San Jose-Edison Academy opened in 1998 in West Covina, California as a charter school with 71% of students reading below grade level. The school partnered with EdisonLearning using their School Designs model focused on talent, culture, instruction, and data-driven management. This partnership helped the school improve reading levels to only 20% below grade level. It became the highest performing school in the district and was recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School for academic excellence. Through EdisonLearning's support, the school established a positive culture and increased test proficiency in English and math from 42% to over 78%.

1. An EdisonLearning Success Story
EdisonLearning partnership helps school rise
to the highest performing school in the district
and become a National Blue Ribbon School
The San Jose-Edison Academy Story
ThE ChALLEngE • The school has twice been recognized as a California
In 1998, San Jose-Edison Academy opened as a charter school Distinguished School, an award for academic
in the West Covina Unified School District in California. excellence given to less than 5% of California schools
West Covina struggled with student achievement, in part and in 2009 was named a California “Business for
due to the shifting demographics in the district which Education Excellence” School.
included a growing Hispanic/Latino population. San Jose- • The school was recognized as a 2009 National Blue
Edison Academy was no exception to these challenges. Ribbon School by the US Department of Education, an
When the school opened, 71% of the students were reading award bestowed on only 314 schools in the country.
below grade level.
ThE SoLuTIon
San-Jose Edison Academy partnered with EdisonLearning
using EdisonLearning® School Designs to build and
manage the school. The School Designs model was
created out of EdisonLearning’s Four Cornerstones of
highly effective schools. The original school opened with
grades K-5 and 600 students. The school grew and now
serves grades K-8 which includes almost 1,200 students.
The school has been able to improve reading levels; now
only 20% of students are reading below grade level.
ThE RESuLTS
• CaliforniaAcademic Performance Index (API) scores
increased 271 points or 43% from 638 in 1999 to 909
“As a National Blue Ribbon School, San Jose-Edison
in 2010.
Academy produces outstanding results for their
• Proficiency levels on the California Standards Test students and serves as an example of consistent
(CST) increasing from 42% in 2002 to 78% in 2010 in excellence. San Jose-Edison Academy is a place
English/Language Arts and almost doubled from 41% where improved teaching and learning benefits
in 2002 to 80% in 2010 in Math. every student, and where students are challenged
• In its 4th year of existence, the school became the to meet high expectations.”
highest performing school in the West Covina Unified - rne Duncan, U.S. Secretary of Education
A
School District and has remained there ever since.
• Success has been seen in closing the achievement gap,
with sub-groups, including Latino and Free Reduced
Lunch students, continuing to make achievement gains
at twice the rate of the general population.

2. ThE STEpS ALong ThE WAy focus on students and student achievement,” says Dr. Patton.
“Creating and now maintaining this culture is a huge positive
In 1998 West Covina Unified School District instituted class
factor at the school.”
size reductions. In order for the district to succeed in this effort,
they needed more classrooms and more teachers. This situation
was the catalyst to create a charter school which became San An environment that promotes learning is at the root of the school’s
Jose-Edison Academy. San Jose-Edison Academy would provide culture. At San Jose-Edison Academy, the school is organized into
classroom space for 600 displaced K-5 students and at the same Houses to create greater intimacy and better communication
time, give parents an opportunity for school choice. between teachers, students and parents. Houses are made up of a
group of 4-6 teachers (called the House team) who are responsible
for 100 to 180 students. House teams meet daily to support one
In its first year, San Jose-Edison Academy was able to enroll 600
another and collaborate around improving students’ learning
students, with an additional 200 children on the waiting list. This
experiences. Dr. Patton believes this time is invaluable to increasing
student body came with some challenges, with the most notable
student achievement. “There is no substitute for professional
being that 71% of students were reading below grade level.
dialogue and support,” she states. “The EdisonLearning School
Designs model affords us this special opportunity.”
EdisonLearning, utilizing its School Designs model, was chosen as
the partner to help build and manage San Jose-Edison Academy.
Cornerstone #3: Demanding
The foundation of the School Designs model is EdisonLearning’s
Content Customized Instruction
Four Cornerstones of highly effective schools: Top Talent; Culture of
Engagement and Aspiration; Demanding Content and Customized The third cornerstone, Demanding Content and Customized
Instruction; and Achievement-Driven Management. Early and on- Instruction, is represented through the comprehensive core
going success at San Jose-Edison Academy is a result of the school’s and special subject academic program at the school. The school
commitment to following the School Designs model. support structure is also set up for targeted instruction, allowing
teachers to identify and meet the needs of individual learners more
Cornerstone #1: Top Talent readily. This customized instruction can be attributed to helping
San Jose-Edison Academy meet the needs of its diverse student
The first cornerstone, Top Talent, ensures that high performing population, resulting in success in closing the achievement gap
administrators and teachers are recruited by EdisonLearning This is an achievement which Dr. Patton is particularly proud
and San Jose-Edison Academy. Dr. Denise Patton is the current of. “Our Latino and Free and Reduced Lunch kids are making
principal at San Jose-Edison Academy and has been with the achievement gains at twice the rate of the general population to
school since it opened. She states, “EdisonLearning’s School get them to the level they need to be. If one of our student
Designs really walks the talk. Not only are top talent recruited, but sub-groups is not performing, we do whatever it takes to fix it.
through outstanding professional development opportunities, EdisonLearning’s School Designs gives us those means.”
they are kept talented.”
San Jose-Edison Academy was chosen in 2009 as a California
Professional development and coaching are ingrained in the Business for Education Excellence school, an honor bestowed
School Designs model. Time is built into each day for professional on schools who have specifically shown they are closing the
development and teamwork to improve student learning. achievement gap.
EdisonLearning partner schools also have the unique opportunity to
attend regular internal leadership and instructional development
Cornerstone #4: Achievement-Driven Management
conferences that gather educators from partner schools to engage
in focused and cutting-edge professional development. One of the Perhaps most critical to keeping the school focused firmly
benefits of these sessions is the opportunity to interact with and on achievement and continuous improvement is the fourth
learn from like-minded teachers and leaders from partner schools cornerstone, Achievement-Driven Management. This cornerstone
around the country. is accomplished through EdisonLearning’s eValuate system,
previously called the Benchmarks system. eValuate is a system of
Cornerstone #2: A Culture of Engagement and Aspiration formative assessments that provide data on students’ progress
toward end of year standards. Students take these assessments
From the outset, San Jose-Edison Academy promoted a Culture monthly. Teachers receive quick and reliable feedback on how
of Engagement and Aspiration, the second cornerstone. Dr. each student is progressing toward mastery of standards,
Patton believes the School Designs model was instrumental in enabling them to make adjustments in their instruction for
setting this positive, student-focused culture at San Jose-Edison maximum effectiveness and efficiency of student learning.
Academy. “EdisonLearning’s School Designs helped us get a clear
“It doesn’t matter if a child comes to school in a 2010 Mercedes or a 1997 Nissan, once they step into the classroom at San Jose-
Edison Academy, they all have access to a great education.”
- r. Denise Patton, Principal
D
San Jose-Edison Academy

3. Dr. Patton believes there are two factors that set EdisonLearning’s California Standard Test (CST) proficiency Levels
eValuate apart. First, not only are eValuate’s assessments aligned Math
to state standards, but standards are also weighted so those 2002 through 2010
emphasized most on state tests are also emphasized most in the 100%
eValuate system. The second factor is the support provided by
90%
EdisonLearning staff for data analysis. This data analysis is critical
to helping drive instruction that focuses on the standards needing 80%
most attention and to personalize learning for each student. 70%
60%
parent Support Commitment 50%
Parent satisfaction is high at San Jose Edison Academy. Parent 40%
commitment and involvement is integral to the school’s success.
30%
One parent at San Jose Edison Academy summed it up. “San Jose-
Edison Academy is an outstanding school. It has a principal who is 20%
outgoing and has great leadership skills, dedicated teachers and a 10%
friendly staff. Together with parents, San Jose-Edison Academy is 0%
providing a quality education.” 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
San Jose-Edison Math gains
ThE BoTToM LInE
San Jose-Edison Academy’s stellar reputation speaks for itself. Additionally, California API scores have skyrocketed at San Jose
There is currently a waiting list of 1,400 students wanting to Edison Academy. In 2010, API was at 909, up 271 points from 638
attend the school. in 1999.
Through the years, the school has grown. The original school San Jose-Edison Academy was bestowed the prestigious honor
was for grades K-5, serving 600 students. The school now serves of being recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School in 2009,
grades K-8 with almost 1,200 students. an added mark of excellence and symbol of quality. Only 314
schools received this award by the US Department of Education
Since its inception, the school has shown steady improvement for being academically superior or demonstrating dramatic gains
in school wide proficiency in Math and English Language Arts. In in student achievement for disadvantaged students.
2010, approximately 80% of students were proficient in Math,
almost double from 2002 when proficiency levels were at 41.8%. Dr. Denise Patton is proud of the school’s accomplishments. But she
78% of students are proficient in English Language Arts in 2010, knows there is always more work to be done. She comments “We
up from 42% in 2002. are a school in continuous improvement. We won’t stop looking
for ways to improve our school until we are at 100% proficiency.
California Standard Test (CST) proficiency Levels With EdisonLearning, we have a strong partner to support us in
Language Arts taking our craft to the next level to benefit all students.”
2002 through 2010
100% FInD ouT MoRE
90% For more information, call us at 1-800-I-CAN-LEARN
(1-877-422-6532), email us at information@edisonlearning.com
80%
or visit www.edisonlearning.com/casestudies.
70%
60% Working together for student success™
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
San Jose-Edison Language Arts gains

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