Achievement First
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| Achievement First | |
|---|---|
| Name | Achievement First |
| Type | Charter school network |
| Founded | 1999 |
| Founder | Diane Ravitch |
Achievement First is a nonprofit charter school network operating primarily in the northeastern United States. It manages a portfolio of publicly funded, independently operated schools that emphasize college-preparatory instruction, extended school days, and rigorous assessment. The network interacts with municipal school districts, state education agencies, and philanthropic institutions while drawing attention from elected officials, education researchers, and advocacy organizations.
History
The network emerged during a period of expansion in the charter sector alongside organizations such as KIPP, Uncommon Schools, Success Academy Charter Schools, YES Prep, and Green Dot Public Schools. Early development involved partnerships with local school districts like New Haven Public Schools and Hartford Public Schools, and policy contexts shaped by legislation such as the No Child Left Behind Act and state charter laws in Connecticut, New York (state), and Rhode Island. National debates featuring figures including Michelle Rhee, Joel Klein, Arne Duncan, Randi Weingarten, and Diane Ravitch influenced public perception. Major expansion phases corresponded with philanthropic investments from entities similar to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Walton Family Foundation, and regional education funds.
Organization and Governance
The network is governed by a central board of trustees and executive leadership akin to governance models seen at organizations like Teach For America and Relay Graduate School of Education. Its corporate structure includes regional superintendents and school principals who report to central office executives, reflecting models used by Uncommon Schools and KIPP Foundation. Oversight interfaces with state education departments such as the Connecticut State Department of Education and the New York State Education Department, as well as local school boards. Governance debates often intersect with legal cases and advocacy groups including Alliance for Excellent Education and American Federation for Children.
Educational Model and Curriculum
Instructional design draws on influences from networks like KIPP, Success Academy Charter Schools, and national curriculum initiatives such as the Common Core State Standards Initiative. Key features include extended school days and years, frequent formative assessments, and structured literacy programs connected to methods advocated by organizations like Core Knowledge Foundation and Students at the Center. Teacher recruitment and professional development have ties to pipelines including Teach For America and graduate programs such as Relay Graduate School of Education and Columbia University Teachers College. Curriculum materials often reference publishers and frameworks used across the sector, including E.D. Hirsch Jr.-associated materials, math sequences comparable to those used by Saxon Math, and schoolwide behavior systems resembling restorative practices promoted by groups like Turnaround for Children.
School Network and Campuses
Campuses are concentrated in urban areas comparable to New Haven, Connecticut, Brooklyn, New York, Hartford, Connecticut, and Providence, Rhode Island. The network operates elementary, middle, and high schools with feeder patterns similar to municipal systems in those cities. Facility arrangements include leased buildings, renovated schoolhouses, and co-location within municipal school facilities, a practice also seen in Green Dot Public Schools and Success Academy Charter Schools. Enrollment policies interact with local lotteries and admissions rules overseen by state charter statutes and municipal education offices.
Performance and Accountability
Academic outcomes are measured against state assessments administered by offices like the New York State Education Department and the Connecticut State Department of Education, as well as national assessments administered by organizations such as the National Assessment of Educational Progress. External evaluations and research from institutions like Harvard University, Stanford University, University of Pennsylvania, and policy centers including the Brookings Institution and the American Enterprise Institute inform debates about effectiveness. Accountability mechanisms include charter renewal processes, authorizer reviews, and performance frameworks analogous to those used by city education departments and statewide charter authorizers.
Funding and Partnerships
Revenue streams combine public per-pupil funding allocated under state statutes, facilities funding mechanisms similar to New York City Department of Education’s co-location policies, and philanthropic grants from foundations resembling the Walton Family Foundation and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Partnerships include collaborations with teacher preparation programs such as Teach For America and higher education institutions including Yale University and Columbia University for research and professional development. The network has also engaged community organizations and local government offices in service agreements and joint initiatives.
Criticisms and Controversies
Critiques parallel those leveled at other charter networks like KIPP and Success Academy Charter Schools, raised by stakeholders including teachers' unions such as the American Federation of Teachers and the National Education Association, community advocacy groups, and municipal officials. Concerns have included staff turnover compared with district counterparts, disciplinary policies relative to civil rights advocates, funding impacts on district budgets cited by local school boards, and debates over admissions and student attrition highlighted by policy researchers at institutions such as Princeton University and Teachers College, Columbia University. High-profile public debates have involved city mayors, state education commissioners, and legal actions in venues similar to state courts and education tribunals.