slj newsletter

Current Edition:
The Urban Assembly School for Law and Justice

November 30, 2009

Dear Friends,

Thanksgiving - or, at SLJ, "Propsgiving" - is a time when students close their books to sing each other's unsung accomplishments... to deliver props overlooked in the academic rush. The staff also temporarily retrains its focus from the work at hand to the colleagues without whom it could never be done... and to you for providing a support community in which no SLJ milestone is or ever will be a fluke, because too many hands hold the mission aloft. We hope you had a joyous holiday. With the following updates, we thank you for your friendship and invite you to share our pride in the students of SLJ.

IN THIS EDITION

SLJ GETS GRADED
(1) 2009 New York City Progress Report
(2) 2009 New York State Report Card
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
(3) Class of 2009 Matriculation Status
(4) Class of 2010 College Application Status
SLJ IN THE NEWS
(5) Daily News - August 4, 2009
(6) New York Post - August 23, 2009 (SLJ is ranked the #1 unscreened HS in NYC!)
TOUR SLJ FROM YOUR HOME OR OFFICE
(7) "A Virtual Visit to SLJ" by Moped Productions
CELEBRATE, PERPETUATE
(8) The First Annual "Social Justice Social" - Thursday 12/3 at Galapagos

(1) 2009 New York City Progress Report

On Monday, November 16, the New York City Department of Education released its annual high school progress reports. SLJ scored an A, by itself an accomplishment, but also the signal of an unbroken record: every year since progress report grading began and SLJ has been subject to it, the school has received an A.

SLJ earned extra credit for proficiency gains among the lowest third and among both African-American students and students with special educational needs.

What does this mean? The progress report is designed to track (a) how schools move students forward (so that a screened school that accepts straight-A students who remain straight-A students isn't necessarily scored high just for having kept them there - the progress report aims to be an authentic measure of individual and group progress for students, of true learning), and (b) how schools perform against their peer horizon, a grouping of similar schools serving like populations on an identical scale.

(2) 2009 New York State Report Card

While New York State's official report card has yet to be released, preliminary data suggests SLJ will maintain its exceptional standing with the state, with particularly strong AYP (Adequate Yearly Progress) across the board for African-American and economically disadvantaged students. Last year's report card offered this data comparison between SLJ and "similar schools" statewide:

% of Students Meeting or Exceeding Standards in English After Four Years of Instruction
SLJ - 92%
Similar Schools - 74%

% of Students Meeting or Exceeding Standards in Math After Four Years of Instruction
SLJ - 95%
Similar Schools - 73%

Most striking of what we expect the state's findings to show this year in its evaluation of SLJ is the four-year high school graduation rate for African-American students, still an unacceptable 55% statewide, but 93% at SLJ.

(3) Class of 2009 Matriculation Status

In late September we learned that 90% of the graduating Class of 2009 matriculated to college, an achievement that one education expert called "completely unmatched," saying that "no other public school in New York City, and possibly no unscreened city school in the country, is getting these results," which SLJ attributes to:

(A) first and foremost a rigorous, college-preparatory curriculum that fosters critical thinking, reasoning, and intellectual risk-taking, as well as field-based enrichment experiences that promote life skills and the ability to deftly negotiate any challenge or context.
(B) a school culture in which students are encouraged and taught to pursue their interests enthusiastically but also to self-advocate and seek out the resources their dreams require.
(C) a college advising process that equips students with the information they need to choose a college where they will be happy, challenged and supported in equal measure, and successful both as students and people.
(D) an alumni outreach program that ensures students have what they need to matriculate and to weather the college transition, and that helps students confront unexpected roadblocks along the way.

(4) Class of 2010 College Application Status

Ms. Knight's college office was the school's highest trafficked area in November, and seniors are busily putting the finishing touches on their last round of college applications to meet the school's internal deadline this week. The Class of 2010 is on track to match last year's seniors, all of whom applied to college -- most to more than one -- for a total of over 400 applications out the door.

So far, every senior has applied to CUNY, and the class boasts two final-round Posse (www.possefoundation.org) candidates. The spirit of the class, and of its support from the staff, is exemplified by the scene into which I stumbled at 7pm on Friday, November 20, passing through the college office in the hope at least one staffer wasn't already gone for the weekend. In fact, four were present, helping Ashley V. polish and dispatch her early decision application to Pitzer; one was completing a recommendation letter, one was proof-reading her personal statement, one was working on a dozen other things but chiming in with regular doses of moral support, one was on hand to be helpful because "I love these moments."

In her personal statement, Ashley, who has endured more than her share of hardship, writes, "At seventeen, I am already past the whole 'I'm scared people won't like who I am' thing and worries about 'who has the hottest boyfriend' or 'the nicest clothes.' Already I know there are more important things than those... I am the girl who uses safety pins as earrings, who finds herself in books, who knits for fun... In a few months I will be off at college, away from the comfort of my room, my fortress. I should be afraid and unsure but I am not. I feel prepared... I am in love with the inevitable, the unchangeable, the unlovable. I'm ready for whatever happens next."

(5) Daily News - August 4, 2009

Elizabeth Lazarowitz honored SLJ and the Class of 2009 with a warm cover story in the Brooklyn section that captured the personality and drive of last year's "family of graduates," as they would call themselves, and hailed their college admissions achievements as exceptional in the city. Please click here for the full story.


(6) New York Post - August 23, 2009

In its 16-page education pull-out on August 23, the New York Post provided an in-depth overview of the 400+ public schools in the city, spotlighting the top 50. SLJ came in an impressive 29th in the overall rankings and, among schools serving an unscreened population (ie refusing to test or audition in the admissions process, therefore accepting students regardless of prior academic achievement), was declared by the Post to be New York City's #1 public high school.

(7) "A Virtual Visit to SLJ" by Moped Productions

Filmed and edited over the spring and summer of 2009 by the consummately professional crew of Moped Productions (www.mopedproductions.tv), "A Virtual Visit to SLJ" has now officially launched at www.sljhs.org/virtualvisit and offers an inspiring glimpse inside SLJ's classrooms and hallways.

What you see when you visit SLJ - virtually or in person - is a community dedicated to the success of every child through high school, college and beyond. Real, systemic change of the kind taking place at SLJ is only possible through the support of friends who believe that public education reform is connected to - and an effective solution for - so many other forms of social inequity. If you're moved by your virtual visit, please consider contributing to SLJ this holiday season.

As 2009 graduate Dawn B. observes of the school that helped propel her to Wheaton College as a Posse scholar, "Once you come to SLJ, it's sort of like saying everyone has a common goal: we all want to succeed."

(8) The First Annual "Social Justice Social"
Thursday, December 3, 2009 from 6pm to 8pm
Galapagos Art Space, DUMBO

To toast our remarkable students and to keep our work on their behalf as robust as it can be, we're hosting a party this Thursday, December 3 from 6pm to 8pm in DUMBO's premier art space, Galapagos. Modest donations are encouraged. The purpose is to invite our friends and supporters to have fun and network but also to capitalize on a powerful trend that the New York Times recently credited with the success of Barack Obama's presidential campaign and the Hurrican Katrina relief effort: that of "microphilanthropy," of small gifts having enormous impact in the aggregate and, ultimately, carrying their causes to monumental success.

At this Thursday's "Social Justice Social," we endeavor to unite the city's rising professionals in the hub of Brooklyn's art scene to individually contribute what we can and collectively declare that the failure of NYC public schools is not an option and, together, we can provide SLJ's historically underserved students with the educational opportunities they so richly need and deserve... educational opportunities that are already sending them to college in record numbers. Please RSVP at www.sljhs.org/socialjusticesocial.

On behalf of Shannon and the staff of SLJ and the Adams Street Foundation, thank you for rallying around this little school that we are proud and humbled to say is making a big difference.

Joe