Continuous Improvement Team

The Urban Assembly's Continuous Improvement Team (CIT) partners with schools to implement Student Success Systems, a coordinated, data-driven approach that helps students stay on track for graduation and postsecondary success. With a particular focus on 9th grade, CIT helps schools use early indicators, including attendance, course performance, and credit accumulation, to identify students who need support and coordinate timely interventions. By strengthening schools' capacity to use data, collaborate across teams, and respond proactively to student needs, CIT advances The Urban Assembly's mission to create more equitable opportunities for students to thrive in school and succeed in college, careers, and civic life.

Project CAFE

UA’s Continuous Improvement Team also focuses on instructional quality and educators’ professional development. Project CAFE helps schools strengthen instructional practice through data-informed reflection and teacher development. The AI-powered platform analyzes classroom video, provides educators with timely and actionable feedback, and helps coaches identify patterns in classroom instruction. By making feedback more specific, efficient, and non-evaluative, Project CAFE gives teachers greater ownership over their professional growth while helping schools build stronger instructional systems. Learn more about how Project CAFE is using AI to support teachers and improve classroom learning.

Impact in CIT's First Year of School Coaching

• Most schools improved the student success indicators that matter most. 8 of 13 participating schools (62%) improved from baseline in both attendance (90%+) and GPA (80+), two of the strongest early indicators of students staying on track to graduate.

• Schools achieved dramatic gains in attendance and academic performance. One program increased the share of students with 90%+ attendance by 31 percentage points, while another increased by 20 percentage points. For GPA, one partner improved by 21 percentage points, exceeding its annual growth goal. Another improved by 16 percentage points, also surpassing its target.

• Two programs exceeded every student outcome goal. By the end of the year, two programs met or surpassed their targets for attendance, GPA, and 9th-grade on-track rates. One increased its 9th-grade on-track rate from 77% to 91%, while the other reached a 93% on-track rate after beginning from an already strong baseline.

These results demonstrate the power of data-driven coaching. By helping schools identify students who need additional support earlier, strengthen interventions, and focus on the leading indicators that matter most, CIT helps improve the outcomes that are most predictive of long-term student success and advances UA's mission.

Message From The Director

The UA CIT team turns data into action through deep collaboration with our school partners. We focus on what matters most and work proactively to support schools, creating opportunities to change the trajectory for students.
– Alyssa Schraier, Director of Continuous Improvement

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