party. Apparently some of the discussion centered on issues of JANE ABRAHAMS BABETTE F. AUSTRIAN educational reform. Diane asked me to share with the First Lady's office a book we have JEANNE BAUM found to be significant in asking the right kinds of questions for determining the NATHAN BENDER PAMELA CARUNCHIO effectiveness of educational reforms. The Schools We Need and Why We Don't Have JUDY CLAUDE Them, by E.D. Hirsch, Jr. gives solid information on the history of reform. It allows no MARTIN COHEN LOUIS D'ANTONIO one who reads it to remain comfortable with the rhetoric of "what everyone knows". EDMUND FORTE DOROTHY GOTTLIEB ANN EVANS GUISE Over the past year, Diane and I have had a number of conversations on this issue because IRA HARKAVY JUDITH JUSTICE of our mutual concern with the rhetoric of reform and its 40-year focus on process. Even JEROME KAPLAN here in Philadelphia, a "center of reform", the key measures of that reform, after three LIONEL LAUER DIANE LOUCKS years only reflect changes in organizational structure. As yet there is no real focus on the JACQUELINE MATTHEWS academic performance of children. MARCIA MOON EVELYN G. NEUMAN NORMAN A. NEWBERG I've taken the liberty of enclosing some information on our organization, Citizens MICHAEL NUTTER CAROL A. PARSSINEN Committee on Public Education in Philadelphia (CCPEP). For 117 years CCPEP has PEDRO PEREZ advocated for and monitored the policies of public education in Philadelphia. On GWENDOLYN PULLEY-EBRON THELMA REESE occasion we have had to serve as a catalyst for policies that support high quality ANTHONY ROSTAIN education. But one of our roles has always been dissemination of information on public KARLA SHEPARD RUBINGER JUDITH STAVISKY-SCHIFF education. I hope you find this information of some use. If CCPEP can be of any further HELEN SCHNEEBERG help, please let us know. NEVA SCOTT ROBERT J. STRUNK CANDICE TRAN Sincerely, KEVIN VAUGHAN EVELYN WASHINGTON DEBRA WEINER DIANE WEISS STEVEN WELLS girl ROBERTA WEST Executive Director Gail Tomlinson GAIL TOMLINSON Executive Director Administrative Assistant VEDA HENDERSON CITIZENS COMMITTEE Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 1716 Philadelphia, PA. ON PUBLIC EDUCATION IN PHILADELPHIA WORKING TOWARD EXCELLENCE IN PUBLIC EDUCATION Philadelphia's first citizen advocates for Philadelphia, PA 19107 FOUNDED IN 1880 on Public Education has been at the Citizens Working Toward Excellence in Public Schools 215/545-5433 public education, Citizens Committee 311 South Juniper Street forefront of policy change for more WORKING TOWARD than 100 years. IN PHILADELPHIA EXCELLENCE ON PUBLIC EDUCATION CITIZENS COMMITTEE CCPEP is a think tank of volunteer IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS experts, spotting trends that promise long-term improvements and identi- Executive Director Gail Tomlinson fying concerns that become part of the public agenda. This catalytic role is unique and vitally important, and we are proud that many of Citizens Committee's initiatives have helped to improve educational quality for Philadelphia's public school students. CITIZ N CO ITT ON PUBLIC EDUCATION PHILADELPHIA - 311 S. Juniper St. Philadelphia, PA 19107 Citizens Committee on Public Education in Philadelphia 215/ 545-5433 311 So. Juniper St., Ste. 307 Philadelphia PA 19107-5811 CITIZENS COMMITTEE JOIN CITIZENS MEMBERSHIP SIGN-UP ON PUBLIC EDUCATION COMMITTEE Name Every member of Citizens Committee Address Monitors Policy becomes part of the process for Through attending Board of Education Zip improving Philadelphia's meetings, serving on key committees public schools. Phone: Home and panels and entering court cases on behalf of the public interest. Daytime CCPEP Membership Offers You Education interest areas Advocates for Change Through strategic analysis of critical A channel to express your needs and collaborative action with concerns to the School Board other groups concerned with quality and other policy makers. education. A network of individuals who Membership dues: share your interest in Provides Information educational excellence. $100 & Over Patron Through such publications as the (To be listed in our Annual Report) nation's first Citizens Guide to the A forum for increasing your $60 Sponsor Teachers' Contract, newsletters and understanding of educational issues. $35 Member through direct contact with public offi- cials, media representatives and other Information - including data, $20 Student/Senior civic groups. reports and a regularly Citizen published newsletter. Encourages Innovation Other Contributions Through the development of demon- The opportunity to serve on a Please make checks payable to: stration, model and pilot projects. CCPEP working committee. Citizens Committee on Public Education Promotes Excellence Contributions to this independent, non-profit Through the creation of issue-specific citizens group are tax-deductible. task forces and through the prestigious In compliance with Pennsylvania Law, a copy of the official registration and financial information of this organization may be John Patterson Award for Excellence in obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling toll Public Education. free, within Pennsylvania, 1-800-732-0999. Registration does not imply endorsement. COALITION TO CLOSE THE GAP FUNDING DESEGREGATION IN PHILADELPHIA On the 20th of August 1996, Judge Doris Smith ordered that the following monies be provided by the Commonwealth to address 25 years of educational discrimination against minority children in Philadelphia. While the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania has ruled that Judge Smith should not have issued her order, they have not yet decided whether funding is necessary to correct educational discrimination in the city and, if it is necessary, who will pay for it. The School District has already adjusted its budget to include court ordered kindergarten, early leveling of classes (permanent assignment of students and teachers), books, instructional materials, computers, and accommodation rooms. Judge Smith ordered that the following additional dollars should be allocated. Parental Involvement $ 1.6 million 11 month principals early school registration staff & parent training more telephones in schools for parent teacher contact Professional Development $ 12.5 million Primarily pays for staff time (extra curricular, replacement teachers) (Plus another $5 million the School District already has in the general operating budget) Teaching & Learning Network $ 6.2 million To provide facilitators to implement the integration of academic standards throughout the system and offer professional development specifically to teaching staff Class Size $ 13.9 million To implement reduction of class size in grades one and two Family Resource Network $ 6.1 million To be implemented under community school concept To address school attendance problems To reduce drop-out rates School-to Career training $ .8 million Restore school-based budget cuts $ 23 million TOTAL desegregation dollars needed 64.1 million New School District dollars - 19 million ($13 m. state, $3 m. higher tax revenues, $3 m. cost savings) to be put toward programs promised in this desegregation case TOTAL new dollars needed from the state (1996-97) $ 45 million For more information call: Citizens Committee on Public Education in Philadelphia (CCPEP) 545-5433 or Parents Union 546-1166 CITIZENS COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC EDUCATION IN PHILADELPHIA Citizens Working Toward Excellence in Public Schools FOUNDED IN 1880 Suite 307 311 South Juniper Street Philadelphia, PA 19107 CCPEP : ACTIVITIES, ACCOMPLISHMENTS, PLANS 215/545/5433 1995 - 1996 REQUEST HOW CCPEP ADVOCATES As part of the day-to-day operation of CCPEP, the organization is required to take on many roles. Outside Voice CCPEP offers suggestions, provides on-going commentary, and raises concerns about the policies, programs and the state of affairs in the School District of Philadelphia. Viewed as independent, CCPEP is often the only entity that can effectively raise the issues that need to be raised and keep all necessary parties at the table until the issues are resolved. In 1994 - 1995: CCPEP served on the Superintendent selection committee, advised several court-appointed Monitoring Teams, arranged and spoke before citywide meetings on the desegregation case and School District budget, and provided the only non-adversarial public analysis and comparison of Children Achieving and desegregation case court briefs with the publication of "A Confluence of Opportunities." In addition, CCPEP's willingness to comment publicly on issues, either directly or through public forums, has led to its being consulted by the School Board Members for direction in establishing topics and speakers for administrative reports to the Board. * In 1996 CCPEP will continue to offer impartial commentary on the state of public education in Philadelphia through quarterly printing of our NEWSBRIEFS, holding of public meetings on key educational issues and the offering of public testimony in legislative hearings and, where possible, in the press. Monitor The presence of the public is a powerful incentive for those in authority to think carefully as they make vital decisions about public education in Philadelphia. Representatives of the School Board, Administration, and City Council are aware that members of CCPEP, from board members to staff, are present, will record and comment on the decisions made and hold them accountable. In 1994 - 1995: CCPEP continued its on-site observation and research by reinstating regular visits to schools. School visits enable CCPEP to understand the affect of School District policies in the classroom and the school site. * In 1996 CCPEP will begin its second round of school visits, which in part will follow-up early discussions on use of school resources. A comparison of some of these schools with those already in the first six clusters will become crucial as second and third cohort schools come on board. Without the resources, many schools not formally designated clusters are beginning to foster their own networks in keeping with Children Achieving. It will be germane to the ultimate success of Children Achieving across the city to know if these self-determined efforts are allowed to continue or must be re-molded into a more pure Children Achieving design. * It will also be crucial for CCPEP to maintain a presence in the desegregation case as the plans now approved by the Court are implemented and funding is sought to support them. Coalition Builder CCPEP takes great pride in its ability to bring together and facilitate the work of groups in support of public education. Long ago CCPEP, recognized that one of our strongest "grassroots" efforts is our outreach to organizations who use our material or the information we provide to disseminate to their grassroots membership. In 1994 - 1995 CCPEP continued to convene, administer and coordinate the intervening groups in the desegregation case currently before Commonwealth Court. CCPEP has worked hard to establish both the contacts and the dialogue which will encourage individuals and groups to work together to affect available funding to and the quality of the education in Philadelphia schools. CCPEP continues to encourage the groups with which it comes into contact to speak out more publicly and/or forcefully on issues in public education. * In 1996 CCPEP will conduct a series of Community Meetings to explain Children Achieving and its opportunities for community/parent involvement. In addition, CCPEP will begin a more formal yet still ad-hoc organizational outreach to encourage groups wishing to deal with city/state issues related to education to work more closely together. In this vein CCPEP is pursuing the creation of a coalition to develop guidelines for the evaluation of the Children Achieving Agenda. Source of Information CCPEP takes its name seriously, and increasingly attempts to gather and evaluate information on public education and then make it available to the widest possible public audience. In 1994 - 1995: CCPEP provided written commentary on public education through the publication of "A Confluence of Opportunities" on the desegregation case and several editions of the NEWSBRIEF. In addition, CCPEP's regular Annual Meeting and Public Forum was held with Superintendent Hornbeck as key speaker and the series of Education FORUMS were expanded to include a parent voice among the variety of well represented organizational voices. * In 1996 CCPEP plans to expand its means of public communication through NEWSBRIEFs and Education Forum Series while adding community meetings/briefings that will more directly serve the practical needs of parents who were or wished to be part of the school decision-making process. Developer of Research and Pilot Projects CCPEP is proactive in its pursuit of information regarding the state of public education in Philadelphia. In 1994 1995: CCPEP began a series of school visits in order to understand better how schools identify, allocate, and use their resources. CCPEP Board Members visited schools and conducted interviews with school staff regarding their School Improvement Planning Process. CCPEP believes that the understanding of this process is key to community/ parent participation, support of real financial decisions at school level, and ultimately school self-governance. * In 1996 CCPEP intends to expand its cycle of school visits to include comparisons of cluster and non-cluster schools and to encourage the evaluation of the implementation of the Children Achieving Agenda by non-profit, education groups that have experience with the School District of Philadelphia. It is crucial that the District know whether the structures and supports of the cluster organization are necessary and successful in affecting the performance of the individual child in the classroom. CCPEP Education Policy Bulletin FOUNDED IN 1880 a report to business and community leaders from The Citizens Committee on Public Education in Philadelphia A CONFLUENCE OF OPPORTUNITIES: Children Achieving and Philadelphia's Desegregation Case INTRODUCTION For more than 115 years, Citizens Committee on Public Education in Philadelphia has concerned itself with the policies that support high quality education for all children who attend Philadelphia public schools. CCPEP's long standing role has been one of identifying significant educational issues and advocating for the appropriate policies which support structures and procedures which make change possible. Philadelphia in 1995 is positioned to become the first urban, largely minority school district in this country to fully prepare its student population with all of the knowledge and skills to succeed in our society at large. This possibility emerges from the confluence of court orders issued in a 23- year old desegregation case and the arrival of a new superintendent and his agenda for school restructuring and improved student academic performance. Much has been made of the differences found in documents issued by the Court and the School District regarding desegregation and educational reform. With this report, CCPEP intends to focus on the many areas of agreement in these several documents while noting issues and areas that still need clarification. CCPEP will also raise concerns which we believe warrant further attention by all participants in public education. 311 S. Juniper Street Philadelphia, PA 19107 -GOU-> CONTENTS INTRODUCTION Purposes of this Report BACKGROUND 3 The Desegregation Case and the documents it has produced A SHARED REFORM 6 Ideas held commonly by the Court and School District THE COURT ORDER OF APRIL 27, 1995 7 A summary DIRECTIONS AND INTERPRETATIONS 9 Areas still needing discussion and including references to the School District Response of May 19, 1995 CCPEP CONCERNS 13 Eight areas of concern CONCLUSION 20 SUPPLEMENTS Summary of the School District Response of May 19, 1995 22 Summary of the 46 points of the Court Order of November 28, 1994 24 2 BACKGROUND For more than 23 years the School District of Philadelphia and the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission wrestled with the means of integrating Philadelphia public schools yet, in the last several years the demographics of the School District have altered so that full racial integration of our schools is impossible. In 1993, CCPEP led intervention in this case as a means of refocusing attention on the need to provide all necessary supports for minority and poor children to excel academically regardless of whether in racially isolated or desegregated schools. The Court has taken a lead role in reviewing the performance of the District through the services of a panel of national experts and issued orders for School District mediation of specifically identified problems. These include reduced class size, availability of kindergarten and the need for a survey of existing facilities for repair or replacement. At virtually the same time, the School District hired a new superintendent who stated that among his reasons for coming to Philadelphia was the focus that this case brought to school reform. Superintendent Hornbeck's reform agenda, Children Achieving, was made public on February 7, 1995. In the past few months several documents have been issued by both the Court and School District which will impact on how education reform will take place in Philadelphia. 1. A Court Order was issued in November of 1994 listing 46 points to be addressed by the School District. 2. The Children Achieving Action Design made public in February 1995 offered the District's vision and plan for the system. 3. The School District responded on February 15, 1995 to the 46 3 A Confluence of Opportunities points of the Court Order. 4. The Court Monitoring Team issued their report in March of 1995 evaluating the School District's response to the Court's original order. 5. The Court issued a second order on April 27, 1995 which commented on the areas of the School District Response which the Court found either in compliance or in need of revision. 6. The School District issued a second report to the Court on May 19, 1995 responding to some of the Court's concerns. Public comment on these documents assumed that they should be virtually interchangeable. However, while the overarching purpose of the School District plan and the Court Orders may be similar, the means by which they intend to affect the quality of education for children in Philadelphia public schools show significant differences. The Court Orders of Nov. 28, 1994 and April 27, 1995 speak to what the School District must do to address the lack of integrated opportunities for students in Philadelphia public schools and to comply with Court orders. The Children Achieving Action Design is both the new superintendent's vision and plan for educational reform in the School District. The February 15th response to the Court's November 28th Order attempts to explain how the Children Achieving Agenda will also serve to bring the School District into compliance with law regarding desegregation and equity education issues. The Monitoring Team Report represents the Court's oversight arm, evaluating whether the District's responses and actions truly meet court requirements. CCPEP May 1995 4 There is, however, a subtle, key thread running through the exchanges between the Court and the School District. It has little to do with goals, or standards or the approaches to education to be used. It instead has a great deal to do with the question of commitment. The Court's Education Team Report of September 1994 includes the following language: "But this Team found that the School District has used these obstacles [violence, vandalism, health care needs, etc.] as an excuse for its failure or refusal - over 23 years - to provide equal educational opportunity and a high quality education for all students, especially in racially-isolated schools. Although we did find individuals and professionals throughout the system trying to make a difference, school staff consistently used external obstacles to justify inaction and poor student achievement." (p.4) However unfair it seems to lay on the shoulders of the current School District administration the 23 years of ineffective action of all parties in this desegregation case, ultimately it is the School District's responsibility to rectify identified inequalities in the education they provide. While other courts may not have been truly involved or rigorously vigilant in the oversight of the desegregation and education issues, this Court intends to be. This Court must then be both clear and specific about what is to be measured and what results they should expect to see. While other School District administrations may have provided the Court with plans which were process oriented, not results driven, this administration has assured the Court that results will be the driving factor. But after 23 years assurances are not enough. This Court intends to hold the District, not just to a vision statement, but to a clear and defined process for getting stated results. It seems that 1995 finds commitment for the first time to the desegregation case and its academic achievement component by all parties at the same time. The Court also demonstrates a 5 A Confluence of Opportunities willingness to support, encourage and perhaps compel, especially where necessary funding is concerned, this process to be effective. If this focus can remain positive and constant over the months to come and the inevitable changes a plan of this scope surely will require, then the children of this city cannot help but benefit. A SHARED REFORM CCPEP is heartened by the many common actions found in both Superintendent Hornbeck's Children Achieving Action Design and the Court Orders of November 28, 1994 and April 27, 1995. These are : 1. Full-day kindergarten must be provided to all children entering District schools. 2. Class size must be reduced beginning with kindergarten classes which are to have a teacher and aide for every 30 children. Implementation for the upper grades remains, as yet, undefined. 3. The appropriate allotment of teachers and the leveling of classes at the beginning of the school year, codified in the current PFT contract will reduced to a two week process. 4. Professional development and training is needed for teachers, staff and principals to improve teaching methods and school climate, as well as training for parents and personnel in new governance structures. 5. Certified substitutes must be encouraged to work in areas of the city typically underserved by a consistent pool of certified substitutes. CCPEP May 1995 6 6. Adequate funding must continue to be pursued from both governmental and private sources to meet the needs of educating children in Philadelphia. These documents also identify other issues for effective education reform in Philadelphia. Among those issues are : the need to establish standards and to develop a means of assessing them further involving parents in the education of their children upgrading facilities and the safety of those in school buildings a means of defining the accountability of each person who is part of the education process. However, there remains a tension between the Court Documents and School District as to the means of both defining and identifying the procedures for successfully meeting these concerns. The tone of the report of the Court-Appointed Monitoring Team has been characterized as negative in much public discussion. A careful reading suggests that this is an exaggeration. What does set the tone of this report is that it requires, on virtually every point of Judge Smith's original order, more specific information. In some cases the request is for more substantive information, in others the request is for the specifics of some process to be "spelled out". THE COURT ORDER OF APRIL 27, 1995 Key now to discussions is the most recent Court Order of April 27, 1995. This document comments on School District compliance with the 46 points of the Court's original Order of November 1994. The Court divides its current Order into sections on (1) "compliance or in substantial compliance", (2) "areas in substantial compliance and requiring some refinement", and 7 A Confluence of Opportunities (3) areas for which the Court orders modification. 1. Areas where the Court and School District are in greatest agreement, more specifically those areas where the School District plan most clearly addresses the concerns of the desegregation case are as follows: collaborations with PFT regarding teacher certification and with other city agencies regarding expanded pre-school offerings class leveling by week two of classes & reduced class size for kindergarten by 9/95 reports over the next six months on bilingual education, special education, expansion of the school year, community school and baseline data creation of alternative disciplinary schools and in-house accommodation rooms efforts to secure additional substitutes for racially isolated schools (schools with a student population of 90% or more of one race or combination of minorities) additional outside funding for the system as a whole 2. Areas where the Court is concerned that the School District plan does not address the needs of the desegregation case are: how does professional development relate to current or future standards? what are the plans and the ability to reduce class size beyond kindergarten levels? how and to what extent will collaborations take place to insure school-to-work and/or school-to-higher education take place? what lines of authority are being established in the new offices of Equity Assurance and Professional Development? CCPEP May 1995 8 what are the plans for replacing the current regional organizational structure with a cluster structure? and what will be the impact of an as yet undefined plan for the expansion of magnet schools to be made available in June of 1995. With the exception of the establishment of a new organizational structure, the Court appears in agreement with what the School District wishes to do. Even where the organizational structure is concerned, the Court has asked primarily for an explanation of how the new structure is an improvement over the current one. This is a point the School District has taken great pains to explain in its May 19th report to the Court. The need for more effective and clear dialogue between Court and School District fall in the following nine areas: (1) parental involvement, (2) teaching/learning/professional development, (3) education improvement, (4) desegregation strategies, (5) school climate/safety/discipline (6) organizational restructuring, (7) facilities, (8) reporting and monitoring, (9) resources. DIRECTIONS AND INTERPRETATIONS Throughout the exchange of orders and reports to the Court, there has been an attempt to clarify the definitions, procedures, and requirements of both the educational and legal processes which influence education and desegregation reform in this case. There remain areas where information to the Court has not yet been provided or has not yet met Court needs. 1. Parental Involvement The Court definition of Parental Involvement is among the first issues raised. The Court definition appears to target support for the parent in terms of helping their children academically and 9 A Confluence of Opportunities encouraging their immediate participation in improving school safety and climate. Children Achieving primarily defines the role of parents in terms of participation in school governance issues although their May 19th response to the Court indicates plans to work with several parent groups to frame an action plan for the definition and implementation of parental involvement. 2. Teaching and Learning/Professional Development Standards and assessments are companion pieces which the School District contends will drive educational reforms. Over an 18 month period standards in math, science and language arts will be developed and the means to assess student performance in these areas will be established. The Court agrees with this focus yet requires additional information. How will the process evolve in terms of identifying specific standards? How will student performance be measured against those standards? Professional development and training for school staff and parents are issues which both Court and School District consider vital to affecting educational reforms. The School District states its intention to begin such training immediately in some schools and/or clusters. The Court questions how effective such immediate training will be in areas such as standards and assessment which, having been identified as needing revision, are in a state of flux. In light of the 23 years of delay in this case, the Court apparently requires a greater assurance of the ability of the School District to meet its goals by clearly and specifically identifying their processes and timelines to the Court. 3.Education Improvement The Court's remaining concerns regarding education improvement are (1) the expansion of career and magnet programs as they relate to school-to-work and/or college transitions, (2) school CCPEP May 1995 10 self-evaluations and (3) the assignment of more experienced teachers to racially isolated schools. The School District has responded to the first item through their discussions of "real-world" competencies, establishing partnerships with employers and developing culminating and performance standards. The Court requires more specific explanations of these procedures, the development of plans for having school self-evaluations, and for specific policies to insure making more experienced teachers available in racially isolated schools. 4. Desegregation Strategies Magnet schools are a staple of desegregation cases across this country and often serve as the primary legal remedy to the integration of school districts. While such programs have not always served to increase the integration of racially isolated schools, such programs have often served to stabilize integrated populations. The School District has made a commitment to maintain the magnets currently in existence. The Court has required a plan that would expand the current magnet system as well as provide for other advance programs in racially isolated schools through the provision of additional resources to those schools. The Court also wishes to review other potential desegregation remedies including, among others : changes in boundaries and/or feeder patterns, new facilities, student transfer opportunities, culturally diverse activities, etc. 5. School Climate, Safety and Discipline Absenteeism and truancy are problems which the School District Action Plan hopes will diminish in importance when schools are restructured into smaller learning communities. The Court, concerned with the seriousness of these problems in racially isolated schools requires that there be more direct action to reduce absenteeism and truancy. One specific action the Court requires is the return of Home and School visitors. In addition the Court addresses the issue of school climate 11 A Confluence of Opportunities by requiring the development and distribution of a voluntary dress code. 6. Organizational Restructuring Although elements of the Children Achieving Agenda are evident in a number of districts, the proposed specific structures of clusters and supporting instructional and social service networks as envisioned for Philadelphia have no direct parallel. The use of cluster support systems related to professional development and family services will provide the school community greater access to these services than the current regional structure permits. However, the Court will not permit a change in the regional organization of the school support structure until the School District has identified whether all current supporting functions will be included in the proposed reorganization. While it may be argued that the current structure does not work, the Court has not yet heard sufficient information that the current structure cannot work. In addition, the Court requires further information, especially as it applies to racially isolated schools, on the Equity Formula for Resource Allocations which the School District is now developing. 7. Facilities Inadequate facilities and maintenance deficiencies in many of the more than 260 buildings for which the School District is responsible are extensive. The School District is committed to an extensive inventory and evaluation of all of its holdings but has not addressed a process for meeting the delay in filling current work orders. The Court requires that the School District address the need for immediate repair and stabilization of its extensive physical plant beginning with the more than 134 racially isolated schools. CCPEP May 1995 12 8. Reporting and Monitoring The only unresolved issue in this area addressed by the Order of April 27, 1995, regards the ability of the School District to provide baseline data in areas requested by the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission. 9. Resources The Court has accepted the School District's promise of a report of the Task Force on Management and Productivity to be made available in August of 1995. There are questions, however, as to whether the scope of this report is designed to meet the needs of the Court's request for information. Both the School District and the current Intervenor groups believe the Commonwealth is responsible for past inadequate funding of Philadelphia schools. Perhaps most important is that both are also in agreement that the Commonwealth should be brought into the case as a party to be held as a crucial partner in the funding of the "thorough and efficient education" issues which this case addresses. The Court has promised to rule on this issue once the District's modified plan has been approved. CCPEP CONCERNS Even when there are differences in the definition of terms and/or timelines for implementation in the documents discussed, the broad concepts and the need for change in those areas are not in debate. Nor is it debatable that the timing of the Court and the School District attention to educational reform provides a striking opportunity that this city cannot afford to miss. CCPEP remains concerned, however, that there are elements of educational reform as well as the 13 A Confluence of Opportunities process of reform itself which may yet serve as stumbling blocks for the effective advance of educational change in Philadelphia. Definitions: As mentioned previously in this report, differences in Court and School District documents often centers on the definitions each assigns to the key elements, processes and/or outcomes that are necessary to specifically meet compliance and reform needs. CCPEP believes that a common lexicon should be agreed to so that all parties may begin discussions on common ground. Process and Timelines: How the above elements are defined often sets the parameters for the process chosen and expected time of completion. While agreement on definitions is still debated so too will the establishment of reasonable timelines. It must be recognized, however, that the Court has both the right and responsibility to require timelines that most expeditiously alleviate any past non-compliance of the District on desegregation issues. Accountability: The Children Achieving Action Plan assumes responsibility on the part of the School District and its employees to meet the educational needs of the children in public schools in Philadelphia. The Court in turn holds the District responsible for those elements of education most directly related to the desegregation case before it. Both School District and Court envision a broader role for parent and community in establishing educational reforms. And the Court's recognition of union concerns in its most recent order emphasizes the importance that all organizational entities in the school community must be part of the decision-making process. CCPEP May 1995 14 Yet CCPEP remains concerned that neither the process nor means of holding District, staff, community, parents, union are more specifically identified in terms of governance. The Court holds the School District accountable for supplying a modified plan, reaching the goals set by that plan and submitting reports as defined on a timely basis. However, until the roles of parents, community and School District Staff are more clearly defined in terms of governance, the confusion inherent in wondering "who's in charge" will prevail over any expected educational reform. In turn, how does the Court intend to hold the unions and community responsible? These questions need to be addressed if accountability is to pass from a vague expectation of "people will be held accountable" to the specific, measurable and attributable responsibilities which will demonstrate how all participants in this educational reform are held accountable. While recognizing that these roles need to be refined, we do not think any of these concerns should be a reason to be faint-hearted about the bold Children Achieving Plan. We hope that seasoned educators and their leadership in the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers and Commonwealth Association of School Administrators will commit to this plan and bring the experience that is so necessary to making it work. Assessment: CCPEP recognizes that in order to hold people and systems truly accountable, one must be quite clear about the expectations and measures of performance. This remains true for the evaluation of student academic performance in the classroom to the evaluation of any employee in reference to his/her work performance. But the measures for academic performance for Philadelphia students have yet to be established and for the next year at least the District will run with a dual organizational structure. How will we assess student and staff performance in the transition from 15 A Confluence of Opportunities what is now to what will be the Children Achieving model, or does true measurement only begin once Children Achieving is fully in place? How and what will we measure? How will we know when enough is enough? How will we know when to do better? In the next few months, the proposed number of changes expected within the Philadelphia public education system from structures to standards will be staggering. Virtually every level of education in the system will be in the midst of conversion. CCPEP remains concerned that because process and/or organizational changes will be easier to assess, there is a danger that the change in student academic results, school by school, will not be pursued until the structure in which it exists is assessed and deemed perfect. Organizational Structure: A cluster organization of schools envisioned by the Children Achieving Action Design has been one of the major points of discussion in virtually all circles. While the current regional model was not necessarily inherently flawed, its implementations appears to have served schools and students differently from region to region. Despite organizational imperfection, those functions which were effective must be identified and included in the vision of the clusters. There is concern, however, that while the debate over the organizational structure of the District continues, it takes time, energy and focus from more direct student performance issues. Magnet Schools: Nowhere has the lack of definition of terms more impeded discussion of educational reform in this city than it has in the area of magnet schools. This term has been used to identify the District's historic special admission schools such as Philadelphia High School for Girls, CCPEP May 1995 16 Central, Masterman, Saul High School; schools whose admissions have been zero-based for desegregation purposes such as the High School for Creative and Performing Arts; and themed schools with accelerated academic programs regardless of population. CCPEP supports the maintenance of historic special admission schools and existing magnets for desegregation purposes but recognizes the expansion of such models may indeed "skim" the highest performing students from neighborhood schools. CCPEP is concerned, however, that while attention is clouded by varied magnet arguments and definitions, the opportunity to establish within each school accelerated academic programs, perhaps tied to special themes and funded through federal programs, will be delayed. Funding: It is significant that both the School District and the several Intervening groups in the desegregation case have supported and believe vital, the inclusion of state government as a party to the case. The Court has determined that it cannot rule on this issue until the School District provides an acceptable plan and certain assurances regarding its fiscal, administrative and educational effectiveness. To address the on-going concerns about School efficiencies, CCPEP believes the School District should respond to the Court order for information in the following three areas: School District audits : There is a broad perception that the School District of Philadelphia is, by nature of its size (23,000 employees) and budget ($1.5 billion for FY 95/96), inefficiently managed. Both financial and performance audits should determine whether funds have been appropriately allocated by the District for instructional program, school support services and administration. 17 A Confluence of Opportunities Creative Partnership and ideas: The School District, has already demonstrated a great deal of initiative in obtaining foundation funding as well as in establishing partnerships with the business community. However it must continue to seek funding options beyond the immediate need to match Annenberg dollars for the reform process itself. It is clear that foundations cannot be expected to make up for insufficient public funds for general opperations but at this critical juncture they can help to offset the costs of reform. School productivity: Ultimately the funding, economies and efficiencies, accountability and responsibilities must be played out at the school level if children in Philadelphia public schools are to succeed. Student success requires a common desired outcome by all the parties involved : student, parent, principal, staff, union and School District. This will require looking at the structures, hours and work rules, many specified in contracts and agreements, to determine how students can best be served. CCPEP believes that issues which will need discussion include prep time, class size, schedule and job duty flexibility, among others. While recognizing many of these issues are already being discussed or have already been modified on school by school basis, others have not. Future contract negotiations will need to address assessment, accountability and resource issues as they affect the staff. If materials, better working conditions and other tangible resources are the School District responsibility and share, what is the staff responsibility and share to guarantee student achievement? CCPEP May 1995 18 Again, how will we know success, how will it be measured and how will accountability be established? Ultimately, however, there is a governmental responsibility to provide "a thorough and efficient education" to all children in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. While there is general agreement that additional state funds are key to the success of this reform, there is less clarity about the means of compelling the state to meet its responsibility. The Court through the case currently before it can define and re-emphasize the State's responsibility to provide such an education. CCPEP believes that Superintendent Hornbeck has made a good case for the money he proposes to spend. It is true that it is a large, even staggering sum, but it is not out of reach on the basis of per pupil expenditure made available to the suburban districts that surround us. We are in a position of playing catch-up for many years of under-funding. And catch up we must. The Learning Transaction: This report originated in the need to reflect on the specific issues brought up in Court and School District documents but this report would also be incomplete if it did not take into consideration some of the issues not addressed. The many elements which make up CCPEP's concerns and the unresolved issues between Court and School District are primarily those of structure, governance and/or process. The results expected from student performance and how all of the structure and governance issues will actually and effectively drive teaching practices are as yet barely explored. As District, Court and public wrestle over definitions, structures and roles, it is important to measure these changes against the learning transaction - what takes place between teacher and child in the classroom. That measure does not always seem to be a function of the educational equation as funding and reform needs drive 19 A Confluence of Opportunities educational choices. We see lack of funding driving choices which support the reform initiative but back off from key education elements that are recognized, proven and agreed upon as vital to all student learning. For example, the passing of the School District budget on May 24, 1995 provides for the reform initiative intact in one quarter of the city schools represented in the first six clusters. However, the promise of full-day kindergarten for all eligible children as agreed to by all parties has been reduced to only at-risk schools in those clusters. CONCLUSION It might be wise to reiterate the different purposes of the documents being discussed in this report. The Children Achieving Action Design is an extraordinary vision statement which places first and foremost the need for all activities of the District to result in increased student academic performance. The Court documents and subsequent School District responses must address the specifics of how the vision will confront the identified inequalities of educational opportunity and outcome for the children of this city. The Court, responsible for requiring the School District to rectify those inequalities, cannot measure the vision only the means and results promised. There have been innumerable education plans that ultimately served no one. The last six months of back and forth discussions between the School District and Court have been characterized by many as a "waste of time" or "jockeying for position and power." But the clear identification of what can and will be done to improve student learning and how specifically those changes will be CCPEP May 1995 20 measured is absolutely vital to the success of children in Philadelphia schools. It is important for the public to be aware that this case does not end with the presentation of a School District plan which the Court can accept and order implemented. Rather this case actually begins at that point. Over the next six months alone, additional reports on magnet schools, special education, bilingual programs and management productivity will be sent to the Court which may again require modification of the plan or its parts. If we are not clear about what is to be done and willing to take on a role of monitoring and questioning the effectiveness of what is done, surely another 23 years and two more generations of our children may be lost. Philadelphia has a history of reform efforts that have not worked over the long term or to great effect because they lacked either public or professional will. Neither Children Achieving nor the desegregation case can become a casualty of this entrenched and self-defeating attitude. Educational reform in our city cannot proceed as an either/or proposition. Many of the requirements of the Court documents and the changes in Children Achieving are long over due and so fundamental that its difficult even to call them "reforms." CCPEP supports full funding to make possible these changes. As demonstrated in this report, Court and School District are very close to full agreement on the educational changes needed for Philadelphia public schools, especially in those areas integral to the desegregation case itself. It is vital that these areas in agreement not only be recognized by the parties involved, but vigorously pursued. CCPEP believes that parents and citizens must emphasize to all parties involved that we will not permit the few areas of difference to be used as the means for educated adults to posture while failing to educate another generation of children. ### 21 A Confluence of Opportunities SUMMARY: SCHOOL DISTRICT RESPONSE TO THE COURT- MAY 19,1995 This document offers School District responses to specific Court concerns raised through hearings and the November 28, 1994 and April 27, 1995 Court Orders. Among the areas addressed are: Parental Involvement: The District has included as Appendix A, an action plan presented to it by Parents Union which lists expected behaviors and actions by school personnel and parents. Key District personnel responsible for the development with the community of a comprehensive plan for parental Involvement are also identified. Teaching and Learning/Professional Development: Standards and Assessments have been addressed more specifically regarding the participants (teachers, principals, parents, curriculum specialists, business, higher education, etc., with technical assistance through the Philadelphia Education Fund) and the actual process for the development of standards and assessments tools. Educational Improvement: (a) Career Academies and Magnets - A report will be issued on June 30, 1995. (b) School Self-Evaluations - The District feels its yearly School Improvement Planning Process addresses this issue. (c) Experienced Teachers in Racially Isolated Schools - Defined by the District as the number of years in the profession, 60.13% of teachers in racially isolated schools and 62.68% of teachers in non-racially isolated schools have seven or more years of experience. The District and PFT are discussing schools were the percentage of experienced teachers is not so high. Through aggressive outreach, the District has added 200 certified substitutes. Desegregation Strategies: The District will produce a report by June 30, 1995. Resources: (a) Management and Productivity Task Force - Their report will be available in August 1995. (b) Reductions in Staff - With reference to Appendix B the District notes a drop of CCPEP May 1995 22 35% in central administration staff and 49% in paraprofessionals over the last seven years. Appendix C refers to Positions To Be Added over the next two years, primarily in school and student support areas. (c) Follow-Up of Prior Audit Findings and Recommendations - refers to Appendix D and recommendations by the City Controller with School District Responses. (d) Vehicles - includes a summary of vehicles assigned by department and the permitted use of each. (e) School Board Member Expenditures - refers to a list of same in Appendix E. School Climate, Safety and Discipline: (a) Responding to Absenteeism and Truancy - The District refers to Appendix F and the unrealistic expectation that home and school visitors can deal with over 40,000 absences a day. What is expected is that these issues will only be addressed by dealing with "root causes" of absenteeism. (b) School Safety - The District offers previous lists of current safety and violence prevention initiatives. (c) Model Voluntary Dress Code - to be developed and presented to schools before June 30, 1995. Organizational Restructuring: (a) Resource Allocations Formula - is still in development. (b) School District Restructuring - The District lists its progress to date in establishing the Office of Standards, Accountability and Student Support, School and Cluster Councils, Small Learning Communities, Clusters, Cluster Leaders, Teaching & Learning and Family Resource Networks, Equity Assurance, and the Transition from Regions to Clusters (Appendix G). Facilities: The survey will be completed but the District proposes repairs based first on danger and/or severity, then all racially isolated schools. Reporting and Monitoring: The District will address Human Relations Commission requests for data. External monitoring will continue in the context of this case and perhaps through the Mayor's recently established position of Education Advocate within his administration. 23 A Confluence of Opportunities SUMMARY OF THE NOVEMBER 28, 1994 DESEGREGATION ORDER "Proven educational strategies involved in their children's education programs. have been too long denied to education. Black and Hispanic students in Education Improvement - racially isolated schools." This Teaching and Learning/ items 11-14 key statement appears early in the Professional Development - Levelling of classes to be November 28, 1994 order issued Items 2 - 10 completed no later than the end of by Judge Doris A. Smith in the * Full day kindergarten will be the first full week of classes in now 24-year old desegregation made available to all eligible September, 1995. case between the Pennsylvania children in racially isolated Human Relations Commission schools by September 1995 and * The use of uncertified and/or and the School District of to all children in the District by multiple substitutes in racially Philadelphia. September 1996. isolated schools will stop. After a year of testimony and * Student/teacher ratios will be * School to work programs another nine months of research reduced in all grades and 1 including magnets and academies by a court appointed educational teacher and 1 aide for every 20 will be expanded. (also a team, the court issued an order children will be provided for desegregation issue) which identified 11 key areas of grades K - 3. needed educational change and * Each school must complete a listed 46 specific actions which * Curriculum and performance self study of its program, must/will be addressed. standards will be set and parental involvement and goals assessments developed for the after the new standards are The court in its order used the School District. released. structure of the Education Team Report without accepting or * Staff development based on Desegregation Strategies - ordering all of their the established standards, items 15-17 recommendations. including the expectation of high * The Office of Desegregation student performance will be made shall be abolished and an Equity The bulk of the order's 46 points available. Assurance office instituted. however, were to be incorporated into a plan submitted to Judge * The School District must reach * School feeder and/or cluster Smith in February 1995. This out to institutions of higher patterns and all new construction followed by a mere two weeks, learning to provide better must consider improving racial the release of Superintendent preparation of teachers in urban balance (see especially the 1983 Hornbeck's own School Reform settings. Memorandum of understanding in Plan. this case.) * The School District must also Among the areas which were reach out to colleges, public Resources items 18 - 21 addressed : agencies and governmental * The School District shall be sources to provide pre-school, more diligent in seeking out Parental Involvement - community school, health and funding sources. Item 1 in the Court Order other support opportunities to its * On outreach strategy must be children and families. * An independent performance created and implemented to and financial audit of the School encourage parents to be more * The School District shall District must be completed- evaluate its bilingual and special CCPEP May 1995 24 greater allocation of funds to carrying out the function of the annual reports thereafter and an school site and/or the requirement regional offices, those office are identification to staff responsible. of additional state funding are to remain. dependent on the results. * A time-table for restructuring Reductions in the racial including a formula for the re- disparities in academic School Climate, Safety and allocation of resources, must be achievement should appear by the Discipline - items 22 - 27 included in the plan. 1996-1997 school year, if not * The District shall identify both sooner. the range of programs available (anti-graffiti to peer mediation) Accountability - items 33-36 which are available to schools as * The court requires a plan of * The Court will conduct well as the schools in greatest School District progress both independent monitoring of need of these programs. internal and external evaluation. School District progress by appointing a three member * Schools with the highest rates * A system of accountability committee to review all reports. of absenteeism, truancy, drop-out will include measures of student The Court Committee will have or students involved with juvenile performance and achievement, access to a seven member, Court justice will have additional home appropriateassessment standards, appointed, Advisory Board. & school visitors or probation rewards and sanctions through officers assigned. site visits and annual individual * The court retains jurisdiction school reports. until evidence is presented that * The District shall develop and the School District has complied maintain a system wide code of with the court order. student behavior and voluntary Facilities - items 37 - 39 dress code. * The School District must develop a plan to each school. * Alternative schools shall be This plan will also evaluate established for the temporary adequacy of staff and method for placement of disruptive students. dealing with repairs. Special attention will be given to racially Organizational Restructuring - isolated schools. items 28-32 * Each school will have a Local Council to participate in standards Overcrowding - item 40 setting, budget development and * The School District must the recommendation of staff. The develop a plan to include an Council will not have the evaluation of existing school authority to hire or fire staff (a buildings and available space and PFT contract issue) or to actually a time table for renovation and control the school site budget. new construction. * An Equity Assurance Office, with a primary function of Reporting and Monitoring - Student Recruitment and items 41 - 46 Education Counselling and a * The School District must ProfessionalDevelopment Center develop a plan to report its will be established. progress which includes : bi- annual reports for the next three * In the absence of substantive years (beginning July, 1995), data for an alternative plan for 25 CITIZENS COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC EDUCATION IN PHILADELPHIA FOUNDED IN 1880 1995 - 1996 WHAT WE ARE CCPEP is an Advocacy Organization. What we advocate for can be identified as policies and programs that support the highest quality public education for the children of Philadelphia. High quality public education includes equal opportunities and inputs for all children, learning environments appropriate for each child, high standards and expectations, etc. WHAT WE DO We advocate and influence public education policy as An Outside Voice A Monitor A Coalition Builder A Source of Information both collection and dissemination A Developer of Pilot Programs Through these means we work at School District, City and State levels to impact on policies and processes of education. HOW WE DO IT All of CCPEP's committees and activities (except those that are administrative in nature) relate directly to the advocacy roles listed above. An Outside Voice Committees: Annual Meeting FORUMS Activities: Testimony/comments in newspapers participation in Task Forces Promotion Policy Adolescent Sexuality School-Based Management Multi-Cultural, Multi-racial, Gender Standards Attendance at Superintendent's Cabinet Retreat Leadership of monthly meeting w/Superintendent Requests by funders for participation in developing projects (RFPs) Service on Desegregation Case Advisory Board A Monitor Committees: Activities: Representation at School Board Meetings Representation at Court Deseg Case Leadership of monthly meeting w/Superintendent & Cabinet Participation in Task Forces A Coalition Builder Committees: FORUMS Activities: Coordination of participation in Desegregation lawsuit Preparation with Home & School and Parents Union monthly meeting with Superintendent & Cabinet Work with the Alliance of Public School Advocates A Source of Information Collection: Committees: Projects Committee Activities: School Visits (Resource Study, Cluster Study. K-science) Dissemination : Committees: Newsletter/Newsbrief Annual Meeting Program Planning FORUMS Activities: Reports (promotion policy, SD budget) public testimony talks with media A Developer of Pilot Programs CCPEP initiates and/or develops pilot programs to study particular education issues and completes in-depth analysis of the results. WHAT OUR ACTIVITIES LEAD TO Influence Public Education Policy SD promotion policy based on CCPEP report SD Budget now formatted as CCPEP suggested in budget rpt. Multicultural issues included as part of standards project HOW OUR ORGANIZATION SUPPORTS OUR MISSION Committees: Financial Planning Membership Nominations COALITION TO CLOSE THE GAP A 25- year long desegregation case has shown the Governor how to do the right thing for Philadelphia school children.Let's make sure he does. Doing the right thing means that Philadelphia school children will have what so many other public school students in the Commonwealth have: full day kindergarten for every child class size of no more than 20 in grades K - 3 teachers settled in with their classes by the second week of school each year books and other appropriate instructional materials for every child programs to address attendance, drop-out rates, and disciplinary support in each school programs that offer community support services to parents and children a clear set of academic standards that children, teachers, and parents understand school staff who are always learning so they can best teach and support every child a strong parent voice in supporting learning and making school decisions Tell the Governor to do the right thing - Find the funds to support Philadelphia's school children NOW! Call the Governor at 1- 717 - 787 - 2500. For more information call: Citizens Committee on Public Education in Philadelphia (CCPEP) 545-5433 or Parents Union 546-1166 EDUCATION NEWSBRIEF A publication of Citizens Committee on Public Education in Philadelphia October, 1995 Vol. 2, No. 1 CHILDREN ACHIEVING'S FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL The Ten Points of the Children Achieving PHILA. SCHOOL DISTRICT CLUSTERS Agenda are listed below with a summary of their status as of the first day of school. AUDENRIED CLUSTER : (Southeast) Frances Williams, Cluster Leader 1. Set High Expectations Office : 351-7105 Children Achieving has set an ambitious Elementary: Alcorn, Arthur, Childs, Durham, McDaniel, Smith and agenda of structural reform, has begun to E.M. Stanton; Middle: Barratt and Peirce; Senior High: Audenried. develop standards with the Philadelphia Education Fund and, in the schools, has begun MARTIN LUTHER KING CLUSTER : (Northwest) training staff and parents for local decision- Fred Farlino, Cluster Leader making. Office : 248-6640 Elementary: K. Day, F.S. Edmonds, Ellwood, Hill Freedman, Howe, 2. Design accurate performance indicator Kinsey, McCloskey, Pastorius, Pennypacker, Prince Hall and Rowen; to hold everyone accountable for results. Middle: Leeds, Lewis and Wagner; Senior High: M. L. King. * Academically - student performance in the first six clusters can be measured against the OLNEY CLUSTER : (Central East) Stanford 9 Test given in Spring '95. Alice Reyes, Cluster Leader * Organizationally - the first six clusters are Office : 456-3014 established. Elementary: 5th & Cayuga, Barton, Birney, Feltonville/Horn, * At every school there is the expectation that McClure, Morrison, Olney Elem. and Taylor; Middle: Central East, each of the following will be improved: Clemente and Cooke; Senior High: Olney. - safety - reading, math, science performance STRAWBERRY MANSION CLUSTER : (Central West) - decisions being made differently Karen Delguercio, Cluster Leader - teacher/student attendance Office : 684-8980 It is important that every school be able to Elementary: Allen, Blaine, Douglass, Gideon, L.P. Hill and Whittier; provide the specific amount or kind of Middle: Strawberry Mansion and Rhodes; Senior High: improvement expected. It is not sufficient to Strawberry Mansion. identify a program that will be put into place (a strategy). It is vital that schools be able to WASHINGTON CLUSTER : (Northeast) identify a measurable improvement or the Linda Gottlieb, Cluster Leader specific effect the strategy will have on the Office : 281-2646 student in the classroom. Elementary: Comly, Decatur, Fitzpatrick, Frank, Greenberg, Hancock and Loesche; Middle: Baldi, LaBrum and Rush; Senior High: 3. Shrink the centralized bureaucracy and Washington. let schools make more decisions. At the moment, the District is functioning with WEST PHILADELPHIA CLUSTER : (Southwest) both regional and cluster structures. This dual Janis Butler, Cluster Leader system makes it difficult to establish some lines Office : 471-8371 of communication and authority. Elementary: Comegys, Wilson, Harrington, Barry, Bryant, Hamilton, Huey and Lea; Middle: Sayre and Shaw; Senior High: (continued on page 4.) West Philadelphia. CCPEP October 1995 CHILDREN ACHIEVING UPDATE: WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN ? Cluster Leader SMALL LEARNING COMMUNITIES - Small Learning Communities will be Cluster groups of between 200 - 500 students in Council each school, grouped in the same grade or across grades, with their parents, Teaching teachers and other school staff for and support. (For example, in a school with Learning 800 children there could be two, three or Family Network four small learning communities.) Resource - Members of Small Learning Network Communities will work together to support the health and develop the Principal learning of the children in their group. School (Examples of small learning Council communities are the Academies, CLUSTER charters and houses in middle schools.) LC - Because the teachers and parents will LC know all of the children well it will be LC Comprehensive sier to identify and provide the social Learning and academic supports each child Community Student LC Support Team needs to learn. SCHOOL SCHOOL COUNCIL - The School Council is the governing body of school-based decisions. A cluster will be made up of many schools - The School Council many include as and their small learning communities. many as 19 people. At least 51% will be teachers while the other 49% will include the principal, parents and at Middle and Chart School District of Philadelphia High School levels 2 students. - The School Council many make decisons on schoolwide policies CLUSTER LEADER oversees the work of the Family (security , transportation & builidng - The Cluster Leader coordinates and Resources and the Teaching and maintainence), review school leads the activities of the cluster. Learning Networks. improvement plans and budgets, make - Cluster leaders work with Cluster recommendations regarding curriculum Councils to develop the programs and FAMILY RESOURCES NETWORK and teaching and conduct extensive supports for families, children and staff - In schools, the Family Resources public outreach programs to keep the through the Teaching and Learning Network includes the school nurse, the community informed about what's Network and Family Resources guidance counselor, the school happening at the school. Network. psychologist, the school-community - By acting as a facilitator and coordinator and other staff. CLUSTER communications link among school - The Family Resources Network works - A cluster includes all of the elementary administrators, staff, parents, community with service agencies and community and middle schools that feed into a groups and partner organizations, the organizations, public and private, to particular high school. (There will be 22 Cluster Leader will ensure the suports coordinate and ensure support for clusters of schools, one for each that lead to improved student families and children. of the neighborhood high schools in the achievement. District.) TEACHING & LEARNING NETWORK - Clusters focus on teaching, learning, CLUSTER COUNCIL - The Teaching Learning Network will and providing family supports as a child - The Cluster Council is the provide opportunities for school staffand moves from grade to grade, from school representative body for the group of parents to learn more about team to school. schools in a cluster. building, leadership skills, best teaching - Clusters are organized around the - The Cluster Council will be made up of practices, and/or other areas which will natural neighborhood pattern that feed the Cluster Leader, a teacher and help all the adults involved in schools children from a particular elementary parent from each school, and a principal and clusters to better serve children in school to a particular middle school to a from each school. schools. particular high school and allow for the - The Cluster Council evaluates and child's transition between schools to gives assistance with the budget and For additional copies of these definitions, be made easier. educational plan of the Cluster and please contact CCPEP (215-545-5433). 2 CCPEP October 1995 A Bill of Rights for Education: Who's NEWSBRIEF NOTES Responsible? The start of a new school year means, in Philadelphia, our first real experience with the implementation of the Children Achieving Agenda (p. 1). After reviewing a survey of Clusters, Small Learning Communities, Family Resources Networks, School attitudes on public education Council. There is a whole new vocabulary to master and use. With this edition conducted by Public Agenda of Newsbrief, CCPEP begins its commentary and explanation of Children last October and conducting a Achieving and the unprecedented opportunities for the involvement of parents, school staff, students and community in developing schools that work for kids. few parent surveys on their This issue of Newsbrief also focuses on the many responsibilities for own, the Philadelphia educating our children here in Philadelphia. On this page we look at the Federation of Teachers (PFT) Philadelphia Federation of Teachers' Bill of Rights and ask some questions about developed a Bill of Rights & the responsibilities that go with them. We also ask (Desegregation Update, p. 5) Responsibilities for children about who's responsible for adequately funding our schools now that city and and staff in public schools. state have both backed off from any real responsibility for public education. This Resolution has evolved Responsibility and judgement are also issues (Act 26, p.6) in an out of survey information amendment past by the state legislature requiring the one year expulsion of which, in the language of the children found with a weapon. The definition of weapon, however, could lead to document demonstrates that wide scale grade school expulsions after weekly show-and-tell sessions. "the number one concern of We also begin with this issue a new feature of Newsbrief Notes. Action Alert will inform you of actions that you, the public, must take to make the public, parents, students public education work! and school employees is that school should be a place ACTION ALERT where there is safety, order, * Governor Ridge has promised that new voucher legislation will pass by respect, and high academic Thanksgiving. Make your voice heard by calling to your senator and standards." representative; one of thanks to those who previously voted against vouchers Among some of the rights and one of concern for those who previously voted for them. Call CCPEP's stated in A Bill of Rights and office (545-5433) today to find out how your state legislators are voting! Responsibilities for Learning: Standards of The School District has eliminated the High School Fair as one means of Conduct, Standards for informing 5th through 8th graders of their options in high school programs in favor of a booklet style listing of those programs for 8th graders only. Achievement are: Applications for special admissions High Schools and their small learning communities must be in the child's school before 11/17. All students and school staff have a right to schools that are safe, orderly and drug free. All students and school staff All students and school staff with courtesy and respect" is have a right to learn and work have a right to learn and work achieved by everyone taking in school districts and schools in school districts, schools and the responsibility to treat each that have clear discipline classrooms where high grades other with courtesy and codes with fair and stand for high achievement respect. consistently enforced and promotion is earned. consequences for In another statement, misbehavior. Presented in a press however, "All students and All students and school staff conference in September, and school staff have a right to have a right to be treated with adopted by Philadelphia's learn and work in well- courtesy and respect. Board of Education in October, equipped schools that have All students and school staff this document is clear about the instructional materials have a right to learn and work the rights of children and staff. needed to carry out a rigorous in school districts, schools and They are less clear, however, academic program" it is not classrooms that have clearly about the kinds and levels of clear whose responsibility it is stated and rigorous academic responsibility which will be to provide such material nor standards. All students and school staff necessary to guarantee the what the responsibility of staff rights stated. and students is to teach and have a right to learn and work It seems fairly clear learn in environments where in schools where teachers that "All students and school (Continued on page 4.) know their subject matter and staff have a right to be treated how to teach it. 3 CCPEP October 1995 (CA continued from page 1.) (PFT continued from page 3.) 4. Provide intensive and 8. Engage the public in those materials are not yet sustained professional shaping, understanding, present. development to all staff. supporting and participating Equally, the phrasing of The School District has held a in school reform "All students and school staff number of professional The challenge of broad-based have a right to learn and work in development workshops over communication of Children school districts and schools that the summer in areas of Achieving and cluster ideas have clear discipline codes with leadership training, remains. A number of public fair and consistently enforced development of standards and meetings have been held by consequences for misbehavior" curriculum and the work of the clusters and at the request of implies that the responsibility for Teaching and Learning/ the Court. People who maintaining discipline and a code Family Resources Networks. already know about Children of behavior lays outside of the Although the numbers of staff Achieving know a great deal. students and staff themselves. and parents who attended Those who know little seem to CCPEP applaudes the were small, the intent is for have few resources for discussion that this document will those trained to now train learning more. generate. We hope, however, others. that the decision is equally 9. Ensure adequate balanced between noting the 5. Make sure that all resources and use them responsibilities as well as rights of students are ready for effectively. all persons on school grounds. school. The success of using While all kindergarten-aged corporate and foundation children are not yet served, For further information and/or copies of dollars to support systemic the full resolution, contact the PFT at the Commonwealth Court reform efforts is dynamic. 215-587-6738. requirement of full-day There continues to be, kindergarten for children in however, a complete inability racially isolated schools of the School District and means children in 130 more public to obtain adequate schools (nearly 300 more funds to support the day-to- classes) are receiving this day experience of the child in crucial experience. the classroom. CCPEP would like to thank 6. Provide students with the 10. Be prepared to address its funders for their support : community supports and all of these priorities services they need to together and for the long Arco Chemical Company succeed in school. term --- starting now. Bell Atlantic A modified Family Resource While not on the scale CIGNA Foundation Network has been established envisioned, Children Achiev- CoreStates in each of the first six clusters. ing has made some broad and F. and M Hamilton Trust critical steps in maintaining IBM 7. Provide up-to-date this agenda in abbreviated Mercy Health Plan technology and instruc- form in nearly a quarter of National Science Foundation tional materials. Philadelphia schools. The Philadelphia Foundation Some additional supports CCPEP will continue to offer Rittenhouse oundation have been given to the first six information and commentary William Penn Foundation clusters but schools continue on the implementation of to rely on Title I funds, Home Children Achieving in future as well as the many who & School fundraisers or issues. support us through donations to acquire their membership and contributions. technology. 4 CCPEP October 1995 Desegregation Case Update: Who's Responsible for Education ? The City claims the state is solely responsible. The State, on the other hand, says they're not responsible, the city is. According to the city, technically they have no responsibility for educating the children of this city. The State has created a Department of Education and allows Philadelphia to collect its own taxes. They say that's the extent of their responsibility. In fact, the state claims that they are not even required to provide a certain level of education equally to all kids. The above actions alone meet their constitutional responsibility for providing a "thorough and efficient education" for the children of this city and state. These positions were revealed during an October 5th hearing to determine if the city and state should be held responsible for funding education in Philadelphia, especially in regard to the 25-year old desegregation case between the School District of Philadelphia and the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission. Nearly a year ago, Judge Smith of Commonwealth Court would not hear arguments about bringing the city and state into the case. The two issues which the Court wished to see resolved first were : 1. What specifically was the School District's plan for alleviating unequal educational opportunity and outcomes for minority children in Philadelphia and, 2. Were the School District's current funds being wisely spent and sufficient to support a court approved plan ? In June of 1995, the School District submitted several audits and a plan which the Court substantially accepted. Now the costs of implementing the Court approved plan and the responsibility for supply those funds are the issues before the court. Currently, the School District must work with the money they are given by city and state. So, in the words of Intervenors' attorney, Michael Churchill of Philadelphia Interest Law Center, "[without the joinder of city and state we] have only half a defendant. One who can spend but not raise [the money needed]." Judge Smith has said she will rule on the participation of city and state in this case by the end of October. She has also made it clear, however, that the search for additional dollars to fund the School District's current plan does not absolve the District from providing and equal and high quality education to all children for which it is responsible. For more information contact CCPEP at 215-545-5433. Upcoming FORUMS Join Citizens Committee in Supporting Student Achievement 1 Every member of CCPEP becomes part of the process for November 16, 1995 improving Philadelphia's public schools. Decentralization of the Schools : What are the CCPEP Membership Offers You : implications? A channel to express your A Forum for increasing your (co-sponsored with Philadelphia Committee concerns to the School Board understanding of educational on City Policy) and other policy makers. issues. February 21, 1996 A network of individuals who . Information including data "Private Technical Institutes share your interest in educational reports and CCPEPs excellence. Newsbriefs. A Needed Link Between Public Education and MEMBERSHIP DUES SIGN-UP Jobs ? Senior Citizen ($ 20) Name : Student March 20. 1996 Clusters in Operation and Member (835) Their Access to Support Address Groups Sponsor ($ 60) Patron ($ 100 & over) May 15, 1996 When Does an "A" Mean other contributions an "A" ? : What Do (Amt $ ) Students' Grades Mean ? Education interest areas Phone Education FORUMS are held from day 12:00 Noon to 1:30 PM. Please contact our office if you would home like to be added to our mailing list 5 CCPEP October 1995 RUNNING WITH SCISSORS expelled from school for at Remember your grade school A weapon can be anything least one year. While there teacher admonishing some- "capable of inflicting serious may be a hearing the outcome one during almost every art bodily injury". That could is predetermined; only the class, "Don't run with those mean the 9 year-old carrying a superintendent of each district scissors; you'll hurt yourself bat to school, a first grader has the ability to recommend (or someone else)" ? with his/her first pair of pointed something other than scissors, a child showing off a expulsion. In the state of Pennsylvania, pen-knife or old fashioned nail This law may have been it many now be illegal for your file. intended to create a safer child to even have possession school environment. In reality of those scissors and any its draconian requirements number of other items remove from teachers and identified as weapons. State legislators passed an HACT 26 other school staff the ability to judge children and situations Amendment, Act 26, tacked on and may require them to to an agricultural education excessively punish some bill, requiring the expulsion for children for minor infractions. at least one year of any Students found with any of For further information, call The student found having, not the above items and a number Education Law Center. 215-238-6970. necessarily using, a weapon of others identified in this bill, on school property, at school must be reported to the events, or to and from school. police, and regardless of Editor : Gail Tomlinson circumstances must be Layout : Veda Henderson 6 Citizens Committee on Non-Profit Org. Public Education in Philadelphia U.S. Postage PAID 311 South Juniper Street Permit No. 1716 Suite 307 Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia, PA 19107 Working towards EXCELLENCE in Public Education Re: Phone Response for White House Conference on Child Care Mr. John Villapiano was called on Friday, October 17, 1997 by Jon Poling, intern for Nicole Rabner. Mr. Villapiano was informed that we were unable to accommodate his request for an invitation to the White House Conference on Child Care, but we appreciated his interest. He was referred to the Satellite Downlink Sites in New Jersey. He requested that we keep his information on file for an follow up events to the conference. No written response was given to this letter. for File SEASHORE DAY CAMP AND SCHOOL Seashore WHERE LEARNING AND FUN COME TOGETHER DAY CAMP & SCHOOL 345 Second Avenue (corner of Bath Avenue) Long Branch, New Jersey 07740 Ownership: The Villapiano Family (732) 222-6464 (732) 870-1617 Coach Gus Villapiano (1912 1984) John Villapiano, Director October 10, 1997 John Poling Office of the First Lady The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Washington, D.C. I understand there will be a Child Care Forum at the White House on October 23 and would like an opportunity to attend to represent the private sector of preschool education. Please find my biography enclosed. As the Chairman of the Ocean Township Democratic Organization and owner of Seashore Day Camp & School, a private facility in Long Branch, New Jersey, which has been successfully educating 270 children age 3-10 for the past 24 years and providing recreational activities for more than 800 young people a season for the past 71 summers, I believe I could: Make a valuable contribution to your conference. Offer insight into programs that could save money. Bring forward an educational model that has proven results which can be useful in setting guidelines for early childhood education. Help accomplish the goals that will be addressed. In addition to creating one of the most innovative, affordable programs in the state, which offers unique features such as separate campuses for nursery, pre-kindergarten and grade school, indoor heated pools, large gymnasiums and a challenging curriculum that helps children develop into well rounded individuals, I am particularly sensitive to the childcare needs of working parents. For their convenience, I provide childcare activity packages during school recesses, extended care until 5:30 p.m. and a discounted 12-month plan for those who make a year-long commitment. The program, which has earned a reputation for taking education beyond the classroom and making learning fun, is so popular that it has grown over the past 24 years to include five nursery classes, six sections of pre-kindergarten (including an accelerated pre-kindergarten for children who miss the cut-off date for public school kindergarten), four kindergartens and first through fifth grade. What's more, it has proven results. Year after year, our students score in the top 99th percentile of the Comprehensive Test of Basic Skills, win many academic achievement awards and leave here armed with the confidence needed to succeed -- whether they enter a public school or stay in the private sector. My involvement with children and their welfare goes way beyond Seashore. As a State Assemblyman, I was a strong advocate of children's rights, implemented a program to provide funding so every child in New Jersey could receive a quality education, spearheaded a movement to keep physical education in the public schools and was responsible for millions of dollars of additional educational, municipal revitalization and grant money to the Monmouth County area. As a coach, I have worked with hundreds of boys and girls, helping them become good enough athletes to achieve All-Star Status, become Major League draft choices and in some cases even make it to the Olympics. And as a civic leader, I have played an active role in enabling children to find support through the Big Brothers/Big Sisters Organization of Monmouth County and was recognized for my efforts by being named Man of the Year. I also have been honored by the New Jersey Division of Youth & Family Services for supporting programs which prevent child abuse and have been on the Advisory Board of the Monmouth County Boys & Girls Club of America. Currently, in my spare time, when I'm not working with my own four children or attending their many activities, I referee football, coach basketball and hold leadership roles on civic committees in my town such as the Democratic Organization, the Deal Lake Commission and the Ocean Township Sewerage Authority. After spending my entire life working with young people and acting as a public servant, I feel I understand the kinds of issues that will be brought forward at the upcoming conference and would very much like to be included in the main forum if that is possible, or, if all seats are taken, in the educational break out session. Thank you for your consideration. If you have any questions, please contact me at 732-222-6464. Sincerely, Joh A Willipen John Villapiano Ullaysis A Director and Managing Partner Seashore Day Camp & School John Villapiano 19 Shadow Lawn Drive, Oakhurst, N.J. 07755 (732) 531-6783 PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND Owner and Managing Partner, Seashore Day Camp & School, Long Branch, NJ Responsibilities include running and managing all aspects of the business and acting as director of this private facility which successfully educates 270 children a year and provides recreational activities for more than 800 children a summer. Brought into family business in 1973 to develop a school program and grew this part of the business to be one of the largest and most innovative preschools in New Jersey with three separate campuses for nursery, pre-kindergarten and grade school. The program currently includes five sections of nursery school, six sections of pre-kindergarten and first through fifth grade. Developed an academic program so successful that students consistently score in the top 99th percentile in the country in the Comprehensive Test of Basic Skills. Introduced new programs such as Holiday Weeks of Fun to cover school recesses and an accelerated pre-kindergarten class for children who miss the cut-off date for public school kindergarten. Won a 1995 New Jersey Family Business of the Year Award. POLITICAL APPOINTMENTS Current Chairman of the Ocean Township Democratic Organization New Jersey State Assembly Elected Assemblyman State of New Jersey 11th District in 1988 Member of the Conservation and Natural Resources Committee, 1988 Re-elected NJ State Assembly in 1989 Vice Chairman Commerce and Regulated Professions Committee Vice Chairman Assembly Appropriations Committee 1990-91 Responsible for millions of dollars of additional educational, municipal revitalization and local construction grant money to the Monmouth County Area in the 1991 and 1992 State budget Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders Elected Monmouth County Freeholder 1987-88, Responsibility of Human Services Created the Monmouth County Department of Human Services Brought statewide attention to the plight of the homeless, when families where facing eviction from their shelters Town Council Elected Councilman in Township of Ocean, 1979-1987 CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS Current Chairman of the Deal Lake Commission Current Commissioner of the Ocean Township Sewerage Authority Member of the Long Branch Chamber of Commerce Member of the Big Brothers/Big Sisters Organization, Named 1988 Man of the Year Member of the Board of Directors of the Monmouth Boys Club, the Advisory Board of the Monmouth County Boys & Girls Club of America and the Interfaith Neighbors ATHLETIC ACHIEVEMENTS Inducted into the Jersey Shore Sports Hall of Fame in 1994 Played professional football for the Houston Texans of the World Football League Current basketball coach and football referee EDUCATION Distinguished graduate Bowling Green State University, College of Business Administration, 1974 Graduate ROTC Bowling Green State University, commissioned 2nd Lieutenant US Army Reserves PERSONAL Lifelong resident of Monmouth County, married Patricia McMahon from Ocean Township and have four children, Jackie, John, Joseph and Jeannette. October 1, 1997 Christy Walton 2525 N Avenue National City, CA 91960 Dear Christy: Thank you for your letter. It was wonderful to hear about your latest travels, your thoughts about what's next, and especially about Lukas. I asked a member of my staff to look into the funding status of the WHEL study. The National Institutes of Health have not made a final decision about the study, although they noted that the results so far have been extremely promising and worth pursuing. I look forward to hearing more about the study as it progresses. With best wishes, I am Sincerely yours, Hillary Rodham Clinton Women's WHEL Healthy Eating and Living Study The WHEL Study Each year approximately 180,000 U.S. women are diagnosed with breast cancer and 44,000 die of the disease. Although a woman can't control many of the factors that influence her chances of getting cancer, diet is something that she has the ability to change. There is compelling evidence that what a woman eats can affect her risk for breast cancer. Exciting new developments in the area of cancer and nutrition indicate that the phytochemicals, fiber, and antioxidants found in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains may help protect against cancer. Can a dietary pattern that is rich in these cancer-fighting food compounds reduce breast cancer risk? The WHEL Study is the first carefully designed study to address this important question. Three thousand breast cancer survivors will be studied for eight years. Half of the women will adopt a dietary pattern that is high in fruits, vegetables, and fiber and low in fat. This clinical trial is unique in that it is the first to examine the influence of several dietary components on breast cancer recurrence. The Cancer Prevention and Control Program at the University of California, San Diego is coordinating research teams from six institutions in California, Arizona, and Texas. UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO UCSD OF BERKELEY DAVIS IRVINE LOS ANGELES RIVERSIDE SAN DIEGO SAN FRANCISCO THE CALIFORNIA SANTA BARBARA SANTA CRUZ 1865 PROGRAM DIRECTOR: JOHN P. PIERCE, PH.D. CANCER PREVENTION AND CONTROL PROGRAM SAM M. WALTON PROFESSOR FOR CANCER RESEARCH UCSD CANCER CENTER 0901 9500 GILMAN DRIVE LA JOLLA, CALIFORNIA 92093-0901 July 18 1997 (619) 622-1731 FAX: (619) 622-1745 Peter Greenwald, MD., Director, Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, National Cancer Institute, Bldg 31, Room 10A52 9000 Rockville Pike Bethesda, MD 20892-2580 re: The Women's Healthy Eating and Living (WHEL) Study (application # 1 RO1 CA69375-01A2). Dear Peter: I wanted to draw your attention to a recent RO1 application that addresses an area of considerable professional interest to you. WHEL is a randomized study of the effect of a dietary pattern that emphasizes vegetables and plant foods on the probability of breast cancer recurrence. This application has recently been reviewed and has received an outstanding score (140), however, it is not clear whether such a score will be sufficient to ensure that the study receives funding in these difficult times. You will recall that this study began with major private sector support ($5 million) from John and Christy Walton. To date, in this study we have randomized over 800 breast cancer survivors. These women are highly motivated and are very committed to this dietary study. However, the study needs additional funding at this time or it will need to be closed down. We believe that this study has demonstrated that the private sector can have a major role in helping with medical research. The model that we have used appears to have worked well and, if the study is funded by NCI, this could lead to further use of this model in the private sector. John and Christy Walton have always been very clear about the nature of their support for this project They are very interested in the research question, however, their goals have been to provide seed money for innovative research so that the project can get funded through the traditional mechanisms. All along, they have wanted the quality of the research to be attested to through the peer review system. We know that choices between projects rated as outstanding are always difficult. We would appreciate you personally reviewing the priority accorded to this project within the NCI system. Yours sincerely, John P. Pierce PhD Professor cc Barbara Rimer PhD, National Cancer Advisory Board. Pelayo Correa MD, NCAB Ellen Sigal, PhD, NCAB Ellen Stovall, NCAB Zora Brown. NCAB John and Christy Walton, Walton Family Foundation Withdrawal/Redaction Marker Clinton Library DOCUMENT NO. SUBJECT/TITLE DATE RESTRICTION AND TYPE 001. letter Christy [Walton] to FLOTUS (2 pages) 07/22/1997 P6/b(6) COLLECTION: Clinton Presidential Records First Lady's Office Domestic Policy Council (Nicole Rabner) OA/Box Number: 15422 FOLDER TITLE: Correspondence [Alpha File] [T-Z] 2012-1035-S kc1097 RESTRICTION CODES Presidential Records Act - |44 U.S.C. 2204(a)] Freedom of Information Act - [5 U.S.C. 552(b)] PI National Security Classified Information [(a)(1) of the PRA] b(1) National security classified information |(b)(1) of the FOIA| P2 Relating to the appointment to Federal office [(a)(2) of the PRA b(2) Release would disclose internal personnel rules and practices of P3 Release would violate a Federal statute [(a)(3) of the PRAJ an agency |(b)(2) of the FOIA] P4 Release would disclose trade secrets or confidential commercial or b(3) Release would violate a Federal statute |(b)(3) of the FOIA] financial information [(a)(4) of the PRA] b(4) Release would disclose trade secrets or confidential or financial P5 Release would disclose confidential advice between the President information |(b)(4) of the FOIA] and his advisors, or between such advisors [a)(5) of the PRA b(6) Release would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of P6 Release would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy [(b)(6) of the FOIA] personal privacy |(a)(6) of the PRA] b(7) Release would disclose information compiled for law enforcement purposes [(b)(7) of the FOIA] C. Closed in accordance with restrictions contained in donor's deed b(8) Release would disclose information concerning the regulation of of gift. financial institutions |(b)(8) of the FOIA] PRM. Personal record misfile defined in accordance with 44 U.S.C. b(9) Release would disclose geological or geophysical information 2201(3). concerning wells [(b)(9) of the FOIA] RR. Document will be reviewed upon request. 1 THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON Pen- d called the NIH back and asked them how much I could release. They said that they are "very optimistic that the project will receive Runding but that the scares cannot be released. - Brechen response Write a that doesn't Say give positive the actuils away. specifically give that the NIH info. can't time. at this Thanks THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON NIH (301) 496-4000 women = 402-1770 is this. 100 best 500 worst publicinfo? / got a 140 5.3 percentile almost certainly get funded ($2.8 million per year) for 5 years Should Johaft some kind of letter to Christy Walton? - -Brechen 9en- the Here are my results With from my inquiry into the WHEL El study: -out of 500 is warst and 100 is best), this study got an excellent scare of 140 which means that it is in the 5.3 percentile -it will "almost certainly get funded unless something major happens" THE WHITE HOUSE September 10, 1997 Christy Walton 2525 N Avenue National City, CA 91960 Check wl Cataber NIH in Dear Christy: Thank you for your letter. It was wonderful to hear about your latest travels, your thoughts about what's next, and especially about Lukas. I asked a member of my staff to look into the funding status of the WHEL study. The National Institutes of Health notable to make a final decision about the study, have although they noted that the results so far have been extremely not promising and worth pursuing. I look forward to hearing more about the study as it progresses. made With best wishes, I am Sincerely, 30! x245 2 Hillary Rodham Clinton 996 7800 + Grant 300 4961 FLOTUS THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON August 21, 1997 2525 N. Are Christy Walton street address city, state zip }need need address Nation City, CA 91960 Dear Christy: to look Thank you for your nice & letter. As you requested, I had asked a member of my staff inquire into the funding status of your the WHEL study. Though the NIH cannot give any definite information at this time, they seemed very positive over the telephone: They were very optimistic that the project would receive funding, but were not yet able to give a final answer National chstomer VI I am glad that you enjoyed your vacation in Tuscany of Health and hope that you enjoy your reunion this summer. Good luck 0 were not with the study I am very interested to hear the results. while to mark A A yours Sincerely, best wiyth It was wonderful to Hillary Rodham Clinton hear about your latest your thoughts travels, and especially you presentor about Lukus. a final prom noved me fair that exivence about what's deusion mini about run remin have so your men endoming. sorward next, study you to hearing more about these progress " THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON pent September 15, 1997 Mr. Chad P. Wick President, RISE One West Fourth Street, Suite 300 Cincinnati, OH 45202 Dear Mr. Wick: Thank you for your letter and the information regarding the advances in your program, Winning Teams for Young Children. I am sorry that I was not able to meet with you in August, but I look forward to meeting you in the future. Best wishes on the continued success of Winning Teams. I hope that you will keep me updated as the program progresses. Sincerely yours, Nicole Rabner Associate Director for Domestic Policy 07/28/97 MON 15:09 FAX 5137634340 STUDENT LOAN FUNDING 5. 001 # of Post-it® Fax Note 7671 Date 7/28/97 pages 10 To Ms. Nicole Robner From Chad wick Co /Dept. Co. Rise® Phone (202) 456-4266 Office of First Leldy RISE 8M Phone # 1-800-971-7473 RESOURCES and INSTRUCTION Fax # (202)456-6244 Fax # (513) 721-0084 for STAFF EXCELLENCE Inc. Fax Date: July 27, 1997 To: Ms. Nicole Rabner Interactive Fax: Distance Office of the First Lady credit (202) 456-6244 From: Chad P. Wick LEARNing President, RISE Phone: 800-971-7473 Message: I have been invited to meetings with Matthew E. Melmed, Executive Director of Zero to Three and with Milton Goldberg, Executive Vice President of the National Alliance of Business on Thursday, August 7. Sorry Since I will be in Washington for the day, I was hoping that I might be able to schedule a brief meeting with you that afternoon as well. You may remember that our program, Winning TeamssM for Young Children, was considered for the April 17 White House Conference on Early Childhood Development. The pilot presentation of Winning Teams is now complete and I would welcome the opportunity to bring you up to date on some exciting possibilities for future presentations. I also thought you might be interested to read the attached reactions from national leaders in the field. Please let me or my assistant, Lyn Martin, know whether your schedule permits a brief meeting on the 7th. I look forward to the possibility of meeting you. One West Fourth Street, Suite 300. Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 Phone 513.721.0221 Fax 513.721.0084 1.800.971.RiSE 07/28/97 MON 15:09 FAX 5137634340 STUDENT LOAN FUNDING 002 ZERO TO SM THREE Board of Directors Kathryn E. Barnard National Center for Infants, Toddlers and Families T. Berry Brazelton Maria D. Chavez Robert N. Emde Linda Gilkerson July 2, 1997 Stanley 1. Greenspan Robert 1. Harmon Chad Wick, President Irving B. Harris Gloria Johnson-Powell RISE Sheila B. Kamerman One West Fourth Street, Suite 300 J. Ronald Lally Bernard Levy Cincinnati, OH 45202 Alicia F. Lieberman Samuel J. Meisels Harriet Meyer Dear Chad: Dolores G. Norton Joy D. Osnfsky Jeree H. Pawl Thank you for including the staff of ZERO TO THREE: National Center for Infants, Kyle D. Pruell Toddlers, and Families at the Washington, DC downlinks of the "Winning Teams" program. Amold 1. Sameroff Marilyn M. Segal We were especially interested in "Winning Teams" because our 20 years of experience Rebecca Shahmoon Shanok working with parents and infant/family professionals in child care, early intervention. and Jack P. Shonkoff Lynn C. Straus Early Head Start programs across the United States have taught us the importance of strong Bernice Weissbourd parent/professional alliances. Our staff were impressed with the high quality of the Serena Wieder G. Gordon Williamson program, and we hope you will find ways to move "Winning Teams" into the burgeoning Harry H. Wright field of infant/toddler child care. Barry S. Zuckerman "Winning Teams" has the potential for helping us to address needs we encounter in our Life Members Mary D. Salter Ainsworth work with early care systems around the country. It effectively communicates complex Peter Blos, Jr. information about development and learning. It ensures consistency in what is being taught & Peter B. Neubauer Arthur H. Parmelee and how it is being taught, while reaching large numbers of adults in many locations. Julius 8. Richmond "Winning Teams" usefulness in rural areas, where parents and staff of early care and Mary Robinson Pearl L. Rosser education programs often feel extremely isolated, is of particular interest to us, since we Alben 1. Soinit have begun to establish a network of infant/family practitioners and trainers in rural areas Edward C. Zigler throughout the country. Founding Members ZERO TO THREE's national telephone survey of parents of infants and toddlers, conducted T. Berry Brazelton Selma Fraiberg in April, 1997, revealed that parents are aware of the importance of the earliest years but Stanley 1. Greenspan have many unmet needs for information and guidance, especially about social and 1. Ronald Lally Bernard Levy emotional development. "Winning Teams" content and format make it an important new Reginald S. Lourie resource in our field for providing parents and staff with the knowledge, skills. and Peter B. Neubauer Robert A. Nover commitment they need to do the best possible job of promoting young children's healthy Sally Provence development. Please let us know how we can join with you in making "Winning Teams" Julius B. Richmond Albert 1. Solnit available to the widest possible audience. Leon J. Yarrow Sincerely, Executive Director Matthew E. Melmed Associate Directors anglis Carol P. Berman Matthew E. Melmed Emily Fenichel Emily $. Fenichel Haida 5. McGovern Executive Director Editor, Zero to Three 734 15th Street, N.W., Suite 1000, Washington, D.C. 20005-1013 (202) 638-1144 Fax: (202) 638-0851 For Orders Only: (800) 899-4301 Internet Address: http://www.zerotothree.org E-Mail Address: [email protected] Formerly the National Center for Clinical Infant Programs 07/28/97 MON 15:10 FAX 5137634340 STUDENT LOAN FUNDING 1 003 naeyc NATIONAL ASSOCIATION for the EDUCATION of YOUNG CHILDREN 1509 16TH STREET. N.W., WASHINGTON. DC 20036-1426 202-232-8777 800-424-2460 FAX 202-328-1846 Founded in 1926 June 5, 1997 Chad Wick Deb Pinger RISE One West Fourth Street, Suite 300 Cincinatti, Ohio 45202 Dear Chad and Deb: Now that the final teleconference of Winning Teams has been held, it seems like an appropriate time to share my thoughts about the project with you and your wonderful staff Let me begin by expressing my sincere congratulations on your accomplishment. Winning Teams breaks new ground for the field of early childhood eduction in so many ways. As a representative of one of the collaborating partners, NAEYC, I believe that the project has made several unique contributions to the early childhood profession. From my perspective, the greatest strength of Winning Teams is its coherent conceptualization of high quality, developmentally appropriate early childhood education. The entire enterprise derives from the clarity of the conceptual model. The framing of the model was a direct product of the design team which was a brilliant configuration of expertise from all the key perspectives: early childhood education, parent education, adult learning, communications, and technology. Each of the partners in this design team not only brought state-of-the-art knowledge and skill to the enterprise but the work of each was enhanced by the collaboration. In short, the project itself mirrored the kind of partnership that is promoted in Winning Teams one in which diverse perspectives are identified, communicated, negotiated, and each party learns and changes as a result. Another major strength of the project was, of course, the quality of the production itself. As I have said before, the videotapes were the highest quality depictions of early childhood practice that I have seen. In addition, the teleconferences were carefully crafted and presented so as to make optimum use of the medium. Distance learning is currently the rage in our country and yet the power of the technology is rarely used effectively. Winning Teams was among the rare exceptions. 07/28/97 MON 15:10 FAX 5137634340 STUDENT LOAN FUNDING 004 The high tech/high touch approach employed in this project was also a strength. The written materials were excellent support tools to engage participants and support the learning. Although I did not directly observe the workshops or mentoring activities, the feedback I have seen was very positive. The most difficult challenge of Winning Teams, as well as its unique strength, was the attempt to involve parents as equal partners with professionals in the experience. Again, the project itself reflected its message directly. For decades, early childhood educators have strongly promoted the concept of parent involvement but, to my knowledge, no project has ever attempted to move that rhetoric to reality in the same way as Winning Teams. All parties learned a great deal from this effort and these lessons will be useful to all of us in our future work. A final area of contribution that I want to mention is the broad-based collaboration that Winning Teams promoted among the various sectors of the early childhood community in Ohio. One of the greatest strengths as well as the greatest difficulties of the field of early childhood is its diversity. Winning Teams is fully inclusive of the diversity of settings where young children are served — family child care homes, child care centers, Head Start, public school prekindergartens, and their own homes. The project also involved the entire early childhood professional development community - CDA, community colleges, four-year institutions, and resource and referral agencies. Important work was done to ensure that participants had the opportunity to gain credit for their learning. I personally have grown as a professional as a result of my participation on this Winning Team. I appreciate the opportunity to expand my own understanding in the areas of adult learning, communications, and technology. Most of all, I want to congratulate Deb Pinger for the brilliance with which she was able to pull together this large body of knowledge and different points of view and communicate our message to a diverse audience in such a clear and concise way. It was a privilege to work on the Winning Teams project and look forward to our continuing collaboration in the future. Sincerely, Sue Sue Bredekamp, Ph.D. Director of Professional Development 07/28/97 MON 15:11 FAX 5137634340 STUDENT LOAN FUNDING 005 July 9, 1997 COUNCIL for early childhood chad Wick & Deb Pinger professional Resources and instruction for Staff Excellence, Inc. (RISE) recognition One West Fourth Street, Suite 300 2460 16th Street, NW Cincinnati, OH 45202 Washington, DC 20009-3575 Tel:202-255-9090 Fax:202-265-9161 Dear Chad and Deb: On behalf of the Council for Early childhood Professional Recognition, I would like to commend your work and express our continuing support. Executive Director Carol Brunson Phillips In light of the Council's work to administer the Child Development Associate Corporate Officer (CDA) National Credentialing Program, we recognize the immense and J.D. Andrews constant need for major institutions to work in collaborative ways to sponsor Board of Directors and manage high quality and accessible professional development Jan McCarthy President opportunities for early care and education staff. The RISE project does so and Dwayne A. Crompton thus provides a major new opportunity to enhance the quality of child care in Transurer Barbara Ferguson Kamar the state of Ohio. Secretary Josué Cruz. Jr. We have welcomed the opportunity to collaborate with you to support this Earline Kendall Barbara Richardson type of career development training and encourage you to expand information about your work both throughout the state and across the nation. As a model for making a variety of professional development routes available to individuals in the early childhood field there is much for others to learn from you. We look forward to continuing our work together in the future and we offer our wholehearted support. Sincerely, CaroB.Phillips Carol Brunson Phillips Executive Director 07/28/97 MON 15:11 FAX 5137634340 STUDENT LOAN FUNDING 006 NICHD Study of Early Child Care INVESTIGATORS: TEMPLE UNIVERSITY Marsha Weinraub, Ph.D. Department of Psychology Kathryn Hirsh-Pasek, Ph.D. 614 Weiss Hall Elizabeth Jaeger, Ph.D. 13th & Cecil B. Moore Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19122 SITE COORDINATOR: (ph) 215-204-7327 Elizabeth Jaeger, Ph.D. (fax) 215-204-5539 STUDY COORDINATOR: Sara Woboril June 24, 1997 Chad Wick, President RISE One West Fourth Street #300 Cinoinnati, OH 65202 Dear Mr. Wick, Thank you for making it possible for me to see the third teleconference of the "Winning Teams" program. I heard about "Winning Teams" from a colleague, Cathie Harvey, who thought it would be of interest to me in my capacity as a Principal Investigator for the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Study of Early Child Care. The NICHD Study is concerned with the impact of early child care on families and on children's development from birth through first grade. "Winning Teams" could have a powerful effect on the things we are studying. I was surprised by the "Winning Teams" sophisticated curriculum and use of technology. I was pleased to see that the program is directed at parents and care givers together. "Winning Teams" offers a very good response to many of the challenges that persist in the field of early child care. How can we help parents and care givers work together to promote development? How can we provide training that uses technology without sacrificing the benefits of relationship-based learning? How can trainers maintain a consistent level of quality and integrity and deliver the training in a cost effective manner? Young children will continue to be cared for outside of their homes in ever increasing numbers. "Winning Teams" can help to ensure that child care will result in positive outcomes for children and their families. I have shared my enthusiasm for "Winning Teams" with my colleagues across the country, and I have encouraged them to contact you for more information about the program. Please let me know if there are any ways in which I can be useful in your efforts to bring "Winning Teams" to as many parents and care givers as possible. in Ohio and throughout the United States. Thank you for creating such a valuable resource. Sincerely, marsha Weinroub Marsha Weinraub, Ph.D. Professor Principal Investigator cc: Cathic Harvey The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development University of Arkansas, Little Rock / University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences; University of California, Irvine / University of California, Los Angeles: University of Kansas; University of New Hampshire / Wellesley College: University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill / Western Carolina Center; Pennsylvania State University / University of Pittsburgh: Temple University: University of Virginia, University of Washington; Iniversity of Wisconsin Ininersity Terms Institute 07/28/97 MON 15:12 FAX 5137634340 STUDENT LOAN FUNDING 007 parents, inc. Chad Wick, President RISE One West Fourth St #300 Cincinnati OH 65202 One Penn Center June 16, 1997 1017 JFK Boulevord Suite 1250 Philadelphia, Dear Chad, Pennsylvania 19103 (215) 241-1700 Congratulations on guiding "Winning Teams for Young Children" from an innovative (215) 241-1704 Fax idea to an effective resource for adults who care for young children. In my twenty-two years of professional work promoting parent-professional partnerships, I have not seen any other program that takes the role of the parent so seriously. "Winning Teams" moves beyond partnership rhetoric. The practical instruction it presents and reinforces about how to create and sustain partnerships is quite unique. Abington Memorial Health Center 2510 Maryland Avenue "Winning Teams" has re-invented the concept of parent involvement. It acknowledges Suite 165 the challenge of creating a coherent educational environment for children at home and Willowood Building at school. It reveals the complexities of parent-professional relationships which are Willow Grove. Pennsylvania 19090 based on shared goals and characterized by reciprocity and shared power. And, it (215) 830-1370 teaches successful partnership skills for translating these concepts to successful (215) 830-1373 Fax strategies and techniques. The "Winning Teams" format - video conferences and small group sessions is particularly offective in promoting partnerships and helping parents and teachers learn partnership skills. The video portions reinforce the role of the parents with images of Chestnut Hill Healthcare children learning at home and with parents' voices presenting a developmental concept 8836 Germantown Avenue Laughlin Hall or idea about how children learn. The topics for interactive exercises in the video Philadelphia, conferences and later, at the small group sessions, are of equal importance at homo and Pennsylvania 19118 at school eg. self-regulation, literacy and motor development The medium of (215) 248-8245 television requires the use of conversational language and the presentation of complex (215) 248-8053 Fax ideas as simple steps. Television also offers engaging graphics to illustrate and illuminate ideas. The statewide delivery system with interactivity among the sites creates a feeling of community among parent/participants. Parents no longer feel that their concerns and fears are their private failure. Hearing other parents speak empowers them to speak. Knowing they are not alone is a powerful motivator for continued communication with their children's teachers. It was a professional honor and a personal pleasure for me to be part of such an extraordinary effort. "Winning Teams" sets a new standard for family support and parent education programs. It offers parents both the opportunity and the practical help to be strong, effective partners with the other adults in their children's lives. Thank you. Sincerely, Cathie Cathie Harvey MSW Coordinator of Professional Training RECIPIENT OF THE 1006 NATIONAL PARENT'S DAY COALITION AWARD FOR INNOVATIVE PARENTING PROGRAMS Parents, Inc. is registered as o charitable organization. A copy of the official registration and financial information may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling toll free. within Pennsylvania. 1-800-732-0999. Registration does not imply endorsement. 07/28/97 MON 15:12 FAX 5137634340 STUDENT LOAN FUNDING 5. 008 NATIONAL ALLIANCE OF BUSINESS CHAIRMAN James F. Orr III UNUM Corporation June 27, 1997 PRESIDENT & CEO Roberts T. Jones Chad Wick BOARD OF DIRECTORS RISE Leo C Beebe K-Tron International, Inc. One West Fourth Street, Suite 300 Thomas D. Bell, Jr. Burson-Marsteller 7094 Carlene Avenue Kathleon J. Burke BankAmerica Corporation Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 James C Cabrora Drake Beam Morin, Inc. Mirhael J. Carey Dear Chad: Johnson & Johnson Bruce Carswell GTE Corporation Gale Duff-Bloom The National Alliance of Business (NAB) is a business-led organization dedicated J.C. Penncy, Inc. to building a quality workforce by focusing on lifelong learning and workforce Jereme H. Grossman Health Quality, Inc. development. As a leading national organization, NAB works to build and Richard 3. Curin Binney & Smith strengthen partnerships, particularly between business and schools. NAB applauds John k. Hall Ashland, Inc the work of Resources and Instruction for Staff Excellence, Inc. and Sidney Harman acknowledges the Winning Teams for Young Children Program as fundamental Harman International industries, the Albert Hoser to building a quality workforce for the future. Siemens Corporation Lawrence A. Hough Sallie Mae The National Alliance of Business sees the "Winning Teams" concept as an Jerry Jackson Entergy Corporation opportunity to support high-quality early childhood education. The importance Glenn R. Jones Jones Intercable. Inc. of parents as the child's first teacher, partnerships between parents and teachers, Malcolm R. Lovell, Jr. National Planning Association and the business role in supporting early childhood education and the family Donald C Mann friendly workplace are key to strengthening our nation's human resource The Prudential Insurance Company Pedro F. Mata development. K-MI Communications Brian D. McAuley Nextel Communications Inc. Jewell Jackson McCabe Awareness of the importance of a child's early years has recently been renewed National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc. by the "I Am Your Child" public engagement campaign, articles in Time and John R. McKeman, Jr. McKeman Enterprises Newsweek, and the White House Conference on Child Development. The Richard L Measelle Arthur Andersen business community is being reacquainted with the concept that investments made Norman E. Rickard. Jr. early in life can produce long term effects, such as job readiness and life success. Xerox Corporation Bert C Roberts, Ir. They are understanding that today's children are tomorrow's workforce. MCI Communications Corporation Richard R Schubert Drucker Foundation Armed with an enhanced awareness, business leaders can critically assess early T. Quian Spitzer Kepner-Tregoe, Inc. childhood education programs and the family-friendly policies which benefit not Roger T. Staubach The Staubach Co. only the business but also the worker, the family and, most importantly, the child. Roger L Thieme NAPIC Investing in families produces the long term pay-back of a responsible, skilled Anno-Lee Verville IBM Corporation labor pool that will enable U.S. companies to compete in the global economy. A. William Wiggenhorn Motorola, Inc. Alan L Wurtzel Circuit City Stores, Inc. Jennifer Jpens Pecot L.S Sociena Sam Yau National Education Corporation Amanda Sodoma Raul Yzaguire National Council of La Raza Senior Project Manager Project Management Specialist COUNSEL Roderick A. DeArment Covingion & Burling 1201 New York Avenue, NW Suite 700 Washington, DC 20005-6143 202-289-2888 FAX 202-289-1303 TOO 202-289-2977 E-mail [email protected] www.nab.com 07/28/97 MON 15:13 FAX 5137634340 STUDENT LOAN FUNDING 009 T H E Department of Family Relations 135 Campbell Hall OHIO and Human Development 1787 Neil Avenue Columbus, OH 43210-1295 Phone 614-292-7705 STATE FAX 614-292-7536 UNIVERSITY June 6, 1997 Chad P. Wick, President Debra C. Pinger, Vice-President RISE 1 West Fourth Street Ste 300 Cincinnati, OH 45202-3603 Dear Chad and Deb, It is hard to believe the pilot year for Winning Teams is over! What an exciting and fruitful year. I am writing to express my general enthusiasm for the success of the entire program and to send you my specific reflections while they are still fresh. First, I have to comment on the incredible collaboration that took place among the members of the design team; I personally learned so much from the experience of the design process and, from each of my colleagues on the design team. I have participated in many Ohio early childhood projects over the past 15 years, but never one with the synergy created by this team. The credit, however, truly belongs to the two of you--it was your inspiration and vision to convene this diverse team representing early childhood. parent education, adult learning, media/distance technology and professional development. But, it goes so far beyond simply convening the team. Many excellent teams are convened that never create fantastic products despite their potential as a team. I think the success of this collaboration lies with your incredible abilities to bring people truly together, to create a sense of team, to listen and learn with us, and to use the best of the ideas that are generated. Deb, your ability to listen to all of the ideas, to generate your own incredible insights, and then to synthesize them all is truly remarkable. And, what can I say about Gene Mcpherson--he is an awesome talent and I so enjoyed watching him work--even knowing that we were probably only glimpsing his true genius because of the time pressures of the project. I think the sense of commitment and passion for this project the two of you communicated was SO infectious that it truly brought out the best in all of us. I have given a great deal of thought to the various elements of the project, as we designed them, and then, how they eventually played out. I have thought all along, and still feel, that the most powerful piece of this project was the decision to bring professionals and parents together for a learning experience. Essentially, you have brought to the broad early childhood field, the model used in special education, where parents and teachers/providers regularly experience training together. Perhaps, then, it is no coincidence that there is in early childhood special ed, the model for "partnership" you envision for all children and have sought to inspire through the Winning Teams project. I think you have broken threshold for this shift to take place in the broader community through this project and this is very rewarding College of Human Ecology 07/28/97 MON 15:13 FAX 5137634340 STUDENT LOAN FUNDING 010 I also think by using adult learning models and strategies, combined with the power of effective media, you offered the early childhood community a unique training experience. I have heard high praise from participants for the interactive activities during the teleconferences and for the activities in the smaller workshops. I especially think the strategy of using the same workshop for the teachers that they would then conduct for parents was effective. It provided an additional layer of professional development--that is, preparing teachers to lead a workshop themselves--in a cost-effective and indirect way. I learned a great deal from the folks at Mayerson Academy for whom I have a great deal of respect. I must comment on the use of distance technology and the whole concept of teleconferencing. I must admit I was slow to support this particular element. At the start of the project, I was not entirely convinced that the same experience couldn't be had in a video conference format thus eliminating the burden of organizing major events. But I feel very differently now. The strength of the whole state teleconference is in its ability to create a sense of "community" among people who care for young children. And, this community could only be felt by literally creating one for these three Saturday mornings. The "whoops and hollers" from the various audiences on the last Saturday was one indication of this community! Another, came when our lead teacher at the Lab School, Joyce Lyons (a very visible teacher on the Winning Teams videos) died in a car accident during the project. Following her tragic death, I received many e-mail messages and phone calls from all over the state from people who experienced her talents through the Winning Teams program and wanted to send condolences. This, I believe, is also a sign of the community that Winning Teams created. Parenthetically, I chatted with each of these colleagues about their participation in the program and it was all very positive. Last, I have been thinking about the piloting of the mentoring element of the project. I will be curious to see through the evaluations whether or not a limited mentorship (4 visits) will prove to make a difference in people's experience and development in the overall project. In any case, I think the mentoring plan itself, as well as the set of activities we designed, are useful as a mentoring model that can be written up and used by others in different contexts as well. I felt proud of the various ideas we all came up with and feel that it is its own "golden nugget" from this project, along with the videos, the activities workbooks and the workshops. Well, thank you both again for the opportunity to be part of your winning team. It has been a very satisfying experience all the way around--especially the opportunity to get to know the two of you and to work with and alongside you. As you put your creativity to work on other educational projects, I hope other opportunities for us to work together will emerge. In any case, please know that I would be very interested in future projects. In the meantime, I hope you will enjoy a respite this Summer and the time to enjoy your achievements of this past year! I am sure we will be in touch soon. Regards, Kantorire Rebecca Kantor, EdD Associate Professor and Director, A. Sophie Rogers Laboratory for Child and Family Studies RK/eb THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON October 28, 1997 Valora Washington W.K. Kellogg Foundation 1 East Michigan Street Battle Creek, MI 49017 Dear Valora: We cannot thank you enough for your participation in the White House Conference on Child Care. Your contributions during the panel discussion and your expertise made the Conference a phenomenal success and we think, helped to start a national discussion on Child Care. On a personal note, it was an honor to work with you. As soon as we receive the transcripts and photographs from the Conference, we will forward them to you. In the meantime, please feel free to call either of us at (202) 456-6266. Sincerely, Jennfer wile Jennifer Klein Nicole Rabner Special Assistant Associate Director to the President for for Domestic Policy Domestic Policy You are truly our inspiration! Nicole NCCA NATIONAL CHILD CARE ASSOCIATION August 12, 1997 Ms. Melanie Verveer Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff to the First Lady ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE: The White House Lynn L. White Washington, DC Executive Director 1016 Rosser Street Dear Ms. Verveer, Conyers (Atlanta), GA 30207 800-543-7161 The National Child Care Association is the only professional trade association representing the 770-388-7772 (FAX) licensed, private early care and education community in the United States. As such, we nccallw @ mindspring.com represent more than 80% of the licensed providers in the country. Our membership runs the http://www.NCCANet.org gamut of child care services -- from infants to school age care provided by small proprietorships, regional and national companies. Over the past few years, NCCA has been LEGISLATIVE OFFICE: impressed with and grateful for the magnitude of attention afforded the quality, availability and Nancy Granese affordability of child care for our youngest citizens. Our Nation is beginning to understand Director of Government Relations how important this service is to every aspect of our progress and culture. We applaud the Hogan & Hartson announcement of the White House Conference on Child Care as yet another gigantic step Columbia Square forward. 555 13th St. N.W. Washington, D.C. 20004 We are pleased to recommend leaders in the private child care community to attend the 202-637-5697 Conference. Because NCCA is a federation of state associations and national members 202-637-5910 (FAX) (including the four largest child care companies), each member of our Board of Directors represents a state association or a national company. We are requesting that each of these individuals receive an invitation. The richness of their collective knowledge on state and national policy and the roles of private. licensed child care is unsurpassed. In the event that invitations are limited, priority should be given to NCCA's President, Mr. Dewayne Foskey, NCCA's Executive Director, Lynn White; NCCA's Director of Government Relations, Nancy Granese; NCCA's Vice President of Government Relations, Marsha Engquist and members of the Executive Committee and President's Council. I will be pleased to discuss other options with you which might perhaps coordinate well with other conferees. During the planning meeting I attended in Washington, there was discussion of establishing satellite download sites in the Conference. If those plans are still viable, NCCA will be pleased to submit names of state leaders representing the private, licensed community. hese individuals will contribute the knowledgeable provider component to the broad representation the Administration is seeking in the Conference. NCCA looks forward with great anticipation and expectation to the White House Conference. We are very grateful for the opportunity the Administration is providing to heighten our Nation's awareness of child care and its critical impact on the economic and social future of America. If we can be of assistance in any way, please feel free to call. Best regards, Refer L. White Lynn L. White Executive Director LLW:cgc attachment cc: Dr. Joan Lombardi NCCA Board of Directors NCCA NATIONAL CHILD CARE ASSOCIATION Lynn L. White Executive Director ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE: National Child Care Association Lynn L. White 1016 Rosser Street Executive Director Conyers, GA 30012 1016 Rosser Street Conyers (Atlanta), GA 30207 (800) 543-7161 800-543-7161 770-388-7772 (FAX) Nancy Granese nccallw @ mindspring.com NCCA Director of Government Relations http://www.NCCANet.org Hogan & Hartson LEGISLATIVE OFFICE: Columbia Square Nancy Granese 555 13th Street NW Director of Government Relations Hogan & Hartson Washington, DC 20004-1109 Columbia Square 202-637-5697 555 13th St. N.W. Washington, D.C. 20004 NCCA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 202-637-5697 202-637-5910 (FAX) Mr. Dewayne Foskey, PRESIDENT Georgia Child Care Leadership Forum P.O. Box 8989 Warner Robins, GA 31095 (912) 923-0961 (912) 929-4963 Ms. Marsha Engquist, VICE PRESIDENT - GOVERNMENT RELATIONS PSO/Illinois Child Care Association 5615 North Clark Street Chicago, IL 60660 (773) 561-6707 Ms. Cindy Acker, VICE PRESIDENT - MEMBERSHIP Professional Association of Childhood Educators 2226 Encinal Ave. Alemeda, CA 94501 (510) 521-9227 Ms. Joy Bauer, SECRETARY Arizona Child Care Association 8808 N. Central Ave., #258 Phoenix, AZ 85020 (602) 944-1244 Mr. Gary Mohler, TREASURER Child Care Association of Nevada 4328 S. Seville Las Vegas, NV 89121 (702) 458-4850 (702) 458-8948 NCCA PRESIDENT'S COUNCIL Ms. Beverly Clarke Massachusetts Independent Child Care Organization 110 Kerry Place Unit B Norwood, MA 02062 (617) 769-0777 (508) 668-8123 Mr. Nick Craft Georgia Child Care Leadership Forum 605 Rome Street Carrollton, GA 30117 (770) 834-7288 (770) 834-2273 Mr. Gene Little Texas Licensed Child Care Association 313 Harwood Rd., Suite 100 Bedford, TX 76022 (817) 788-1884 (817) 571-9827 NCCA BOARD OF DIRECTORS Mr. Lynn Cronemiller Oklahoma Child Care Association P.O. Box 16892 Midwest City, OK 73140-3197 (800) 943-8697 (405) 733-9835 Ms. Rachel Cronkhite Georgia Child Care Association Kiddie Kastle Early Learning Center 718 Concord Rd. Smyrna, GA 30080 (404) 634-2330 Ms. Katherine DePuydt PACE of North Carolina 2619 Newkirk Ave. Wilmington, NC 28412 (910) 799-7195 (910) 256-1257 Dr. Marcy Guddemi KinderCare Learning Centers, Inc. 2400 Presidents Drive Montgomery, AL 36116 (800) 633-1488 Ms. Sandra Hughes New York Child Care Association 1708 Altamont Ave. Schenectady, NY 12303 (518) 356-5683 Ms. Christine Ivey Maryland Child Care Association 1010 East 43rd St. Baltimore, MD 21212 (410) 323-5740 Mr. Steve Kostantenaco Texas Licensed Child Care Association 28190 Hwy. 281 North San Antonio, TX 78260 (210) 980-7671 Ms. Joan Lansing Louisiana Professional Association of Child Care 9739 Joor Rd. Baton Rouge, LA 70818-4914 (504) 261-0105 Mr. Duane Larson Children's World Learning Centers 573 Park Point Drive Golden, CO 80401 (303) 526-3219 Ms. Robin Lloyd Pennsylvania Early Childhood Education Association 325 N. Five Points Rd. West Chester, PA 19380 (610) 696-5984 (610) 692-7223 Ms. Suzanne Moran Country Day School New Jersey Child Care Association 1000 Courtyard Drive Somerville, NJ 08876 (908) 704-8686 Tami Nix South Carolina Child Care Association 500 Miller Rd. Sumter, SC 29150 (803) 773-5174 Ms. Andre Ransom Colorado Child Care Association 4982 W. Union Avenue Denver, CO 80236 (303) 798-1884 Dr. Robert Rodriguez La Petite Academy, Inc. 41337 N. Canyon Springs Drive Cave Creek, AZ 85331 (602) 595-7074 (602) 595-2347 Mr. Ron Sams Ohio Child Care Association 100 Jana Kay Ct. Columbus, OH 43207 (614) 491-3270 Ms. Kyle Smith New Mexico Child Care Association 2626 Texas, NE Albuquerque, NM 87110 (505) 294-2233 (505) 822-9455 Ms. Sue Trotter Tennessee Child Care Association 4109 Bennett Rd. Chattanooga, TN 37412 (423) 867-3814 Mr. Peter Van Veen Children's World Learning Centers 573 Park Point Drive Golden, CO 80401 (303) 526-3218 (303) 526-3400 Mr. Bill VanHuis Childtime Children's Centers, Inc. 38345 W. 10 Mile, Ste. 100 Farmington Hills, MI 48335 (810) 476-3200 Mr. Gary Vause Child Care Association of Nevada 2301 West Charleston Las Vegas, NV 89102 (702) 870-0666 (702) 367-1450 Mr. Steve Williams Minnesota Child Care Association 5223 West 73rd St. Edina, MN 55439 (612) 835-6055 (612) 922-4009 Corporate Offices 11095 Knott Avenue, Suite 1. Cypress, California 90630-5135 Work Life tel: (714)899-4400 fax: (714) 899-447 Benefits August 26, 1997 Ms. Nicole Rabner Associate Director for Domestic Policy THE WHITE HOUSE 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Washington, DC 20500 Dear Ms. Rabner: Thank you for your kind letter of August 12 acknowledging my letter offering suggested changes to IRS Code 129 Plans (Dependent Care Assistance Plans) relative to the upcoming White House Conference on Child Care. I wanted to write to inform you that I have relocated to open a new office for Work/Life Benefits and can be reached at the following address: Work/Life Benefits 2008 Bridge View Lane Plano, Texas 75093 Phone: (972) 758-1656 Fax: (972) 867-5277 We would be most interested in attending the conference if it is possible. Please feel free to contact me should you need any other information regarding employer- sponsored child care benefit programs. Sincerely, Carey Fleming Director of Corporate Alliances CF:hr from l'esprit The Voucher Corporation ACCOR