[Insert Name] Superintendent
[Insert Name] School District [Address Line 1]
[Address Line 2] September 17, 2010
Dear [Insert Name]:
On March 22, 2010 the State Senate adopted Senate Resolution 243 (enclosed) directing the Joint State Government Commission to conduct a study of school districts found to be successful schools in the Costing Out study released in December 2007.
Specifically, the Commission has been asked to identify the “best practices” and “other factors” that contributed to some lower-spending districts being deemed high-performing in the Costing Out study. Senate Resolution 243 indicates that this report should be used as the basis for future deliberations by the Senate on basic education funding levels.
The Commission has worked with Senate staff and representatives of professional education organizations to identify possible best practices and other factors contributing to the success of these districts. In order to determine the extent to which these practices are being implemented and these factors are in place, the Commission is preparing a survey to send to the superintendents of twenty-five (25) school districts that are lower-spending and deemed high- performing in the Costing Out study.
Your district has been selected as one of the districts in our survey. Within the next two weeks, we will be mailing you a follow-up letter with information about the survey, including several options for completing it and returning it to our office.
The information the Commission is able to secure from the representative sample of districts will be analyzed and used as the basis of our report to the Senate.
Although you and your colleagues receive numerous surveys, questionnaires and other inquiries, the implications of this particular study are significant and require us to acquire the most complete information possible. Your assistance in completing the survey and providing the information will ensure that the analysis the Commission provides to the Senate will be thorough, accurate and useful.
If you have any questions regarding this study or the forthcoming survey, please do not hesitate to contact me at [email protected] or (717) 783-9376.
Sincerely,
Enclosure David S. John, Jr.
Acting Executive Director
[Insert Name] Superintendent
[Insert Name] School District
[Address Line 1] September 28, 2010
[Address Line 2]
Dear [Insert Name]:
In my previous letter I referenced the study being conducted by the Joint State Government Commission pursuant to Senate Resolution 243 of 2010. This study seeks to identify the best practices and other factors resulting in your school district being considered a “high performing and low spending” district.
Enclosed please find a survey prepared by Commission staff with questions aimed at helping us to acquire the data necessary to report to the Senate as required under SR243. We understand and appreciate the numerous duties you have as a school district administrator, but we would deeply appreciate your taking time to complete this survey as it will assist us in providing a thorough and accurate final report to the Senate.
You may respond to this survey in one of these ways, whichever is most convenient:
Mail: (enclosed postage-paid envelope) E-mail: [email protected] Phone: 717-787-4397
Fax: 717-783-9380
The Commission must submit a final report to the Senate by November 1st; therefore, we would request that you send your responses to our office no later than October 15th.
Thank you in advance for your assistance with this project. Sincerely,
Enclosure David S. John, Jr.
Acting Executive Director
From: Joint State Government Commission – SR243 Project Manager, Mrs. Karen Maynard Please e-mail responses to: [email protected] by: 10/15/10
District Name: __________________________
SUCCESSFUL SCHOOL DISTRICT SURVEY (2010 Senate Resolution 243)
1. What are some of your best practices that have helped you improve student performance?
Please make sure you list all your best practices including, but not limited to: • pre-school and/or K4 programs;
• early intervention services; • full-day kindergarten; • reduced class sizes in K-3; • smaller or larger schools; • math and literacy coaching; • tutoring assistance;
• increased instructional time (extended school day, summer school, and/or after school programs); • monitoring individual student achievement;
• social and emotional wellness and school safety programs; • dual enrollment opportunities;
• career development model such as Career Pathway or Career Academy; • professional teacher education and development; and
• faculty mentoring programs.
Of the best practices you listed, please provide some details on these programs including how many students they impact.
2. What other factors have helped your district maintain a high level of student performance
with lower-than-average costs?
These factors could include, but are not limited to:
• active parent and community involvement including PTO & PTA participation; • the existence of an educational foundation operating within your district;
• certain socio-economic characteristics of your community that, in your opinion, affect education;
• experience of administrators and school board members; and
• specific administrative structure of your school district at the central office and building levels.
3. What are some of the best cost-saving practices your district utilizes? These factors could include, but are not limited to:
• online learning opportunities;
• collaborative educational programs including Intermediate Unit or similar programs; • collaborative group purchasing programs; and
• innovative ways of using classroom space and district facilities.
4. What is the average number of students in your Kindergarten through 3rd grade classes?
(Note: We are looking for number of students per class, not the number of students per staff member.) 5. What is the counselor-to-student ratio in your district?
Please include all guidance, career and similar counselors when computing this ratio.
6. Do you believe that your district’s facilities (and classrooms in particular) are adequate for your