CAO Efrat Kussell presented Launch's 17-18 NYS exam results, compared to District 16 and NYS. Launch made tremendous gains in ELA (13 percentage point growth) and Math (12 percentage point growth) from the 2016-17 school year to the 2017-18 school year. 
Efrat highlighted the programmatic shifts that were made in the 17-18 school year that led to higher test scores. Launch is outperforming both district and state with respect to special populations (SWD, ELL, ED) in ELA and outperforming the district with respect to SWD and ED students in math.
 

Lori Riddick, Head of School for Launch Elementary, and Efrat Kussell, CAO, presented on progress made in the planning for LES. Lori and Efrat discussed the major areas of work: space, teacher recruitment, student recruitment, curriculum/program, charter expansion. They highlighted several successes in the work thus far: development of a 5 yr workplan, partnering with an EL school designer, becoming experts in elementary curriculum and equity and race work done amongst the LES team. They also identified uncertainty of location as the major barrier in the work so far.

Alexis Rubin, Director of External Affairs, presented a look back on the enrollment process for the 2018-2019 and discussed initial implications for 2019-2020 recruitment and enrollment. Launch met it's enrollment goal of 310 students enrolled. The Launch recruitment and enrollment team will focus on the experiences of our prospective families and on utilizing data/Schoolmint (enrollment data platform) to the fullest as they start on 2019-2020 recruitment.

The Executive Director, Geoffrey Roehm, and the New Schools Committee presented on the site search process for LES. The New Schools Committee has identified numerous potential properties and has several pending property tours upcoming. They are also working with architects who will be doing test fit analysis for potential properties. 

Executive Director, Geoffrey Roehm, presented the following information items:

• Launch will have a renewal site visit on November 15th and November 16th. There will be further communication regarding scheduling a board focus group during the site visit.
• There are a couple of potential board members who are in conversations with the Executive Director and who bring a new set of skills that would be beneficial for the school as it seeks to expand (marketing, operations, technology and facilities expertise).