Education Reform and Innovation

Model Public Schools

I have chosen to hi-light organizations that have successfully implemented total school redesign and reform on a national level at many schools on this page called Model Public Schools.  Please visit these links and think about what these schools have in common:

• dedicated highly skilled teachers
• school leaders with true authority and accountability
• comprehensive professional development programs
• comprehensive art or music program
• integrated use of technology
• proven researched curriculum aligned to standards
• fiscally responsible administrative support.

Progressive public schools -

These are coalitions of small schools that call for authentic assessment using portfolios, individualized learning, and integrated technology in the curriculum. Many of these schools were created in the mode of Deborah Meier’s Central Park East and Thedore Sizer’s essential schools.

New Visions for Public Schools
http://www.newvisions.org/

Coalition of Essential Schools
http://www.essentialschools.org/

The Big Picture Company
http://www.bigpicture.org/index.htm

Coalition for Comprehensive School Improvement includes several school design organizaitons: Atlas Schools, Accelerated Schools, Expeditionary Learning-Outward Bound School, High Schools that Work, Middle Start, Modern Red SchoolHouse, Talent Development Schools

http://www.improvingschools.org/

Charter Schools

These traditional schools are completely independent of the school districts. Each Charter group is unique but some common characteristics are strict school discipline, longer school days, frequent assessments, and standards based curriculum. These school serve mostly African American and Latino students in urban high poverty areas. Many of these schools have produced high test scores and become a model for how to close the achievement gap.

KIPP Knowledge is Power Program
http://www.kipp.org/

Achievement First
http://www.achievementfirst.org/index1.html

Uncommon Schools
http://www.uncommonschools.org/usi/home/index.html

Green Dot Schools
http://www.greendotpublicschools.org/aboutus/index.html