What is SchoolStat?

SchoolStat supports CEO Andrés A. Alonso’s implementation of district priorities and data-driven accountability processes.  SchoolStat serves as an internal project management and process improvement consultant for the Baltimore City Public School System (BCPSS).  SchoolStat's mission is to develop the BCPSS organizational and managerial capacity, with a strong foundation in data-driven decision making.

Baltimore City Public Schools System’s (BCPSS) SchoolStat is the first application of the "Stat" process to a public school system in the United States.  Beginning in 2001, Baltimore SchoolStat worked with a number of departments to improve management outcomes, which in SY2002-2003 included facilities, budget management, risk management, police, and employee leave.  In SY2003-2004, SchoolStat increased its portfolio to include special education services, adding transportation in the summer of 2005.  With BCPSS operations assuming responsibility for their Stat processes in SY2005-2006, SchoolStat’s primary focus shifted to BCPSS’ core business – teaching and learning – and continues to focus strongly on improving student achievement in the classroom.

The “Stat” process is based on the City of Baltimore's CitiStat program and the New York City Police Department's CompStat program. In New York City and in Baltimore, the "Stat" process has helped city managers increase customer service, reduce crime, improve health, and promote fiscal responsibility.

The process has received long-standing acclaim from public administrators and researchers as an effective management process.  CompStat was a major component of the dramatic declines in violent crime in New York City over the 1990's and CitiStat has saved the City of Baltimore more than $350 million in the six years of its existence.  Both CompStat and CitiStat have received the "Innovations in Government Award" from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

What are the Tenets of SchoolStat?

The underlying tenets of SchoolStat are:

How can SchoolStat Improve a School System?

The SchoolStat process is a set of sound management principles that can be applied to the public, private, or non-profit sector. No matter the work, it can be improved if planning and regular measurement and performance evaluation take place. And with structured, collaborative discussions around timely information, SchoolStat is helping the Baltimore City Public School System stay focused on its most important goals.

Baltimore’s SchoolStat has remained strong because it has always focused on sustaining a simple set of management principles that work, rather than relying on a single person for success.

Projects Supported by School Stat Project Management

Fair Student Funding
The BCPSS implemented a new funding model for school year 2008-2009.

Facility Solutions III
The BCPSS is in year three of the Facility Solutions process to right-size BCPSS school facilities.  During the summer 2008, more than $42 million in facility improvements will be made.

Alternative Schools Expansion
The BCPSS is expanding the number of students who can be served by alternative schools by almost 1,000.

Opening of School
The BCPSS aims to improve school opening every year.  SchoolStat is assisting with the district timeline for school opening (integrating all department start of school activities) and some particular initiatives, such as textbook ordering and delivery.

School Report Card
The BCPSS is defining a new accountability structure for schools.

Central Office Strategy and Accountability
The BCPSS is defining the strategy for reform under Dr. Alonso, and coupling this process with the workplans and accountability metrics top measure progress.

Stat Processes Run by School Stat

AttendanceStat
Focuses on meeting performance targets for student attendance and district targets for teacher attendance.  AttendanceStat also addresses problems of truancy (students with chronic attendance challenges).

EnrollmentStat (ImmunizationStat)
Focuses on maximizing the September 30th immunization and attendance rates, which determines the student count (basis for per pupil state funding).

Stat Processes Run by Departments

These stat processes were initially developed with SchoolStat’s support, but have since been adopted into the structure of accountability in each department as the particular stat processes and their department’s capacity were well developed.

HRStat (Teacher Recruitment, Teacher Vacancies and Highly Qualified Teachers)

InterruptionStat (Ensuring service delivery to students with disabilities)

FacilitiesStat (Facilities, Maintenance, and Operations)

LearningStat (School-based: Assessment-based model for principal leadership)

CapStat (Construction Projects)

ShopStat (Facilities Engineers)

Student Transportation

Where can I get more information on SchoolStat?

Phone: 443-984-3465
E-mail: thdewire@bcps.k12.md.us

Baltimore SchoolStat Visitors

• Adams Five Star School District (Denver, CO)
• City of Somerville (MA)
• Education Week
• Jackson Public School System (Jackson, MS)
• Maryland State Department of Education
• Nassau County Municipal Government (NY)
• New Leaders for New Schools
• Paterson Public School System (Patterson, NJ)
• Public School System of Edmonton (Alberta, Canada)
• The Abell Foundation
• The Fund for Educational Excellence
• The Greater Baltimore Committee
• The New Teacher Project
• The Stupski Foundation