DRAFT - FOR DISCUSSION ONLY
PROPOSED FAQ ON ROC THE FUTURE
1. What is the issue that you work to address?
Students in Rochester face serious, ongoing challenges. The most recent data shows only
23% of third graders in the Rochester City School District are performing at grade level or
higher on the New York State English Language Arts test, meaning that three out of four of
our third graders are behind in their reading ability. The problem and its causes go beyond
the schools and affect our entire community. Students who begin to fail at this level will
continue to struggle. These students will be less likely to graduate from high school, less
likely to pursue higher education, and less likely to be productive members of our
community’s workforce. These students face a broad set of challenges that go beyond the
school, and it will take a community-wide effort to address these needs. But with collective
effort around specific challenges we can make a change.
2.
How is the Rochester community responding to this need?
A community concern needs a community approach, so we have joined together with the
Rochester City School District to create the ROC the Future initiative to work to align
efforts and resources. We are working within the nationally recognized STRIVE framework
(www.strivenetwork.org), dedicated to building a strong civic infrastructure that supports
improvement in student outcomes, through collective impact.
3. What is STRIVE?
The STRIVE Framework originated as a project in Greater Cincinnati and was launched
in 2006. During its first five years, STRIVE noted positive improvements in 40 of the 53
educational outcomes it measured. As examples, that community has realized a 9% increase
in Kindergarten readiness, 11% increase in high school graduation and 10% increase in
college enrollment. With this success, the national Cradle to Career Network was launched in
2011 as a way to connect communities that are building cradle-to-career civic infrastructure
using the Strive Framework. The Network enables members to share expertise, identify and
adapt programs that work and develop effective tools and resources that can be brought to
bear on specific challenges. To date, there are 62 communities that are a part of the Cradle to
Career Network.
4. What is collective impact and how has it been demonstrated to work in other STRIVE
communities?
Collective impact results from the coordinated commitment of key partners from
different sectors to a common agenda for solving a specific social problem.
Unlike most collaboration, collective impact initiatives involve a centralized
organization, a dedicated staff, and a structured process that leads to a common agenda,
shared measurement, continuous communication, and mutually reinforcing activities among
all participants. In short, collective impact yields real, sustained improvement.
Isolated Impact
Cumulative Impact
Collective Impact
5. How does this endeavor differ from previous community efforts?
Previous large-scale initiatives in Rochester have met with varying levels of success. We
want to learn from the experiences of those previous initiatives: both what worked and what
did not. Two key lessons were (1) capitalize on existing resources already at work in the
community, and (2) scale up gradually and intentionally based on results. ROC the Future
works around a series of smaller, individual issues with measurable goals that can have
collective impact when rolled up into a greater whole. This organized focus on continuously
improving the smaller pieces, utilizing evidence-based practices, is why it can succeed.
6. What is evidence-based practice and why is it important?
Simply put, evidence-based practice means using what has been demonstrated to work. It
is the integration of professional expertise and data to assess the impact of practices and
make informed decisions about how to prioritize a community’s efforts to improve student
outcomes.
As an example, third grade literacy is directly linked to high school graduation. After
third grade kids move from learning to read to reading to learn; without that level of literacy
all academics can suffer. However, there is evidence that certain key areas, such as
attendance, kindergarten readiness and extended learning, can improve third grade literacy.
This approach utilizes that evidence to focus work on those areas, in measurable ways.
Focusing a community’s efforts on proven practices increases the potential to improve
performance. Then, once the work is started, we can use the results to improve, refine and
even scale up the efforts that demonstrate positive outcomes. Importantly, we also share
those practices with network partners to help them be more effective as well. Ultimately,
evidence-based practice seeks to appropriately apply limited resources to have the greatest
impact on children.
7.
What are the values/guiding principles of ROC the Future?
Equity: We believe that every child can succeed, and we are morally obligated to see
that they do.
Collaboration: We leverage existing partnerships and seek new ones that are committed
to working on common goals, in ways that are respectful and inclusive.
Evidence-based decision making: We are committed to tracking, gathering and
assessing relevant data and then basing decisions on the best information available.
Integrity and Accountability: We communicate openly and honestly with our
stakeholders and our community about what we do, how we do it and the results we
achieve, keeping our actions consistent with our words.
Improvement: We continuously monitor progress and make adjustments to improve
what we do and seek the same in our community.
8.
What is the organizational structure of ROC the Future?
a.
The role of the Conveners’ Group
ROC the Future is guided by the Conveners’ Group. This group is composed of
leadership from specific community organizations that represent a cross-section of
sectors that play a role in student success. Representatives from early childhood
organizations, K-12 schools, higher education, community organizations,
government, philanthropy, faith-based institutions and corporate partners all volunteer
their time and contribute institutional resources to further the collective vision,
provide strategic guidance, promote and report data, and provide leadership necessary
to advance the project.
b. The role of a Collaborative Action Network
Within the larger cradle-to-career framework there are a series of key benchmarks that
indicate a child’s progress along the pathway. For each of these benchmarks, a
network of volunteers is established, composed of representative ROC the Future
organizations with expertise and resources focused on that area, to make that
benchmark their primary focus. The networks are charged with: identifying and
tracking indicators for a benchmark; integrating successful, evidence-based strategies
into practice; and sharing progress and effective practices across the network and with
the Conveners’ Group.
8.
Does ROC the Future provide financial support for ideas or programs?
ROC the Future is designed to inform and provide guidance to the community to
effectively leverage and align existing community resources. It is not a funder or service
provider.
9. How do I get additional information?
Additional information can be found by accessing any of these resources:
Contact name
Website Address
E-mail Address
Phone Number
Information can also be obtained by attending a Community Group meeting. These
meetings are opportunities for ROC the Future to inform the community of our work and
to gather input and feedback from our partners on project initiatives. We also use these
times to learn from our partners to help expand effective practices.
The next Community Group meeting will be held ______________.