December 2006

Volume 1 Number 1

Welcome to the first edition of RFA eNews!

Here you will find the latest information about Research for Action, new reports and briefs, upcoming events and presentations by RFA researchers.

Research for Action (RFA) is a Philadelphia-based nonprofit organization engaged in education research and evaluation. Founded in 1992, Research for Action seeks to improve the education opportunities and outcomes of urban youth by strengthening public schools and enriching the civic and community dialogue about public education.

We are sending our first edition to colleagues and friends already on our mailing lists. If you know of people who might like to receive our newsletter, please forward it to them so that they can sign up and receive it directly. To unsubscribe, see the message at the end of this edition of eNews.

Jolley Bruce Christman, Ph.D. and Eva Gold, Ph.D. - Founders and Principals

Check out the new RFA Website/Online Research Center!

RFA is currently leading a major study called Learning from Philadelphia's School Reform, which is a comprehensive, multi-year study of Philadelphia's complex and radical school reform effort. Part of this study includes a vigorous, public awareness component. This newsletter and our re-designed website are part of this effort. Go to www.researchforaction.org to explore our redesigned and updated site, download our publications, and learn more about RFA.

RFA Receives Carnegie Grant to Study Small Schools

RFA recently received a lead two-year grant from the Carnegie Corporation of New York to examine the planning and early implementation of the School District of Philadelphia's small schools strategy for high school reform, focusing especially on the significant role of public/private sector collaboration. As part of this project, RFA is launching a web center on our website about the fifty-two Philadelphia school district and charter high schools with enrollment under 700 students to help inform parents as they make high school choices with their children and provide information to researchers interested in the small schools issue. Browse our interactive map.

New Paper Examines Leadership in Philadelphia's Reform

A new paper, The Role of District Leadership in Radical Reform: Philadelphia's Experience under the State Takeover, 2001-2006, examines "the dynamics of leadership in this changing school district by looking at the interaction of the new governance structures, the political and policy context and the leadership styles and actions of key players."

Authors Elizabeth Useem and Jolley Bruce Christman of Research for Action and William Boyd from Penn State University, argue that "the district's leaders - the School Reform Commission established under state takeover and CEO Paul Vallas - calmed the political waters, capitalized on the national and state policy context created by No Child Left Behind legislation, and managed an infusion of state and city dollars to Philadelphia to build legitimacy for their reform agenda."

The paper also notes remaining areas of work: system-wide planning for high school reform including a strategy to improve neighborhood comprehensive high schools, school leadership, and content-based professional development.

Annenberg's PA Coaching Project Completes Year One

The Annenberg Foundation partnered with the Pennsylvania Department of Education to establish the Pennsylvania High School Coaching Initiative (PAHSCI) designed to address the literacy and math needs of adolescents in high schools across the Commonwealth. RFA is serving as the evaluator of the project.

The first year report by RFA, Promising InRoads: Year One of the Pennsylvania High School Coaching Initiative, outlines the important progress made in the first year, indications of future success and some challenges. RFA researchers and project leaders, Dr. Diane Brown and Dr. Rebecca Reumann-Moore agree that a solid foundation has been created for the work in the next two years of the Initiative. For more information about PAHSCI go to our website or to the PAHSCI website at www.pacoaching.org.

RFA in the News

Tune to 91 FM, WHYY's Radio Times with Marty Moss-Coane on Thursday, December 7th at 11 a.m. or the rebroadcast at 10 p.m. to hear RFA researchers Jolley Bruce Christman and Sukey Blanc discuss findings from the RFA Learning from Philadelphia's School Reform Project. Go to www.whyy.org for more information.

Inside RFA

At its annual meeting in May, the RFA Board of Directors elected Rochelle Nichols-Solomon as their new chair. Nichols-Solomon is currently a senior staff member at the Academy for Educational Development (AED) where she directs the Carnegie Schools for a New Society Technical Assistance Project. She has extensive experience in the areas of community and family involvement in education and her background includes teaching, education administration, and work as a program officer at the Philadelphia Foundation.

Editors' Note

RFA eNews is a publication of Research for Action. Please email us your thoughts and comments at info@researchforaction.org. We respect your privacy and will not share your contact information.
Editors
Gail E. Danckert and Morgan Riffer