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	Poll says residents support local high school reform efforts Chattanooga Times & Free Press March 19, 2006 By Beverly A. Carroll, Staff Writer Nine out of 10 Hamilton County residents who responded to a Washington, D.C., telephone poll said high school reform requires the support of the entire community, survey results show. Four out of five people said failing high schools cannot get better by themselves. "That really does signal a change in attitude and awareness," said Connie Warren, senior program director for Carnegie Corp. of New York, a group funding high school reform throughout the country, including Hamilton County. "People are starting to understand that education is a community institution that requires multiple partners in the business and civic communities and from grass-roots parents groups," she said. The survey was conducted for Carnegie by Washington, D.C.-based Widmeyer Research and Polling. Pollsters surveyed 371 Hamilton County residents 18 and older and has a margin of error plus or minus 5.1 percent. Marty McGough, vice president of Widmeyer, said the public has seen many polls exposing the needs of today's high schools. "But this is one of the first to gauge the thoughts of Americans to actual reform efforts that are in the midst of being implemented," he said. Hamilton County Schools Superintendent Jesse Register said the district is seeing success from the high school reform programs now in their fifth year. The district was one of seven across the country selected by Carnegie for an $8 million, five-year grant for high school reform . "A higher percentage of students are moving successfully from ninth to 10th grade in one year, student attendance is improving, more students are passing the mandatory state exams on the first try and graduation rates are improving," he said in a prepared statement. The Public Education Foundation of Chattanooga is the district's partner in developing reform programs and raising the required local match of $6 million. "We've shown that community partners can make a real difference in helping our schools succeed," said Public Education Foundation President Dan Challener. Survey respondents agreed that smaller is better when it comes to schools . Eight out of 10 residents said creating smaller learning communities in already large schools should be a district priority. Six out of 10 said they believe that smaller schools lead to better student learning and improved achievement. A major component of the reform in Hamilton County's 17 high schools has been the creation of academies, or small schools within schools that link career with college preparatory academics. Each school has a freshman academy that keeps ninth-graders segregated from older students for their first year of high school . "You have some great examples in Hamilton County," Dr. Warren said. "The construction academy in East Ridge High School is a good example of project-based learning. When you look at the math curriculum you see a math program built around construction problems, making it more real to young people." Dr. Warren said it is too early to say if Carnegie will make more grants to Hamilton County to continue the work. "We are not the (Bill) Gates Foundation," she said. "But we are reviewing our data."

Poll says residents support local high school reform efforts

Chattanooga Times & Free Press
March 19, 2006
By Beverly A. Carroll, Staff Writer

Nine out of 10 Hamilton County residents who responded to a Washington, D.C., telephone poll said high school reform requires the support of the entire community, survey results show.

Four out of five people said failing high schools cannot get better by themselves.

"That really does signal a change in attitude and awareness," said Connie Warren, senior program director for Carnegie Corp. of New York, a group funding high school reform throughout the country, including Hamilton County. "People are starting to understand that education is a community institution that requires multiple partners in the business and civic communities and from grass-roots parents groups," she said.

The survey was conducted for Carnegie by Washington, D.C.-based Widmeyer Research and Polling. Pollsters surveyed 371 Hamilton County residents 18 and older and has a margin of error plus or minus 5.1 percent. Marty McGough, vice president of Widmeyer, said the public has seen many polls exposing the needs of today's high schools. "But this is one of the first to gauge the thoughts of Americans to actual reform efforts that are in the midst of being implemented," he said.

Hamilton County Schools Superintendent Jesse Register said the district is seeing success from the high school reform programs now in their fifth year. The district was one of seven across the country selected by Carnegie for an $8 million, five-year grant for high school reform .

"A higher percentage of students are moving successfully from ninth to 10th grade in one year, student attendance is improving, more students are passing the mandatory state exams on the first try and graduation rates are improving," he said in a prepared statement.

The Public Education Foundation of Chattanooga is the district's partner in developing reform programs and raising the required local match of $6 million.

"We've shown that community partners can make a real difference in helping our schools succeed," said Public Education Foundation President Dan Challener.

Survey respondents agreed that smaller is better when it comes to schools . Eight out of 10 residents said creating smaller learning communities in already large schools should be a district priority. Six out of 10 said they believe that smaller schools lead to better student learning and improved achievement.

A major component of the reform in Hamilton County's 17 high schools has been the creation of academies, or small schools within schools that link career with college preparatory academics. Each school has a freshman academy that keeps ninth-graders segregated from older students for their first year of high school .

"You have some great examples in Hamilton County," Dr. Warren said. "The construction academy in East Ridge High School is a good example of project-based learning. When you look at the math curriculum you see a math program built around construction problems, making it more real to young people."

Dr. Warren said it is too early to say if Carnegie will make more grants to Hamilton County to continue the work.

"We are not the (Bill) Gates Foundation," she said. "But we are reviewing our data."