{"id":4924,"date":"2015-12-09T16:53:43","date_gmt":"2015-12-09T21:53:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/digital.hbs.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/up-education-network\/"},"modified":"2015-12-09T16:54:43","modified_gmt":"2015-12-09T21:54:43","slug":"up-education-network-dramatic-results-through-people-and-process","status":"publish","type":"hck-submission","link":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/up-education-network-dramatic-results-through-people-and-process\/","title":{"rendered":"UP Education Network \u2013 dramatic results through people and process"},"content":{"rendered":"

Context<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

In Massachusetts, the United States\u2019 top performing state in K-12 education, there are roughly 77,000 students attending failing public schools (8% of public school children).[1]<\/a> [2]<\/a> Across the country, thousands of students are stuck in persistently under-performing schools. In 2010, HBS graduate Scott Given founded UP Education Network, a non-profit designed to address this issue.<\/p>\n

The UP Business Model<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

UP Education Network (UP) is an education management organization that \u201crapidly transforms chronically under-performing district schools into extraordinary schools that sustain high achievement over time.\u201d[3]<\/a> UP does not open new schools; it partners with school districts to restart and manage their most struggling schools. UP implements a new school model and hires new staff, while continuing to serve the same students that previously attended the school.<\/p>\n

The process of restarting a school is complex. In order to minimize disruption for students and their families, the school closes at the end of one year (i.e., end of June) and opens the following fall (i.e., late August) under UP\u2019s management. Over the span of two months, UP must onboard a new staff of 50-85 teachers and leaders, train them on UP\u2019s model, renovate the building, and build relationships with students and families.<\/p>\n

The work does not get easier once the school reopens. UP restarts deeply struggling schools with broken cultures and students who are multiple levels behind their peers. UP must rebuild the school culture and behavior norms, while accelerating student learning. The districts hold UP to high performance standards and they must quickly demonstrate results to maintain their partnership agreement.<\/p>\n

UP\u2019s Operating Model<\/span>[4]<\/strong><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

In order to fulfill its promise of restarting schools and delivering\u00a0outstanding results to students, CEO Scott Given had to design an organization with unique capabilities. In particular, Given made critical investments in two functions \u2013 human capital and data management \u2013 that separate it from a typical school district and other school management organizations.<\/p>\n

Human Capital <\/strong><\/p>\n

To manage its immense annual hiring needs \u2013 each restart requires 50-85 new staff and its existing schools have ongoing hiring needs as a result of attrition \u2013 UP staffs a large talent recruitment team. Compared to other school management organizations, UP has nearly 2.5 times as many recruiting staff per student served.[5]<\/a> (See video for sample recruitment resources).<\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=_8htx_Vyuh8#action=share<\/a><\/p>\n

UP\u2019s investments in human capital extend beyond recruiting. UP designed teacher and leader residency programs to develop talent in-house. Aspiring teachers and school leaders are embedded in a school and, over the course of a year, observe master teachers and leaders, take on increasing responsibility, and participate in professional development. UP\u2019s residency programs build a pipeline of new talent trained specifically in UP\u2019s model.<\/p>\n

Focus on Data<\/strong><\/p>\n

To ensure that its schools are able to quickly raise student achievement, UP is investing significant resources into data management. UP gives its schools real time information on students\u2019 academic and behavioral progress and helps them use that data to shift their teaching \"UPpractices.<\/p>\n