Kudos to the Symposium sponsored by Stamford Achieves at the Ferguson: Why the urban student need not fail and how to remedy a failing education system

At last Wednesday night's Success Symposium, hosted by Stamford Achieves, Ms. Sylvia Abbati, Asst. Superintendent of Union City New Jersey's school district said that in the High School's General Education the pass rate had been 30% for students (excluding limited English proficiency and  special needs students). This past year, the pass rate had jumped up to 70%.

Stanley Sanger Superintendent of Union City, NJ Public Schools 
He has been at the helm for the last 12 years and 40 years in the district

Mr. Stanley Sanger  the Superintendent of the Union City school system presented the audience with some amazing numbers. 97% of the children are Hispanic, 34% are English Language Learners, 12% are special needs and 45% are at risk. 

The keynote speaker, Dr. David Kirp, who has written a book on the success of  Union City Schools, told a room full of educators and guests that the community's  High School graduation rate is currently an astounding 90%;  this compares with a national average of  75%. 

25 years ago, Union City had the second worst graduation rate in New Jersey--just behind Camden. 

Stamford's High Schools'  graduation rate stands at 80%. 

What are the secrets of the Union City model?

1. The consistency of setting a rigorous core of standards and a skilled teacher that engages the students in the learning process so that he/she not only learns facts but can analyze and synthesize these facts through the process of higher thinking. 

   Learning by rote is being replaced by learning through doing: computer interactivity, drawing, acting projects, etc. 

     This process begins in pre-k and is developed incrementally, systematically and  consistently through elementary school to high school. 

 2. Retention of personnel. Out of 993 educators in Union City, only 3 left last year. Clearly teachers are getting results, are given recognition and excellent remuneration.

     Joshua Starr Stamford's previous superintendent, an outside hire, left after only 6 years at the helm in 2011. Winifred Hamilton, a 40 year veteran of the district was appointed Superintendent starting in the fall of 2013 after serving as interim appointee at the helm for two years.  

        

 3. Strong Central leadership:  the members of the Union City Board of Education are appointed--not elected.

    This is indeed controversial, but has proved successful.  

     Lining up Board members who are united in thinking can achieve amazing success. Many a school district falters because of division, dissension and the playing of politics. (see my blog on the bitter friction between Greenwich Superintendent of Education Sidney Freund and his board of education and his subsequent resignation after only five years.)

    This dissension trickles down from the board to the Principals, then to the APs, to the teachers and ultimately the students suffer. 

     Union City has the formula and hopefully this will inspire other schools systems such as ours to rethink its current practices and long term vision.