Richmond Public Schools | 301 North 9th Street | Richmond, VA | www.rvaschools.net

RICHMONDPUBLIC SCHOOLS

Camelot Education (RAS)Contract Recommendation to the Richmond City School Board

Presented by: Harry Hughes, Chief Schools Officer

Venue: Richmond City School Board Meeting

Date: May 20, 2019

Camelot Education (RAS): Contract Recommendation to the Richmond City School Board

2

Context

Richmond Public Schools | May 20, 2019

• Camelot Education provides alternative education programming at The Spartan Academy at Richmond Alternative School (RAS).

• RAS serves students in grades 6-12 who have demonstrated significant behavioral challenges at their home school. Placement occurs through a panel hearing process.

• Students are considered for transition back to their home school after a minimum period of 90 days. Transition occurs only twice a year, at the end of each semester. Beginning this year, all current 8th graders will transition to 9th grade at their home school unless the student or her/his parent/guardian requests to remain at RAS.

• The current enrollment at RAS is 174 students.

• The contract with Camelot Education depends on monthly student enrollment at RAS. As of March 2019, the contract has cost RPS $1,126,791.

• Per pupil spending is comparable to other RPS schools (Camelot ~ $11,200; Other RPS Schools ~ $14,000)

• Teacher salaries are also comparable (Camelot’s average teacher has 8 years of experience and makes $48,000; similar RPS makes $51,000).

• Camelot staff comply with all job expectations outlined by RPS, and Camelot teachers and counselors attend RPS professional development.

Camelot Education (RAS): Contract Recommendation to the Richmond City School Board

3

Outcomes and Recommendation

Richmond Public Schools | May 20, 2019

Key 2018-19 Outcomes (see following pages for details)

• Reduction in suspensions (176 to 73)

• Elimination of school related arrests (16 to 0)

• Increase in daily attendance (67% to 71%)

• Improvement on many (though not all) SOLs

Recommendation

The Camelot Education contract was signed in July 2016 and has four option years. Given improvement in a number of student outcomes, the Administration’s recommendation is to exercise Option Year 3. As part of Dreams4RPS Action 1.7, the Administration will begin work in 2019-20 to broadly rethink the RPS approach to alternative education.

1

SpartanAcademyProgramData

2016-2017to2017-2018

2

Introduction In 2016, Camelot responded to a competitive bid and was awarded a contract by the Richmond (Virginia) Public Schools (RPS) to manage the Richmond Alternative School, Spartan Academy. This school serves students removed from the regular classroom for disciplinary code violations, grades 6-12. Prior to Camelot, the program had a long and well-documented history of chronic problems, specifically related to student discipline, climate, student and staff safety, low attendance, poor academic outcomes, ineffective leadership, and substandard teaching, Over the last several years, the program had been managed by a private educational company whose contract was not renewed after a series of unfavorable media reports and lack of adequate performance. Immediately prior to Camelot’s contract award, RPS managed the program but was unable to significantly alter the performance trajectory of the school. Camelot assumed management control of the school beginning School Year 2016-17. We hired teachers and staff, installed a leadership team, and implemented the key components of our model, similar in most respects to the model that we implement across all of our programs. Broadly, the model focused on what we believed was key ‘”must haves” for an effective school turnaround:

1. Implementing a positive school culture 2. Increasing and maintaining improved attendance rates 3. Increasing student academic achievement

With the end of the current school year, Camelot will have concluded its third year of service to RPS. During this period, Camelot has continued to focus on key deliverables and deliver outcomes that support RPS’ strategic mission. What follows is key data that, overall, show positive outcomes related to the three program imperatives stated above.

1. School Culture

Student Suspensions is trending lower

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

2017-18 2018-19

176

73

Suspension Reduction

3

School-related arrests trending lower

2. Attendance

Average Daily Attendance trending higher

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

2017-18 2018-19

16

0

School-related arrests

65%

66%

67%

68%

69%

70%

71%

2017-18 2018-19

67%

71%

ADA

4

3. Academic Performance

Student Promotion Rate for all grades is high

95%

5%

Promoted

Not Promoted

2017-18 Promotion Rates*Spartan Academy (n=61)

*Based on minimum 120 days in attendance

5

Graduation Rates for eligible seniors is high

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

2017-18 2018-19

18*

13**

*=90% graduation rate**93%- anticipated graduation rate

Graduations

6

Special Population IEP compliance is 100%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

2017-18 2018-19

100% 100%

Special Education IEP Compliance

7

SOL Proficiency is increasing

Assessments Administered (n=16)

Total number of students who tested by subject area: Reading

• 6th = 14 • 7th = 30 • 8th = 22 • EOC = 22

Math

• 6th = 15 • 7th = 35 • 8th = 25 • EOC/Alg. 1 = 38 • Geometry = 19 • Alg 2 = 7

Science

• 8th = 20 • Bio = 28 • Earth Science = 22

Social Studies

• 8th = 20 • World History = 27 • World Geography = 2 • VA/American History = 27

Summary The table below and the chart that follows shows improvement in SOL outcomes for students taking the 2017-18 SOLs compared to similar assessments taken by students in 2016-17

Outcome SOL

Proficiency Standards

Comparison 2016-17 to 2017-18

Improvement 9 56% Decline 6 38% Same 1 6%

8

56%38%

6%

Improvement

Decline

Same

Student proficiency on SOL assessments in 2017-18 compared to similar 2016-17 asessments (16 assessments)

9

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

6th 7th 8th EOC Geom Alg 2

0%

11%8%

31%

20%

57%

11%

21%

0%

42%

6%

75%

2016-17

2017-18

Math SOL Proficiency Comparisions by Grade2016-17 to 2017-18

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

6th 7th 8th EOC

11%

29%

14%17%

11% 10% 9%

46%

2016-17

2017-18

Reading

10

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

8th Bio Earth Science

13%

17%

21%20%22%

20%

2016-17

2017-18

Science

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

8th World History World Geog VA History

14%

4%

0%

21%

33%

14%

33%

7%

2016-17

2017-18

Social Studies