okay so let's get into this uh today we're going deep on the Centennial School District CSD CSD yeah exactly you bet exploring their whole journey with funding and what happened to students and how they did you've got some really interesting data and reports here especially from like 2021 to 2024 when they got a pretty big funding boost yes so we're going to unpack how they spent it and most importantly what happened what were the results I think what's so interesting about this particular case study if you will is um we're not just looking at numbers on a spreadsheet right we're actually getting to see how decisions around funding play out in a real world setting yeah what actually happens and I think there are a lot of lessons to be learned from their experience especially because now that funding is being reduced exactly so it's like we get to see both sides of it yeah to before and after so to speak yeah so it's almost like an experiment in a way yeah um but before we get into this specific of the funding let's set the stage a little bit how was CSD performing academically before all this extra money came in well we have Data Tracking student scores okay in key subjects English language arts Math and Science the classics yeah going all the way back to 2017 oh wow and importantly we can compare CD's performance to their region Southeast Pennsylvania okay Pennsylvania as a whole and even a specific Intermediate Unit P iu22 so we're really getting the full picture yeah exactly we're not just looking at CSD in isolation in a vacuum yeah in a vacuum we're seeing how they stack up against their peers right which really matters it does it really does for context yeah and what's interesting is that going into 2021 CSD was actually behind all those other benchmarks in those three subjects yeah they had some ground to make up so they weren't exactly top of the class when this funding came through no okay so tell me a little bit more about these ESR grants oh yeah how much did they get and what do they actually do with it so C it's received a pretty substantial sum $7 million to be exact okay so that's not insignificant no not at all but I think as you alluded to it's not the amount that's the most interesting part it's how they chose to allocate it okay yeah so tell me about that so a full 92% of those funds went directly towards teaching and learning right with the remaining portion addressing safety and operational needs so they really put their money where their mouth is in terms of You Know M really trying to make a difference for the kids absolutely yeah they were very intentional about focusing on those core academic areas so let's break that down a little bit okay where did they focus their efforts within teaching and learning so they took a multifaceted approach investing in several key areas okay curriculum instruction assessment professional learning okay and even the systems that support all those things the behind the scenes stuff exactly yeah all right let's start with curriculum okay what kind of changes did they make there so they were very intentional about their curriculum choices instead of just buying random new textbooks they focused on evidence-based resources okay that were specifically aligned with Pennsylvania's educational standards so really thinking about okay this is what the state's asking us to do these materials will help us meet those goals and hopefully have a longer term impact absolutely so what were some examples of those programs they chose sure in early literacy they implemented programs like foundations for phonics okay hegr for pheic awareness okay they also invested in Dax math manipulative kits to support Hands-On learning in math okay I like that Hands-On yeah it's really important for those younger Learners right because just seeing the numbers on a page sometimes is not enough not enough you got to actually you know you got to touch it and feel it exactly and I think this focus on evidence-based approaches to literacy instruction particularly in the early grades is worth noting why is that well because research shows that that's where a lot of kids fall behind if they don't have those foundational skills yeah they really struggle later on yeah so by focusing on building those foundational literacy skills early on right they were really setting students up for success in later grades I like that building a strong base yeah all right so curriculum was one piece of the puzzle okay what about changes to instruction itself okay how did they impact how teachers were actually teaching in the the classroom so one significant change was expanding their onetoone technology environment okay to cover all of K through five okay they already had it for older grades okay so this created a seamless technology experience for all students so every kid had a device every kid had a device okay so that's huge investment it is a big investment but I think it reflects a commitment to integrating technology into learning across all grade levels so it's not just something they were doing in middle and high school no it was really start from the GetGo yeah they saw the value in it and they made it a priority so did they make any other big changes to their instructional approach besides that technology they did they launched a virtual Learning Academy oh wow the Centennial virtual learning academy or cvla okay so they're really getting into that online space yeah and this was partly informed by research they conducted with Handover research which showed that a virtual environment could be beneficial for some Learners that's interesting because I think the pandemic really forced schools to kind of experiment with that virtual learning absolutely and it seems like maybe CSD was one of those districts that said yeah okay maybe this is something that's going to stick around yeah there are some benefits here we should keep this going even for kids who you know maybe aren't sick or don't have to be home exactly some kids just thrive in that environment so how many kids were in the Virtual Academy so it served an average of 70 students each year okay so not a huge portion of the student population no but still significant still significant and I think it shows that they were trying to meet the needs of different types of Learners I like that options for everybody yeah Okay so we've talked curriculum we've talked instruction what about assessment oh assessment I know it might not be the most exciting topic but it's important it is it's crucial is how we know if what we're doing is working exactly so did CSD make any changes in that area they did they implemented new assessment platforms to better track student progress and identify areas where students needed extra support okay can you give me some specific examples of what they chose and why sure so in the early grades they adopted esgi okay which is a great tool for monitoring early literacy and math skills they also used dables for assessing reading fluency okay and to track overall academic progress they brought in amap measures of academic progress got it later on they Incorporated I ready andl as well so they really had a suite of tools yes they did they were trying to gather data from multiple sources because different tools measure different things exactly so I'm guessing this allowed teachers to really tailor their instruction to each individual student that's exactly right it allowed them to move Beyond just giving a test at the end of the year they could monitor progress continuously and make adjustments along the way yeah like real-time feedback realtime feedback so they were being very responsive to the data very responsive which I think is what you want yeah you don't want to wait till the end of the year to find out that a student is struggling exactly yeah so it sounds like they were really trying to personalize The Learning Experience for each kid absolutely that was a big goal of theirs Okay so we've covered curriculum instruction assessment okay what about professional learning for teachers ah yes that's a very important piece because we can give teachers all these new materials and tools right but if they don't know how to use them effectively they need the training it's not going to do much good exactly so did they invest in professional development as well they absolutely did and this is where it gets really interesting okay I'm intrigued tell me more instead of settling for generic workshops yeah they partnered with some big names in education research and professional development oo okay like who are we talking about so they worked with institutions like the University of Pennsylvania okay and the am Institute got it focusing on areas like the science of reading and structured literacy which have gained a lot of attention in recent years yeah because there's been a lot of discussion about how to teach reading effectively exactly and these Partnerships provided teachers with intensive training grounded in the latest research and best practices okay so they were really trying to be on The Cutting Edge yes they were really trying to provide teachers with the best possible professional development and they also partnered with professional learning Partnerships yes to incorporate brain science into their teaching yes in leadership strategies brain science that's fascinating it is it's a really interesting area so they weren't just focusing on the what of teaching right but also the how how the brain actually learns absolutely they were trying to take a holistic approach yeah I like that think you about the whole child the whole teacher whole system the whole system all right so let's not forget about the behind the scenes work okay the systems that support all these other initiatives right the infrastructure yeah because that gets overlooked but if you don't have a strong Foundation it all falls apart yeah exactly so what did they do in this area so they made some strategic moves here as well for example they created a new position a coordinator of digital and online learning which makes sense because with that virtual Learning Academy right they needed somebody to kind of oversee all of that exactly someone to provide support and guidance did they create any other new positions yes they also brought on a orator of social emotional and academic learning okay recognizing the importance of student well-being for academic success the whole child the whole child coming back again and they added a coordinator of English language development and inclusive practices along with a coordinator of multi-tiered systems of support So it seems like they were really trying to build up a team of people yes who could support teachers and students in all these different areas absolutely they were creating a more comprehensive support system and they also invested in technology to improve those systems right right because technology can help us do things more efficiently and effectively exactly so what did they do specifically so they implemented a new data warehouse that provides a more holistic view of each student yeah and expanded their use of the Frontline system for professional learning got it plus they launched a brand new website with an AI chatbot an AI chatbot on a school website yeah they were trying to be Innovative that's pretty cool yeah and provide 247 support for families so it seems like they were really trying to leverage technology to improve communication and streamline processes and just make things easier for everybody absolutely they were trying to modernize their systems yeah I like it yeah okay so to recap CSD took this big chunk of change and really spread it around to a lot of different areas yeah they were very strategic about it all with the goal of improving student outcomes that was the ultimate goal but did it work that's the million-dollar question that is the question and that's what we'll explore in the next part of our Deep dive so stay tuned folks we're going to find out if all these efforts actually paid off we'll dig into the data and see what the results were it's going to be good it is all right see you in part two see you then all right so that's the question we're all eager to answer right did these initiatives actually make a difference did they move the needle were they just spending their our wheels or did they actually get some traction exactly and to answer that question mhm we need to look at how CSD performance changed okay relative to those other benchmarks we talked about right Southeast region Pennsylvania overall and P iu22 because if they were already doing better than everybody else it would be hard to say right that this funding really made a difference exactly it would be hard to isolate the impact right but we know that wasn't the case in 2020 they were starting from behind they were and what's really remarkable is that during this funding period their rate of improvement significantly outpaced all those benchmarks so they weren't just improving they were improving faster faster than everybody else and everyone else yeah that's impressive it is it really suggests that those targeted Investments were paying off so like give me an example of that okay so for instance in English language arts their score jumped from 43.25 in 2021 to 53.6 1 in 2024 wow that's a more than 10p Point increase that's huge it is meanwhile the Southeast region basically flatlined going from 49.69 to 49.4 n so they were just kind of stuck yeah they weren't seeing the same kind of growth it's like CSD put their foot on the gas pedal and everybody else was just coasting yeah exactly and did this hold true for the other subjects as well yes in both Math and Science CS consistently outpaced those Regional and Statewide benchmarks so it wasn't just a fluke no it was a pattern in one subject mhm okay yeah it really does suggest that their efforts were making a difference all right but now here comes the big question yeah now that the money's going away that's the challenge isn't it because we know they're facing significant budget cuts right and those cuts are going to affect the very things that probably help them improve exactly those programs and initiatives that we've been talking about yeah so let's get specific about those cuts okay you mentioned earlier that the teaching and learning budget is taking a pretty big hit yeah $260,000 a 133% reduction yeah that's a significant chunk of their budget what are you most worried about with that cut well I'm worried that they'll have to scale back on some of those evidence-based programs they invested in remember those early literacy programs fundations and integrity yeah that were probably really instrumental in boosting their Ela scores right because those are research backed exactly they have a track record of success so you're thinking they might have to reduce access to those programs yeah potentially and that could really impact the students who need them most ones who are already behind exactly the ones who are struggling to catch up that would be a shame if they had to backtrack on that progress it would and it would be particularly disheartening because those programs were helping to close the achievement Gap right they were giving those kids a chance to succeed exactly and what about the cuts to professional learning those are concerning as well because remember they partnered with the University of Pennsylvania and the aim Institute yeah the big names yeah the big names to provide teachers with high quality professional development and those were pretty expensive weren't they they were so maybe cutting back there makes sense I mean it's understandable that they're looking for ways to save money but reducing those professional development opportunities could have a long-term impact on teacher quality on teacher quality exactly because teachers need ongoing training and support to keep up with the best practices yeah the field is constantly evolving so it's a tough choice it is you know saving money now could end up hurting them later exactly if teachers aren't equipped to maintain those games it's like a Ribble effect yeah and we see that same kind of tension playing out in their Staffing Cuts as well yeah they had to eliminate positions like the math specialist the reading specialist even a music teacher yeah those are tough decisions yeah because those cuts are going to be felt directly in the classroom absolutely you know fewer Specialists means less individualized support for students especially those who are struggling especially those who need it most right and it's often the students who are already behind who suffer the most when resources are scarce yeah it's kind of a vicious cycle and what about that coordinator of social emotional and academic learning position yeah that was eliminated that one's tough that seemed like such a smart move it did you know recog recognizing that how kids are doing emotionally and socially absolutely really affects their learning it's all connected yeah yeah I think it's shortsighted to cut a position that focuses on the whole child because when kids feel safe and supported mhm and they're not all stressed out right they're more likely to actually learn yeah they can focus on their academics right so it seems like they're being forced to kind of dismantle yeah some of the very things that help them succeed that's the unfort forunate reality is this just the story of Education funding in a nutshell it's a common pattern unfortunately you get a little bit of money you make some progress and then the money goes away and you're back to square one and you're scrambling to hold on to what you gained right and it speaks to the need for a more sustainable approach right we can't expect schools to build something lasting if the ground is constantly shifting beneath them exactly it's like trying to build a house on Sand yeah it's just not going to work no all right so let's shift gears a little bit okay and talk about some specific groups of students okay who saw some pretty big improvements during that funding period yes the data shows that English Learners the lowest performing 33% economically disadvantaged students and students with IEPs all made significant strides they did and those are some of the most vulnerable student populations right the ones who often get left behind exactly so it's encouraging to see that they benefited from these Investments it really is it shows that when we Target resources effectively we can make a difference give me an example okay so for English Learners 93% of them met or exceeded their growth targets that's fantastic it is and it's likely that those resources provided through those Federal programs allocations title 3 funds okay played a significant role in that success right because those funds provided extra support yeah things like per educator instructional assistance ELD Specialists professional development specifically for teachers of English Learners so they were really trying to meet the needs of those students absolutely but now those funds are being reduced right unfortunately yes so again it's like will they be able to keep up that momentum yeah that's a big question without the extra support M and it's a similar story for the lowest performing 33% and economically disadvantaged students it is both groups saw 80 7% of their students meeting or exceeding their growth targets okay and again those title funds were likely instrumental in providing the extra support those students needed so it seems like those targeted Investments really made a difference for those kids they did but the question is what happens now yeah that's the unknown right the data clearly shows that strategic funding can lead to positive outcomes but it also highlights the fragility of those games when that funding disappears exactly when funding is inconsistent or unpredictable it's like we're setting schools up to fail almost in a way yes because we're giving them a taste of what's possible and then we're taking it away and then we're pulling the rug out from under them yeah it's a shame it is it really is it's a reminder that we need to think about education funding differently absolutely it's not just a line item and a budget it's an investment it's an investment in our future in our children's future yeah and we need to treat it that way we do okay so in the final part of our Deep dive right we're going to kind zoom out a little bit okay and talk about the bigger picture the broader implications what can we learn from CD's experience and how can we apply those lessons yeah to the whole conversation about education funding that's what we'll explore I feel like we can really learn a lot from what CSD has gone through yeah I think their experience offers some valuable insights for anyone who cares about education yeah not just people in that District yeah not just Centennial yeah so what are some of the big takeaways well I think one of the clearest takeaways is that funding when used wisely can really make a difference in student outcomes and you've been saying all along that it's not just about throwing money at the problem right it's about being strategic Strategic investment exactly and I think cs's approach was really commendable yeah oh so well they focused on evidence-based practices highquality professional development and building a strong system of supports for both students and teachers so they were really trying to create an environment where everybody could Thrive yeah they were setting the stage for success I like that and that's a crucial lesson for other districts and policy makers so it's not just about increasing funding it's about making sure those funds are used effectively investing in the right things exactly okay so another big takeaway is this whole issue of sustainability right you know CSD made all this progress but now it's at risk because that extra funding is going away yeah and that's a really important point because it highlights the need for a more long-term approach to funding education so how do we do that what's the solution well it's a complex issue but I think it starts with recognizing that education funding is an investment not just an expense exactly and we need to treat it that way so we need to be thinking about the long-term return on that investment absolutely and we also need to make sure that funding is consistent and reliable yeah schools can't plan effectively if they're constantly worried about budget cuts right it's like trying to build a house on Shaky Ground exactly you need a solid foundation and you mentioned earlier how those targeted Investments like the title one and title three funds really helped to close achievement gaps yes those funds were essential for supporting students who need extra help like English Learners English Learners economically disadvantaged student students with disabilities so it seems like those funds really made a difference for those kids they did and CD's success in those areas really shows the power of targeted funding it shows that we can level the playing field yeah and give all students a chance to succeed regardless of their background regardless of their challenges but as we've seen those funds are often the first to get cut when budgets are tight unfortunately that's true so we need to be really careful about protecting those resources absolutely because they're often the Difference Maker for those students yeah they can be the difference between a student thriving or falling behind exactly so I guess the big takeaway here is that educational progress is fragile it is and it requires ongoing attention and support it does we can't just invest for a few years and expect everything to be fine we need to be in it for the long haul absolutely so as we wrap up this deep dive yeah what are some final thoughts you want to leave our listener with well I think CSD story is both encouraging and cautionary encouraging because we saw what's possible right when we invest wisely and strategically but cautionary because we saw how quickly those gains can disappear when funding is cut so it's a call to action for all of us it is to really think about how we fund education yeah and to advocate for policies that support sustainable progress because ultimately it's about investing in our future it is when we invest in education we're investing in our kids and in our communities and in our society as a whole absolutely so thank you for taking this deep dive with us my pleasure it's been a great conversation and we hope you'll join us again next time for another Deep dive into the world of Education you bet that