Annual Report 2008 the

ChoiceStudents • Teachers • Parents • Community Our Mission: Richmond Public Schools will educate our students to become highly successful, contributing citizens in a global society.

Our Vision:

Richmond Public Schools will become a premier learning community that is the first choice for all in Richmond and recognized nationally for student excellence.

O u r G o a l s : • Student Achievement • Safe and Nurturing Schools • Strong Leadership • Professional Development • Collaborations with Stakeholders • Parent and Community Satisfaction Dr. Yvonne W. Brandon Superintendent

Superintendent’s Message

It’s been said that the secret of success is constancy of purpose. To underscore the truth of this statement, one need look no further than to the success en- joyed by Richmond Public Schools in 2008. Indeed, no school district in the nation remained more constant in its purpose or committed to its mission to guarantee student achievement than did Richmond Public Schools. Simply put, our move from competence to excellence is in focus, on target and on time.

The district’s New Direction initiative redefined and refocused our instructional plan to better develop the whole student. The plan stresses relevant and rigor- ous academics that move beyond the state’s basic Standards of Learning (SOL) and combines technology with other instructional elements to enhance creative and critical thinking.

The New Direction initiative continues the district’s remarkable journey of progress and academic growth – one that has carried us from the abyss and precipice of low SOL scores and non-accredited schools to the glorious heights and pinnacle of fully-accredited schools and increased student achievement. In fact, nearly nine out of every 10 Richmond City schools (87.5 percent) earned full accreditation in 2008, a record high for the district.

Of course, academic progress takes place when motivated students are taught by outstanding teachers. Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote that “nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm” and that “enthusiasm is the powerful engine of success.” In Richmond, our classroom success has been fueled by enthusi- astic and talented teachers who start with the premise that every student can learn, that every young person is valuable and that every child wants to succeed.

In 2008, this premise served us well. On the pages that follow, you will read about some extraordinary educators and students who are helping to transform Richmond Public Schools into one of the nation’s premiere urban school dis- tricts. Their commitment to academic achievement not only shapes our con- stancy of purpose but also gives voice to its rise. 1 2

ChoiceE x for c e l l e n c e in urban public school education

Richmond’s dedication and commitment to educational excellence is transforming perceptions of public education. Educators from Harvard to the Netherlands are looking to Richmond because of the district’s remarkable gains in the face of incredible challenges common among most urban environments. This fidelity of purpose and focus on student achieve- ment is illustrated throughout the district. Open High, for example, was named a 2008 Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education, and for the second year in a row, both Open and Richmond Community high school were ranked among America’s best by U.S. News and World Report. Fairfield Court, George Mason and Mary Munford elementary schools earned the Governor’s Award for Educational Excellence, the state’s highest performance honor. Henderson Middle School was one of 11 schools in the nation to receive the 2008 National Excellence in Urban Education Award from San Diego State University’s National Center for Urban School Transformation. Beyond national acclaim, however, the numbers—the hard data—speak for themselves and tell the story of the phe- nomenal achievement being experienced in each and every classroom everyday. Forty of the district’s 48 schools or 83 percent met the Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP require- ments of the federal government’s No Child Left Behind Act. Richmond’s AYP results exceeded the state average of 74 percent. District-wide, 89 percent of Richmond’s elementary schools and 87.5 percent of its high schools met the federal government benchmark scores. At the state level, the district’s Standards of Learning 3

ChoiceE x for c e l l e n c e in urban public school education

(SOL) scores were even more impressive. In fact, the district reached a record high as 42 of 48 Richmond City schools (87.5 percent) met the SOL benchmark scores in English, mathematics, history and science. And, for the third straight year, every Richmond City high school earned full accreditation. In addition, Richmond is home to three of the only high schools in the region that earned perfect scores of 100 on any of this year’s Standards of Learning tests. With regard to the district’s on-time graduation rate, nearly 65 percent of the students in the 2004-2008 cohort graduated on time, an increase of 10 percent from the 2003-2007 cohort. 4

ChoiceA New for Direction

By implementing its New Direction initiative in 2008, the district made a commitment to teach beyond the SOLs by stressing relevancy and rigor in academics. The cornerstone of the initiative provides an educational framework that adopts a holistic view of education. A key element of New Direction calls for students to have an Individual Learning Plan that stresses relevant and rigorous academics. New Direction features: •Core Knowledge Academies Launched at J.B. Fisher and Overby-Sheppard elementary schools during the 2008-2009 school year, Core Knowledge Academies develop cultural literacy and expose students to a broad range of historical, scientific and cultural topics. •Foreign Language Elementary School Spanish Program Richmond Public Schools is one of only 23 school districts in the state to provide Spanish instruction in all elementary schools. •Kindergarten Spanish Immersion Classes This program was piloted in two kindergarten classes at William Fox and Southampton elementary schools in 2008-2009. •Rigor in Mathematics: Johns Hopkins Algebra I Study, a federally funded study designed to provide ninth-graders with a double hour of instruction, evaluates two ways to teach algebra. One strategy, the “Stretch Algebra” class, has students attend a yearlong, 70- to 90-minute course each day. The second strategy, “Transition to Advanced Mathematics”, is a sequence of two courses also taught in extended class periods. •Distance Learning Distance learning labs, located at four comprehensive high schools and the Richmond Technical Center, offer foreign language, technology, SAT prep and AP math and science 5

ChoiceA New for Direction

classes. •Expanded AP, Dual Enrollment and CTE Offerings The district expanded advanced placement offerings and dual enrollment opportunities in 2008. Two Richmond City high schools, Thomas Jefferson and Richmond Community, were among a group of 14 in the state selected to receive five-year Advanced Placement Project grants. The program, part of the National Math and Science Initiative, provides selected schools with yearly grants ranging from $70,000 to $150,000 to fund teacher training, financial incentives, new equipment and materials, and ongoing support services from Advanced Study Strategies (VASS) specialists. •Individual Learning Plan In 2008-2009, the district piloted its Individual Learning Plan (ILP) at two schools. The ILP is a comprehensive plan that combines student goals, assessments and achievements to design a path that will allow for the development of the whole child. •Character Education Offered at every school, this program included formal lessons, modeling of positive behavior by staff and a focus on positive affirmations. •Environmental Science and Conservation Initiative This comprehensive program extends student investigations, based on the state’s SOLs, from kindergarten through grade 12. All schools have recycling bins and every student must complete a conservation or environmental science project during the school year. 6

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If a school district is judged by its graduates, then Rich- mond Public Schools surely ranks among the top, thanks to Jessica David, a graduate of the International Baccalau- reate program at Thomas Jefferson High School. Jessica compiled an impressive 4.85 grade point average to rank first among the 1,200 members of the Richmond Public School Class of 2008. She attends Duke University as a 2009 freshman. Of course, Jessica is not alone when it comes to postsecondary plans. As a group, nearly 72 per- cent of the Class of 2008 planned to attend two- or four- year colleges and universities and received more than $13 million in scholarships and grants. More than 96 percent of the 2008 senior class graduated, with Richmond’s 2008 valedictorians posting a combined 4.4 grade point average. Two Richmond Community High School seniors, Jona- than Crawley and Lynwood Spell, were selected to take part in last year’s Constitution Project, a two-day program created to expand students’ understanding of the nation’s democratic institutions. As participants in the Constitu- tion Project, Crawley and Spell met with United States Supreme Court justices and other Constitutional scholars. 7

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The project was coordinated by the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Virginia. Seniors were not the only RPS students to excel during the 2007- 2008 school year as others showcased their skills and talents in venues and competitions ranging from Junior ROTC cadet chal- lenges to regional art and writing competitions. Nine Richmond City cadets, including seven from Franklin Mili- tary Academy, won individual awards at the 2008 JROTC Cadet Leadership Challenge held at Fort Eustis, Va. Franklin’s Kendra Harris and Brandon Osborne both earned Distinguished Cadets honors by placing in the top eight percent for overall performance. Vocational and technology students enjoyed a stellar 2007-2008 school year. Richmond Technical Center students brought home 28 awards, including 11 first-place honors, at the 2008 Skills USA District II Competition. And, Thompson Middle School students won three awards at the 2007 Technology Student As- sociation (TSA) National Conference held in Nashville, Tenn.

In the arts, six Richmond City students captured Gold Keys in the 2008 Scholastic Art and Writing Awards competition. Gold Key winners whose work competed for national honors in New York City included: Daquan Battle, Thompson Middle School; Wayne Cox, Thomas Jefferson High School; Alexander Lewis, Thompson Middle School; Zeph Ruggles, Lucille Brown Middle School; Ca- milla Vedoveto de Sousa, Arts & Humanities Center; and Eleanor Sullivan, Open High School.

Finally, two Richmond City high school bands hit winning notes, the Marching Falcons and the Thomas Jefferson High School Marching Vikings. Huguenot captured a Superior Performance Rating Award, with the low brass section earning a special Honors Award at the Dixie Classic Festival held in Chicago, Ill. The Marching Vikings from Thomas Jefferson were named Grand Champions at the 2008 Portsmouth March- ing Band Competition. The event featured high schools from Virginia and North Carolina. 8

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Students know when adults care about them. In Richmond, our teachers care – and our students know it. Maybe that’s why so many Richmond City students, teachers and schools exceed far beyond the expectations of others. In short, they choose excellence; they choose commitment; they choose achievement; they choose to care. Michaé Jamison, Richmond’s 2008 Teacher of the Year, is an educator who cares. “I now understand that I came to teaching by understanding truth – the truth of my ancestry… Some people spend a lifetime and still never find their own truth. I found it in a classroom…” Kimberly Colbert cares. In fact, the Thompson Middle School science teacher won what is called “the Oscar” of teaching in 2008, a $25,000 Milken National Educator Award. The Community and R.E.B. Foundations recognized teacher caring by awarding more than $32,000 in cash grants to three, outstanding Richmond City teachers—L. Rochelle Turnage, Holton Elementary School; Leslie Brockman, Holton Elementary School; and Adam Wallach, Thomas Jefferson High School. Not only do our teachers care, but our school leaders do as well. Six Richmond Public Schools principals were recognized by Eastern Kentucky University for improving student learning, including Dr. Thomas Beatty, Thompson Middle School; Conrad Davis, Blackwell Elementary School; Aaron Dixon, Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School; Cynthia Tedder, Clark Springs Elementary School; Dr. R. Dionne Ward, Henderson Middle School and Dr. Irene Williams, Fairfield Court Elementary. 9

ChoiceP afor r e n t s

It’s been said that education begins at a parent’s knee and that to teach without first inspiring students is like hammering on cold iron. The same can be said about the role of parents in a child’s education. Without it, children are less inspired. In Richmond Public Schools, parents are encouraged to be a full partner in their child’s learning. In fact, in 2008 the district’s Parent Resource Center conducted more than 170 workshops that served nearly 4,000 families. Workshops were held on topics ranging from school transitions and helping your child with homework to grandparents raising grandchildren and disciplining your child. Also, during the 2007-2008 school, thousands of parents and students took advan- tage of the district’s Homework Help Program, visited the Parent Resource Center mobile unit and partici- pated in family literacy programs. We also provide opportunities for parents to engage in fun ways. Fathers of Linwood Holton Elementary students have joined the school’s Watch D.O.G.S. a.k.a. Dads of Good Students organization. More than 150 fathers, uncles, grandfathers and other male figures volunteer to serve at least one day each year in a variety of school activities. 10

ChoiceC o for m m u n i t y P a r t n e r s

Public schools cannot exist, certainly not suc- ceed, on their own. Community resources and corporate support are absolutely vital in provid- ing students with a world-class education. In short, business and civic leaders must “buy in” to the school district’s mission. In 2008, approxi- mately 600 partners provided more than 4,600 volunteers who donated nearly 190,000 hours to Richmond Public Schools.

Corporate giants like Capital One and Virginia Dominion Power joined with Heart of America to renovate the library at Westover Hills Elemen- tary School. Capital One also awarded nine $10,000 Power of 9 college scholarships. Al- tria/Philip Morris USA funded the University of Virginia College Guide at Armstrong High School while the Markel Corporation funded enrichment programs at Fairfield Court and Chimborazo elementary schools.

On an individual level, Dr. Domenic Sica, a local physician and medical professor at Virginia Commonwealth University Hospitals, continued his Ram Slam Scholarship program. Launched by Dr. Sica in 1998, the program has awarded more than $100,000 to Richmond Public Schools seniors. 11

ChoiceT a for x p a y e r s

RPS spends $.77 of every dollar on instruction and instructional technology.

RPS receives more than half of its revenue from City appropriations.

Now, more than ever, taxpayers and citizens demand fiscal responsibility from public schools. With shrinking or flat revenues, it is critical that public schools account for every budgeted dollar. Cost-saving measures are being demanded of school districts nationwide. In Richmond Public Schools, every budget decision is based on serving the instructional needs of students. In Richmond, the choice to maintain fiscal ac- countability and student achievement is the only option. Richmond Public Schools is committed to ensuring that its finance and operations are appropriately aligned with instructional goals. The district’s operating budget for 2007-2008 was $259,895,576. Of our general fund operating budget, 76% was dedicated to instruction and instructional technology. Moreover, assuring the highest degree of compliance and accountability is paramount. To that end, the district voluntarily participated in over seven external audits, as well as 33 internal audits to ensure continued cost savings and increased operational efficiencies. In 2008, a quality assurance audit found the district’s internal audit services to have policies and procedures to be in conformity with the professional standards of auditing as defined by the Institute of Internal Auditors. The outcome of this audit was the most favorable result the department could attain. Finally, for the fiscal year ending June 2008, the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report conducted by KPMG produced a rating of ‘unqualified opinion’, the best rating an organization can achieve. This review demonstrates the district’s adherence to Generally Accepted Ac- counting Procedures (GAAP) and sound financial reporting. 12

ChoiceL e for a d e r s h i p

2009-2012 Board members The Honorable:

Chandra H. Smith District 6 Chair

Kimberly B. Gray District 2 Vice Chair

Kimberly M. Bridges District 1 The Richmond City School Board is responsible for setting policy and ensuring that the school system follows state and Norma H. Murdoch-Kitt federal guidelines. District 3

Members are elected from each of the city’s nine districts and Adria A. Graham scott serve four-year terms. The Board meets on the first and third District 4 Monday of each month. Betsy B. Carr Meetings begin at 6 p.m. and are held in the School Board room District 5 located on the 17th floor of Richmond City Hall, 301 North 9th Street. Donald L. Coleman District 7 Citizens may request to address the Board during the public information period by calling 804-780-7716. Dawn C. Page District 8

Evette L. Wilson District 9

Officers

Yvonne W. Brandon, Ed.D. Superintendent

Angela C. Lewis Clerk

Angela R. Anderson Deputy Clerk

Ronald L. Carey, Ed.D. Agent

R. Dionne Ward, Ed.D. Deputy Agent Information

General Information

School Board 804.780.7716 Superintendent 804.780.7710 Instruction 804.780.7751 Elementary Education 804.780.7901 Secondary Education 804.780.7720 Exceptional Education 804.780.7850 Programs for Gifted 804.780.7805 Public Information 804.780.7100 Pupil Placement 804.780.7811 Student Records 804.780.7812 Student Transportation 804.674.1234 Human Resources 804.780.7860 Health Services 804.780.7801

For district news, information, a list of administrative departments and RPS instructional programs please go to our website. .va.uswww.richmond.k12.va.us A Publication of Richmond Public Schools Richmond, Virginia

In accordance with federal laws, the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia and the policies of the School Board of the City of Richmond, the Richmond Public Schools does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, age, re- ligion, disabilities or national origin in the provision of employment and ser- vices. The Richmond Public Schools operates equal opportunity and affirma- tive action programs for students and staff. The Richmond Public Schools is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. The Title IX Officer is Mrs. Angela C. Lewis, Clerk of the School Board, 301 N. 9th St., Richmond, VA 23219-1927, (804) 780-7716. The Section 504 Coordinator is Mr. Har- ley Tomey, Director of Exceptional Education and Student Services, 301 N. 9th St., Richmond, VA, 23219-1927, (804) 780-7911. The ADA Coordinator is Ms. Aisha Shamburger, 2015 Seddon Way, Richmond, VA 23230-4117, (804) 780-6211. The United States Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights may also be contacted at P. O. Box 14620, Washington, DC 20044- 4620, (202) 208-2545.

School Board

Chandra H. Smith, Chair Kimberly B. Gray, Vice Chair Kimberly M. Bridges Betsy B. Carr Donald L. Coleman Adria A. Graham Scott Norma Murdoch-Kitt Dawn C. Page Evette L. Wilson

Dr. Yvonne W. Brandon, Superintendent