New Day Academy is a small school that offers individualized education and rigorous curriculum focused on critical thinking. It has higher student performance than peer schools in middle and high school, and has received positive ratings from city and state evaluations. However, the school was scheduled for closure without sufficient time to improve its high school grade as allowed under the accountability framework. The document argues that with a new principal, Ms. Ganales, who has a track record of school improvement, New Day Academy has the tools to continue making significant academic progress.

2. Embracing the concept of small schools, we know our students well. We have small class sizes and strive to offer an individualized education. We teach a rigorous curriculum focused on critical thinking and the Habits of Mind. We support students through academic and character development.

3. All students complete rigorous portfolio assessments. New Day Academy was approved by the New York State Board of Regents to join 27 schools as a member of the New York Performance Standards Consortium. High school students complete Portfolio Based Assessment Tasks in lieu of exams to earn their Regents Diploma.

4. This Statement is Insufficient! Student performance in New Day Academy’s middle school and high school is higher than the majority of peer schools! New Day Academy HAS made significant progress with students in middle school and high school! Other city and state evaluations have given high ratings to New Day Academy! No time was given to improve the high school grade, violating the accountability framework! New Day Academy has the tools to continue to make significant progress!

5. This Statement is Insufficient! Student performance in New Day Academy’s middle school and high school is higher than the majority of peer schools! New Day Academy HAS made significant progress with students in middle school and high school! Other city and state evaluations have given high ratings to New Day Academy! No time was given to improve the high school grade, violating the accountability framework! New Day Academy has the tools to continue to make significant progress!

6. This Statement is Insufficient! The Impact Statement Does Not Justify Closing New Day Academy!

7. This Statement is Insufficient! The Impact Statement Does Not Justify Closing New Day Academy!

8. On the contrary…. In an e-mail sent to reporters by DOE spokesman William Havemann, “low ELA and Math proficiency rates” were given as a reason for closing New Day Academy. Student performance in the middle school and high school is higher than the majority of peer schools! 1

9. 2009 Middle School Progress Report 1 Student performance in the middle school and high school is higher than the majority of peer schools!

10. ELA Math 1 Student performance in the middle school and high school is higher than the majority of peer schools!

11. But once again…. In an e-mail sent to reporters by DOE spokesman William Havemann, “low graduation indicators” from the 2008-2009 school year were given as a reason to close New Day Academy. 1 Student performance in the middle school and high school is higher than the majority of peer schools!

12. 2009 High School Progress Report 1 Student performance in the middle school and high school is higher than the majority of peer schools!

13. Graduation Rate Weighted Rate 1 Student performance in the middle school and high school is higher than the majority of peer schools!

14. 2009 was the first ever graduating class. It includes students who spent less than one month in school. The 2009 Graduation Rate was: Equal to the city’s 4-year graduation rate 13% higher than the District 12 4-year average 8% higher than the District 12 average More on the Graduation Rate 1 Student performance in the middle school and high school is higher than the majority of peer schools!

15. The proposal to phase-out and eventually close New Day Academy is based on the Department of Education’s (DOE) determination that the school lacks the capacity to significantly improve student performance. - Page 1 2 New Day Academy has shown significant improvement in student performance.

16. 2 New Day Academy has shown significant improvement in student performance. ELA and Math Scores of Incoming Students (MS peer index) New Day Middle Lowest incoming scores in D12

17. 2 New Day Academy has shown significant improvement in student performance.

18. ELA and Math Scores of Incoming High School Students 2 New Day Academy has shown significant improvement in student performance. Weighted for Poverty, Sp Ed, ELL, Overage and other factors (DOE HS peer index)

19. Progress of 2005 High School cohort When the students entered in the 9 th grade, just 7% of the class had demonstrated ELA proficiency and only 13% demonstrated Math proficiency. Four years later, 56% of these students passed the ELA Regents and graduated high school! 2 New Day Academy has shown significant improvement in student performance.

20. … Decisions about the consequences a school will face are based on the school’s Progress Report grades, Quality Review scores , and a variety of other factors. - Page 1 3 Other city and state evaluations have given high ratings to New Day Academy!

21. 3 Other city and state evaluations have given high ratings to New Day Academy! New York City DOE School Quality Review 2008-2009: Proficient 2007-2008: Proficient 2006-2007: Proficient Every year we have earned a Proficient, the second highest rating, on the School Quality Review

22. 3 Other city and state evaluations have given high ratings to New Day Academy! New York City DOE School Quality Review Some Highlights • The school routinely identifies trends in student progress and performance and determines students’ strengths and areas of need . • Teachers enhance students’ interest in their lessons by connecting them to real world examples. • The principal and the faculty work together effectively to do what is best for students, earning them the trust of the community they serve. • The school offers students and their parents a comprehensive set of supports and activities that bridge the cultural differences between home and school.

23. 3 Other city and state evaluations have given high ratings to New Day Academy! New York State and Federal Accountability Report: In Good Standing Every year we have been in good standing with New York State and the Federal No Child Left Behind Act.

24. 4 No time was given to improve the high school grade, violating the accountability framework! Under the DOE’s accountability framework, schools that receive an overall grade of D or F on the Progress Report are subject to school improvement measures. If no significant progress is made over time , a leadership change (subject to contractual obligations), restructuring, or closure is possible. - Page 1 The phase-out violates this framework: No time has been given after the progress report grade to make the “significant progress”!

25. 4 No time was given to improve the high school grade, violating the accountability framework! New Day Academy received its first High School Progress Report this year. New Day Academy has shown the ability to help many low-achieving incoming students graduate with a Regents diploma. All aspects of the Learning Environment Survey results, the calculated score and relative score to our peer group, actually increased.

26. 5 New Day Academy has the tools to continue to make significant progress! Under the DOE’s accountability framework, schools that receive an overall grade of D or F on the Progress Report are subject to school improvement measures. If no significant progress is made over time, a leadership change (subject to contractual obligations), restructuring, or closure is possible. - Page 1 No measures were taken to remedy any perceived problem. A leadership change was made, but NO time was given to make progress!

27. Principal Ganales She can help us!!

28. Who is Ms. G? She has worked for 2 years as part of the Children’s First Network (one of the best rated networks in the city). She has coached schools with a focus on accountability: assessment, scheduling, and curriculum, just to name a few!! She believes in New Day Academy’s philosophy and vision. The faculty all know Ms. G!!! 1

29. How do we know Ms. G can help us? 18 years of experience in education administration. As principal in Compton, California, she entered a school with a history of rioting and considerable gang influence. 2

30. How do we know Ms. G can help us? In one year, Ms. G increased the school’s attendance rate by 60%! By the following year it continued to climb to 86%! She created an active Student Government Association, creating unity and morale in the school! The school went from 4 years of rioting, prior to Ms. G, to no riot incidents at all during her tenure. 2

31. Experience as the Grant Administrator for Paramount High School. A grant was given for her to improve the school within 3 years. When she arrived, the school was a High Priority school (a failing school). How do we know Ms. G can help us?

32. What happened? Ms. G worked with administration and department leaders in all core subjects to create curriculum and program changes. Within the first year, student scores on the High School Math Exit Exam went up from a 19% pass rate to a 69% pass rate.

33. New York City Experience Dean at Lafayette High School. Assistant Principal at Midwood High School Evening High School Principal at Washington Irving High School.

34. So why is it important for you to know this about Ms. G? So that we, NEW DAY ACADEMY, can have the CHANCE to CHANGE with Ms. G’s HELP !!!

35. Student performance in middle school and high school is higher than the majority of peer schools! New Day Academy HAS made significant progress with students in middle school and high school! Other city and state evaluations have given high ratings to New Day Academy! No time was given to improve the high school grade, violating the accountability framework! New Day Academy has the tools to continue to make significant progress!