Publications and Tools
Research on Next Generation Accountability... The Next Generation Accountability Learning Community (NGALC) explores the emerging implementation of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), the 2015 reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, from the perspective of small-to-midsize urban districts. Through in-depth conversations with policy experts and fellow educators from across New England, members of the NGALC are identifying opportunities and challenges the new law presents for schools serving large concentrations of high-needs students. Community Matters is working with MassINC to prepare a series of publications profiling this work. New publications of NGALC, research documents and links to other resources can be accessed at the NGALC website.
Teaming for Results: A Workshop for Leaders... In February 2016, Community Matters developed a workshop for 250 GEAR UP educators and staff at the Capacity Building Workshop of the National Council for Community and Education Partnerships (NCCEP), a national non-profit, non-partisan organization working to increase access to higher education for economically disadvantaged students. This session tapped the rich research of Dr. Amy Edmondson, provided an array of hands-on tools, and challenged leaders to identify specific skills and practices to emphasize in their future work.
Challenging Massachusetts to develop more powerful workforce development strategies... In 2008-09, Community Matters melded economic data with local narratives to profile innovations and promising practices in Working Together: A Report on Phase One, providing community colleges, schools, community organizations, businesses and workforce agencies with tools for leadership. In 2011, CM researched and published Retaining Older Workers: Practical Strategies For Workforce Development Leaders as a part of Commonwealth Corporation’s continuing effort to support innovations in Massachusetts workforce development. CM also wrote the final, concluding report documenting patterns in regional economic and workforce development: Closing the Massachusetts Skills Gap: Recommendations and Action Steps (2013).
Offering training and a set of tools to help urban principals and district leaders build more powerful school-community partnerships... At the request of leaders in the Boston Public Schools and the MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Community Matters and regional educational leadership and learning enterprise Teachers21 teamed up to develop a training for principals and other district leaders. The team, which included John D'Auria of Teachers21, focused on building system and individual capacity to plan and grow effective, aligned working relationships with community agencies and external resource organizations. Among the many tools developed and shared is the "Partnership Development Strategy and Support Tool for Principals" (2014), which cites research, frames key areas of work, offers 'look fors' and big ideas, and links to educator evaluation standards.
| partnership_tool_for_principals_cm-t21.pdf |
Leading and documenting the District Capacity Project (DCP), a network of labor-management teams focusing on student achievement in public school districts across Massachusetts... Community Matters co-authored the original planning and funding documents that launched the DCP, and CM Partners Andrew Bundy and Lainy Fersh continue to facilitate key elements of DCP's work. Andrew wrote "The District Capacity Project: A Report on Year One," documenting strong evidence of impact on the practices of participating leaders and detailing program progress (2014).
Calling attention to the "invisible" dropout crisis in the city of Boston, and laying the foundation for rapid improvements in graduation levels... In 2005, 1,936 students left the Boston Public Schools (BPS) without a diploma; by 2014, that number fell to 701. In 2015, the graduation rate of the Boston Public Schools (BPS) reached its highest point ever. Boston's Youth Transitions Task Force (YTTF) and its many partners have played a central role in these successes. In 2006, working with YTTF leaders Neil Sullivan and Kathy Hamilton of the Private Industry Council, and with data from researcher Andy Sum, Community Matters co-wrote the call to action that helped spark this transformation: Too Big to be Seen: The Invisible Dropout Crisis in Boston and America.
Helping an entire city -- families and youth, the mayor, the school district, community organizations, the funder community -- set goals for the future of youth development... In 2002, education and community leaders in Providence, Rhode Island knew that they lacked an effective youth development strategy for the city. They sought an organized, strategic approach to the development of a system of high quality out-of-school time programming. Working for the Providence Public Schools and the United Way of Rhode Island, Community Matters conducted the city's first in-depth study of these issues, called Stepping Up! Out-of-School Time and Youth Development in Providence: A School-Community Analysis. Providence has since developed a series of bold initiatives and become a national leader in out-of-school time programming.
Investing in Student Success: Financing School-Connected Initiatives in Boston, Andrew Bundy, Elaine Fersh, Sharon Deich, Cheri Hayes, Amanda Szekely, Dan Restuccia, and Rachel Sherman, Boston After School & Beyond and The Full-service Schools Roundtable, June 2007 http://www.fssroundtable.org/pdfs/Investing-in-Student-Success.pdf
Making Communities Stronger: Strategic Planning for Boston Centers for Youth and Families, Andrew Bundy and Elaine Fersh, for Boston Centers for Youth and Families, 2005
"Citywide Out-of-School Time Initiatives: Lessons Learned & Innovative Strategies," by Community Matters and Tracy Breslin, Rhode Island KIDS COUNT, 2003
Meeting the Challenge: Financing Out-of-School Time Programming in Boston and Massachusetts, Parents United for Child Care, S. Wechsler, A. Kershaw, E. Fersh, A. Bundy 2001
“Accessing and Maximizing Medicaid Financing to Support Health and Mental Health Services for School-Age Children and Youth,” Andrew Bundy with V. Wegener, Finance Project, 2000
Rethinking Advocacy: One Union’s Story – Building a Stronger Union Through Systemwide School Reform, Andrew Bundy, National Education Association, 1997
Making Communities Stronger: Strategic Planning for Boston Centers for Youth and Families, Andrew Bundy and Elaine Fersh, for Boston Centers for Youth and Families, 2005
"Citywide Out-of-School Time Initiatives: Lessons Learned & Innovative Strategies," by Community Matters and Tracy Breslin, Rhode Island KIDS COUNT, 2003
Meeting the Challenge: Financing Out-of-School Time Programming in Boston and Massachusetts, Parents United for Child Care, S. Wechsler, A. Kershaw, E. Fersh, A. Bundy 2001
“Accessing and Maximizing Medicaid Financing to Support Health and Mental Health Services for School-Age Children and Youth,” Andrew Bundy with V. Wegener, Finance Project, 2000
Rethinking Advocacy: One Union’s Story – Building a Stronger Union Through Systemwide School Reform, Andrew Bundy, National Education Association, 1997