The Benwood Initiative, a partnership between Hamilton County schools, the Benwood Foundation and the Public Education Foundation, has seen great success in boosting test scores in eight high-poverty urban elementary schools. With a focus on literacy, the number of Benwood third-graders scoring proficient in reading has jumped from 53% in 2003 to 80% in 2007. The initiative has recently been expanded to include 8 additional schools from all across the county.
Education Sector author Elena Silva stressed that the Benwood Initiative helped teachers improve the quality of their instruction. This was done by giving teachers the support and training they need; hiring school-based teacher coaches (“consulting teachers”) to offer guidance to teachers on a day-to-day basis; and developing stronger and more collaborative school leaders.
As we embark on the first year of “Phase II” of the Benwood Initiative, the Public Education Foundation is very pleased with this prestigious confirmation of the strong partnership between HCDE, the Benwood Foundation, and all the many community partners who have banded together to create and continue this important work.
The Education Sector report, The Benwood Plan: A Lesson in Comprehensive Teacher Reform, can be found at: http://www.educationsector.org/research/research_show.htm?doc_id=676645
To learn more about the Benwood Initiative, click here.
To learn more about Education Sector, click here.