THE POSSIBILITY FUND

IN JULY 2017, WE LAUNCHED A MULTI-YEAR, MULTI-PHASE INITIATIVE TO TRANSFORM THE PERFORMANCE OF THE CHESTER UPLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT ("THE CUSD"). A GROWING BODY OF WORK BY GAP INTERNATIONAL, A GLOBAL CONSULTING FIRM WITH A 40-YEAR TRACK RECORD OF ORGANIZATIONAL TRANSFORMATION, SHOWS THAT THE CULTURE AND PERFORMANCE OF ANY ORGANIZATION IS SHAPED BY ITS LEADERSHIP. AS SUCH, OUR INITIAL PROGRAMS FOCUSED ON INVESTING IN THE SUPERINTENDENT, ADMINISTRATION, PRINCIPALS, AND ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS. OVER 3,800 FACULTY, STAFF, AND STUDENTS ARE AFFECTED BY THE LEADERS WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE POSSIBILITY FUND PROGRAMS. MAJOR (THE CUSD) ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDE: - EXPANSION OF PRE-K PROGRAMS THROUGH WINNING A 5-YEAR, $5M GRANT - OVER 30 STUDENTS CERTIFIED IN CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS - AT LEAST 23 STUDENTS WERE ACCEPTED TO COLLEGES AND EARNED $166,000 IN SCHOLARSHIPS ON THE HEELS OF A COLLEGE TOUR - 47 STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN A DIFFERENT COLLEGE TOUR AND ALL WERE ACCEPTED INTO AT LEAST ONE COLLEGE AND AT LEAST HALF RECEIVED SCHOLARSHIPS- A GROUP OF STUDENTS TOOK THE KEYSTONE TEST OVER THE WINTER AND 25% INCREASED A QUARTILE IN THEIR TEST RESULTS ALSO, PROFICIENT SCORES IN READING NEARLY DOUBLED FROM 18% TO 30%- SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IN DAILY BEHAVIORAL INCIDENCE ON BUSES IN 2018, WE PILOTED AND ACHIEVED POSITIVE RESULTS FROM THE BREAKTHROUGH MINDSET CURRICULUM WITH HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS AND STAFF. WE SCALED THE PROGRAM TO MIDDLE SCHOOL TEACHERS AND STAFF AND ARE CONTINUING TO RECORD INDICATORS OF POSITIVE SHIFTS IN THE CULTURE AND PERFORMANCE. MAJOR (THE CUSD) ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDE: - SIGNIFICANT INCREASES IN STUDENTS READING PARTICIPATION BY HAVING THEM READ RAP SONGS - NEW DISMISSAL PROCESS AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL NO LONGER REQUIRES POLICE PRESENCE - MENTORING PROGRAMS ARE DECREASING VIOLENT INCIDENTS AND SUPPORTING YOUNG WOMEN IN RESOLVING THEIR ISSUES THROUGH DIALOGUE AND MEDIATION.- 74% OF AN ENGLISH TEACHER'S STUDENTS IMPROVED TWO GRADE EQUIVALENCIES ON THE PEARSON READING INVENTORY.- A SCIENCE CLASS PLACED 1ST OUT OF 18 SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THE FRANKLIN INSTITUTE SCIENCE FAIR