The "Broad Acres" Show hits New York, New York!

Case Study: How Broad Acres Found Success
March 11, 2010 by Kevin Hart

Representatives from Broad Acres Elementary School in Montgomery County, MD, recently attended NEA’s Priority Schools Campaign conference in New York City, where they shared the story of the school’s remarkable turnaround.

The school, which serves primarily low-income students and was on the verge of a state takeover, has been able to improve student achievement through a focus on collaboration among unions, administrators and community stakeholders. The details on the Broad Acres turnaround were offered to conference attendees in a remarkable case study.

Want to read the Case Study? Click HERE.

Highlights from the "Case Study:"

The Superintendent knew that he and the system would be judged by one thing, and one thing only. A rise in student achievement scores, particularly those of minority students and in chronically underperforming schools would allow the schools to justify larger budgets and would win the praises of media pundits, parents, and the politicians who held the purse strings.

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Three successful schools were identified for study: Broad Acres Elementary, Viers Mill Elementary (less low income and without any union involvement), and McNair Elementary (higher income and also without involvement of the union). The superintendent’s public relations manager was assigned to oversee the writing of the case studies. The independent lead investigator promised by Weast was never used, as planned, in the writing of the studies. Upon her review of the case study drafts, she communicated with the superintendent her concerns about the lack of rigor in the case studies, and the minimal mention of the role of the union in Broad Acres’ success.

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Case written and developed by Mark Simon, Tom Mooney Institute for Teacher and Union Leadership, 2007. A teaching tool, it may be used freely with attribution. Questions, call 240-603-6450.