Achievement First has always understood that it is not enough to simply run great schools, but that we must work intentionally to influence the ecosystems in which we operate. Achievement First’s advocacy has had a direct impact on transforming the environment for education reform in the states and districts in which we operate.

Connecticut

Connecticut has the largest achievement gap in the nation. Achievement First is not only the largest charter operator in Connecticut but also the most influential politically—our work has been instrumental in:

• Increasing charter per pupil funding from $7,250 to $9,300 over the last four years
• Eliminating the cap on the number of charters in the state
• Providing a model for public provision and funding of charter facilities (and securing a $24 million state grant for an Amistad kindergarten to eighth-grade building)
• Bringing Teach For America to Connecticut and securing meaningful changes to teacher certification statutes

Achievement First is explicitly trying to change the political climate in Connecticut for charters through its own lobbying efforts and in its partnership with ConnCAN, recognized as one of the most effective state advocacy organizations in the country. ConnCAN was founded by Achievement First board members and supporters.

Operating in Connecticut’s three largest cities, success in changing the political dynamic in New Haven, and ongoing active and vocal support of the leadership in Bridgeport and Hartford, Achievement First is making significant headway toward making Connecticut a leader rather than a laggard in the education reform movement.

Bill Finch, mayor, City of Bridgeport

“The track record of Achievement First is so incredible for underprivileged children.”

Steven Adamowski, superintendent, Hartford Public Schools

“Achievement First Hartford Academy is a critical element in our plans to reorganize Hartford Public Schools.”

John DeStefano, mayor, New Haven

“I consider Amistad and Elm City College Prep an important part of our overall effort in New Haven to ensure that every child receives a high-quality education. I support their work because of their strong record of student achievement gains.”

New York

Achievement First has influenced the climate in New York City through our consistently strong student achievement results and other efforts:

• With Uncommon Schools, KIPP and Hunter College, created Teacher U, which currently trains 300 New York City teachers in a master’s program focused on the practices of our high-performing networks. David Steiner, dean of Hunter Education School, was recently named New York state education commissioner
• The 2009 Achievement First New York lottery was a major political event covered by three television stations and three newspapers with more than 3,500 applicants competing for 500 seats
• Achievement First formed a cross-school Parent Leadership Council in 2008-09 and trained parent leaders to participate in mayoral control hearings and state budget advocacy

Joel Klein, chancellor, New York City Department of Education

“I knew about the work Achievement First was doing up in New Haven, and it was really path-breaking work. So, I wanted that model to be available as part of our school reform effort in New York City.”

Politics and Public Funding

Our single biggest political issue is closing the funding gap between charters and traditional public schools in Connecticut. Although we have made headway against this goal, the combination of the poor economy with sustained political opposition means we have not yet achieved our goal—and it is not guaranteed that we will in the next few years. Unless this issue can be solved, Connecticut will not be a sustainable place in which Achievement First can operate.

In New York City, mayoral control was recently renewed and Bloomberg seems poised to win a third term, but we recognize that the current favorable climate (and especially the provision of free facilities) could change with new leadership.