achieve

teachinspire

dream

connect

Reflections on access to the American Dream and current challenges and opportunities facing Citizen Schools

March 1, 2005

Eric Schwarz

Board of Directors Meeting

2Title April 17, 2023

AMERICAN DREAM SCORECARD (1870 – 1970)

From 1870 to 1970 opportunity expanded dramatically in America as a clear majority of citizens gained access to the American Dream of educational and economic opportunity.

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10%

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40%

50%

60%

70%

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High SchoolGraduation

Rate

InfantMortality

Poverty RateAmongSenior

Citizens

1870

1970

3Title April 17, 2023

The last generation was the first in American history in which we failed to open up the American Dream to more people. An analysis of 28 American Dream indicators over the past 30 years, shows:

7 of the indicators improved

4 of the indicators stayed the same

17 of the indicators declined

American social mobility declined in the last 30 years, and is now dramatically below the social mobility of other industrialized nations.

For the first time in history, the rate of access to 4-year colleges by young Americans is below the average rate of other industrialized nations.

Only seven in 10 public high school students successfully graduates, significantly below the historic high-point in 1970 when almost 8 in 10 public high school students graduated.

AMERICAN DREAM SCORECARD (1970- 2000)

4Title April 17, 2023

21st CENTURY

In the 21st century economy, education is more important to economic progress than ever before, and economic wealth is highly predictive of educational advancement.

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Men 1979 Men 2001 Women 1979 Women 2001

H.S. Grads

Coll. Grads

College/High School Wage Gap

Note: All hourly wages are in constant 2001 dollars. From chapter 3 of Levy-Murnane, The New Division of Labor (2004).

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8th Graders from Low estSocio-Economic Quartile

8th Graders from MiddleTw o Socio-Economic

Quartile

8th Graders from Top Socio-Economic Quartile

Progression of Three Groups of 8th Graders from 1988 Through to College Graduation

(Bachelor’s Degree) by 2000

7% Complete College Within 12

Years

24% Complete College Within 12

Years

60% Complete College Within 12

Years

5Title April 17, 2023

AMERICAN DREAM SCORECARDLower and Moderate Income Americans

For lower and moderate income Americans, the increasing inter-relationship between wealth and educational opportunity creates a vicious cycle that is reinforcing and widening both economic and educational gaps between upper and lower income families.

Education’s Impact on Wealth

Wealth’s Impact on Education

Vicious Cycle

Vicious Cycle

Reduced Social Mobility and Reduced American Vitality

6Title April 17, 2023

HOW TO MAKE IMPACT?

For an organization that cares about education and opportunity, what’s the best way to make an impact?

New efforts to open the American Dream to more people will need to build from three inter-related strategies:

Organizational Reform

Political Advocacy and Reform

Cultural Reform and Behavioral Change

These strategies and their limitations in expanding opportunity can be seen in three case studies:

Habitat for Humanity

Head Start

Mothers Against Drunk Driving

7Title April 17, 2023

The hedgehog questions(from Jim Collins, Author of Good to Great and Built

to Last

WHAT ARE THE NEXT STEPS FOR CITIZEN SCHOOLS?

Apply the Stockdale paradox to our situation.

Program Reform (improvements to our program model)

Growth Strategy Reform (improvements to our model for scaling and spreading of Citizen Schools and its ideas).

Financial Model Reform (how to make it more powerful, replicable, and sustainable).

WHAT CAN WE BE THE BEST IN THE WORLD AT?

WHAT DRIVES OUR ECONOMIC ENGINE?

WHAT ARE WE DEEPLY PASSIONATE ABOUT.

8Title April 17, 2023

Long term goals

New Basic Skills

High school completion

College success

Immediate Goals

New Basic Skills

Readiness to succeed in a rigorous high school program

Program Reform Do more with

apprenticeships. We can be the best in the world at connecting adults and kids for hands-on, real-world learning and skill-building

Clarify and better specify outcome goals and go after them relentlessly.

NEXT FIVE YEARS PROGRAM REFORM

Informed instincts as to what we need to do over the next five years in the area of Program Reform, Growth Reform, and Financial Model Reform.

9Title April 17, 2023

Source information goes here

NEXT FIVE YEARS GROWTH STRATEGY REFORM

Growth Strategy Reform

Building a high-quality national network of Citizen Schools campuses is job one for the next 3-5 years.

Go deep in 8-10 regions (states) to maximize political, corporate, and field-building influence.

Tighten affiliation selection and add a franchise/LLC model to accommodate growth beyond the capacity of affiliate partners

Put minimal energy into growing through Spread (as opposed to Scale) in short-term

10Title April 17, 2023

Source information goes here

NEXT FIVE YEARS FINANCIAL MODEL REFORM

Financial Model Reform

Get true, fully loaded cost below $3,000 per child and direct local cost to $2,500 or less per child

Maximize dual value corporate sponsorships (money and people) and create a reinforcing loop where growth and quality fuel greater support

Get state government support at $1,000+ per child. Ultimately look to reform and streamline federal funding

Keep building pipeline of high-net worth individuals

11Title April 17, 2023

MASSACHUSETTS EDUCATION & COMMUNITY LEADERS SUPPORT CITIZEN SCHOOLS

“Leaders from all sectors – government, education public safety, philanthropy, business, labor, and human services – pledge to work together to ensure that all children have access to productive learning and enrichment opportunities after school. I strongly believe that Citizen Schools is an investment in the entire community, which will both strengthen and expand civic and business partnerships.”

– Timothy Murray, Mayor, Worcester

“I had the opportunity to visit the program and was impressed with the products and performances that resulted from the apprenticeships. Of greatest interest to me was the ability of the apprentices to communicate about their learning. I want to support its growth and vision.”

– Thomas W. Payzant, Superintendent, Boston Public Schools

“Citizen Schools builds real-world skills through an effective mentoring program that I believe needs to be at the center of our long-term economic development strategy in New Bedford.”

– James Mathes, President, New Bedford Area Chamber of Commerce

Citizen Schools works to dramatically change the long-term life trajectories of underserved youth, helping young people navigate toward high school completion and college access. Starting in middle

school, Citizen Schools leverages out-of-school time to reinforce academics and to connect young people with volunteers from businesses, civic organizations, and communities, who teach hands-on apprenticeships. Citizen Schools’ unique and rigorous blend of teaching basic and real-world skills

results in positive relationships and directs young people toward workforce and civic leadership in the 21st Century.

www.citizenschools.org