Indiana school district turns three schools into “equity schools”

Administrators and teachers in the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation have collaborated to transform three schools with high poverty and low test scores into "equity schools." Historically, only one-third of the students in these schools pass the state's ISTEP exam, while 93% are poor enough to qualify for free or reduced-price breakfast and lunch. (The state averages are 62% passing on ISTEP and 42 percent enrolled in the meal programs.)

Superintendent Vince Bertram, approached teachers union president Keith Gambill with a question: "How can we work together to improve these chronically underperforming schools?"

They answered by designing a strategy that provides more autonomy to principals and faculty. The educators used their newfound flexibility to rewrite professional development curriculum for teachers, lengthen the school day, add days to the school calendar and redesign classroom strategies and activities while remaining compliant with state standards and requirements. Read more of this article by Bill Stanczykiewicz at indystar.com.