Keeping the Promise (KTP): The Massachusetts Charter School Dissemination and Replication Project

Through a federally-funded, 3-year project, the MCPSA studied five, high-performing urban charter schools: Academy of the Pacific Rim, Boston Collegiate, Community Day, MATCH, and Roxbury Preparatory.

The Study conducted by the schools and an outside team of researchers brought us to a better understanding of what makes these schools tick:

• a laser-like focus on the school’s mission: student achievement and success in college
• a culture of high expectations and support to get there
• carefully developed systems and structures that serve the school’s mission
• tremendous teachers and leaders who are committed to continuous improvement

Results of this project were study tours, research findings, school-based papers and a film. Papers and research findings are available below as well as an order form for the film on DVD.

Research Findings

Research on the five schools in this study was conducted by Katherine Merseth, Harvard University, with Kristy Cooper, Mara Casey Tieken, John Roberts, Jon Valant, and Chris Wynne.

Click on the links below to learn about research findings centered on school culture and mission, people, and structures and systems. Note that the "References" link below is a useful accompaniment to each document.

• Culture, Missions, and Theories of Action (PDF)
• The Right People (PDF)
• Structures and Systems: Getting Organized for Instruction (PDF)
• References (PDF)

PAPERS

Each of the five high-performing urban charter schools studied in the project engaged in self-examination and produced a paper documenting goals, challenges, and keys to success. Visit the Whole School Model section of this Web site, or click on the links for the papers below; free download.

• Academy of the Pacific Rim Charter Public School: Building Character and Achieving Academic Success
• Boston Collegiate Charter School: Five Keys to Creating a Successful College-Prep Program
• Community Day Charter Public School: Meeting the Needs of Students, Families and the Community
• MATCH Charter Public School: Courage, Discipline, and Perseverance
• Roxbury Preparatory Charter School: Student Achievement is Our Bottom Line

FILM

Beating the Odds: Inside Five Urban Charter Schools

by Robbie Leppzer, Turning Tide Productions

This dvd documentary includes interviews with students, teachers, and school leaders, as well as footage of classroom practices and school events.

Order via mail house and from Turning Tide Productions. Limited quantities are available for free; shipping and handling apply. Anticipated DVD release: June 2009: Click here for order form.

Notes:

To carry out KTP, MCPSA collaborated with the five schools noted above and the following organizations; the Massachusetts Center for Charter Public School Excellence (MCCPSE), the Project for School Innovation (PSI), Community Partners Initiative (CPI) and the Center for Education Policy, UMASS also provided invaluable support. For information on KTP, contact the MCPSA.

The research findings, film, and papers, as well as the contents of this page were developed under a grant from the U.S. Department of Education, CFDA #84.282N, Award #U282N060005. The content does not necessarily represent the policy of the Department of Education, and endorsement by the Federal government should not be assumed.