Over the next few days, Abbott Indicators Reports will be released in Camden, Newark, Trenton, and Union City, followed by planning and engagement activities in each community. The comprehensive reports are believed to be the first in the nation of their kind specifically prepared to support broad community dialog about public education. Unlike other documents, the focus of these reports goes well beyond student outcomes to examine opportunities to learn, teacher qualifications and supports, budget, leadership, supports for students and their families, and school facilities. The indicators themselves were developed by ELC with input from a panel of experts.

Two versions of the report are being produced for each community. The longer technical report contains the findings from analyses of over 200 indicators of effective schooling with additional contextual information and appendices. A shorter summary version contains a brief introduction to the report and the key findings on a subset of about 70 indicators.

ELC has produced these reports as part of the Abbott Indicators Project. The goals of the project are:

• To inform everyone with a stake in public schools about the progress of reform and the current status of Abbott implementation;
• To engage the community in recognizing accomplishments and identifying where more work is needed; and
• To facilitate advocacy and planning for continued improvement.

A steering committee guides the initiative, with support from the Rockefeller, Geraldine R. Dodge, Prudential, William Penn, and Victoria Foundations, and the Fund for New Jersey.

For more information, please contact:

Lesley Hirsch or Erain Applewhite-Coney, Psy.D.
Abbott Indicators Co-Directors
973-624-1815, ext. 15 or 24

Prepared: April 8, 2005