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Trip Report

High School Redesign in New York, New York

A Field Trip for State Policy Leaders — May 25 - 26, 2006

In 2002, the New York City school system launched a large-scale high school reform strategy aimed at raising dismal graduation rates and increasing the number of quality educational options for young people. As one element of the reform, Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Chancellor Joel Klein committed to create 200 new small schools in five years, while closing historically underperforming schools. The reform plan required clear focus, political will, and partnerships with community-based and citywide organizations. Deciding to visit New York was easy: the city has a focused plan for high school reform and is part of the New Century High School Initiative, a groundbreaking program to transform high schools funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Carnegie Corporation of New York, and Open Society Institute.

During this trip, we will meet with district and state reform leaders, including Chancellor of New York City Schools Joel Klein and New York Commissioner of Education Richard Mills. These meetings will provide time to delve more deeply into the strategies and policies used to support high school redesign. We will also meet with students, teachers, and school leaders to hear about their on-the-ground experiences with district and state reform efforts. Meetings and site visits will help provide context to the invaluable discussions and peer learning opportunities throughout the trip. In addition to engaging in substantive policy discussions, the trip will allow participants to see a range of secondary options that represent the district’s approach to high school redesign.

Contact Information

Ilene Berman
Program Director 
Center for Best Practices 
National Governors Association    
444 North Capitol Street, Suite 267 
Washington, DC  20001-5012
202-624-5378
iberman@nga.org

Iris Bond Gill
Senior Program Associate
American Youth Policy Forum
1836 Jefferson Place, NW
Washington, DC  20036
202 775-9731
ibgill@aypf.org

Betsy Brand
Director
American Youth Policy Forum                  
1836 Jefferson Place, NW                           
Washington, DC 20036 
202-775-9731  
bbrand@aypf.org                                          

Darlene Morgan Brown
Director for Charter Schools Initiative
University of New Orleans
2000 Lakeshore Drive
New Orleans, LA  70148
Business: 504-280-6253
dmorgan@uno.edu

Marcie Brown
Education Policy Director
Office of Governor Mitch Daniels
Statehouse
Indianapolis, IN  46204-2797
317-232-4567
mabrown@gov.in.gov

Yvonne Caamal Canul  
Director  
Office of School Improvement
Michigan Department of Education   
608 West Allegan    
Lansing, MI  48933   
517-241-3147  
CanulY@michigan.gov                                                                        

Sue Carnell
Education Policy Advisor
Governor Jennifer M. Granholm
111 South Capitol Avenue
PO Box 30013
Lansing, MI  48909
517-373-4083
carnells@michigan.gov

Irma Clark-Coleman   
State Senator
Michigan State Senate
P.O. Box 30036  
Lansing, MI  48909-7536    
517-373-0990 
seniclark-coleman@senate.michigan.gov

Judi Coffield
Education Associate
Secondary Schools
Delaware Department of Education
Townsend Building
401 Federal Street, Suite 2
Dover, DE  19901-3639
302-735-4000
jcoffield@doe.k12.de.us

Denise Delorey     
Education Specialist 
Massachusetts Department of Education 
350 Main Street     
Malden, MA  02148 
781-338-3113 
ddelorey@doe.mass.edu   

Nyal Fuentes
Massachusetts Department of Education
350 Main Street
Malden, MA  02148-5023
781-338-3593
nfuentes@doe.mass.edu

Susan Haberstroh
Special Assistant to the Secretary
Office of the Secretary of Education
Delaware Department of Education  
Townsend Building  
401 Federal Street, Suite 2  
Dover, DE  19901-3639 
302-739-4652   
shaberstroh@doe.k12.de.us                    

Jane Kendrick
Director, Small High School Transformation
and American Diploma Project Leadership Team
Indianapolis Public Schools
801 N. Carrollton Avenue
Indianapolis, IN  46202-3430
317-226-4122
kendricj@ips.k12.in.us

Sunny Kristin
Policy Specialist, Education Programs  
National Conference of State Legislatures
7700 E. First Place 
Denver, CO  80230-7143 
303-364-7700   
sunny.kristin@ncsl.org      

Eve Laubner
District Intervention Specialist  
School & District Intervention Office
Massachusetts Department of Education       
350 Main Street
Malden, MA  02148-5023
781-338-3113
elaubner@doe.mass.edu 

Sandra Licon
Associate Policy Officer
Education Advocacy
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
1755 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W.
Suite 500
Washington, DC 20005
202-662-8175

Edwin Murray
State Senator
Louisiana State Senator
1540 North Broad Street
New Orleans, LA 70119
504-942-8370
emurray@legis.state.la.us

Donna Nola-Ganey
Assistant Superintendent of Education
Louisiana Department of Education
P.O. Box 94064
Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9064
225-342-3900
donna.ganey@la.gov

Gregory Porter
State Representative
3614 N. Pennsylvania Street
Indianapolis, IN 46205-3436
317-221-2146
gporter@hhcorp.org

Suellen Reed
Superintendent of Public Instruction

Indiana Department of Education
200 West Washington Street, Room 229
Indianapolis, IN  46204
317-232-6665
sreed@doe.state.in.us

Barbara Rutt
State Board Member
Delaware State Board of Education
1001 Pecan Avenue
Milford, DE  19963
302-739-4603
barbararutt@yahoo.com

Ana Sol Gutierrez
State Delegate
Maryland House of Representatives
219 Lowe House Office Builiding
Annapolis, MD  21401-1991
301-652-4042
ana_gutierrez@house.state.md.us

David Wakelyn
Senior Policy Analyst
Education Division, Center for Best Practices
National Governors Association
444 North Capitol Street, Suite 267
Washington, DC  20001-1512
202-624-5352
dwakelyn@nga.org