Innovative Practice/Models

Briefs

07/29/10

Building a Better School Day: The Massachusetts Expanded Learning Time Initiative This webinar examined the creation, implementation, and results of the Massachusetts Expanded Learning Time Initiative. Presenters highlighted the need for more time in school, discuss best practices and models for ELT, and explore the impact of Massachusetts ELT, which adds 300 hours to the school year in targeted schools for more enrichment opportunities, increased instruction time, and more time for teacher planning and professional development. The presentation included a session with the former principal of the Clarence R Edwards Middle School, the highest performing ELT school in Massachusetts. The webinar also addressed recommendations for policy that can support expanded learning time at the local, state, and national level. Presenters included Ben Aiken, Program Associate, American Youth Policy Forum (DC); Jennifer Davis, President of the National Center on Time & Learning and Co-Founder of Massachusetts 2020 (MA) and Jeff Riley, Academic Superindendent, Boston Public Middle Schools (MA) (Webinar). This event was recorded and is now available on the webinar page.

07/12/10

Preparing Students for the Rapidly-Changing World: Implications for Instruction and Assessment (Forum 3) This was the third in a series of three AYPF Capitol Hill forums to address the need for a new approach to education that ensures that students graduate with the range of skills and abilities necessary for success in the knowledge economy. This final forum in the series focused on assessment, and highlighted some of the tools that are being used to measure student acquisition of the competencies needed for future success.  The forum also showcased how two states have infused performance-based measures into their assessment systems to ensure student proficiency in these applied skills.  Panelists also addressed how such performance-based measures fit with the common core standards and efforts to create common assessments. Speakers includedElena Silva, Senior Policy Analyst, Education Sector (DC) and Sharon Lee, Secondary Redesign Specialist, Rhode Island Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Office of Multiple Pathways (RI), and Susan Gendron, Policy Coordinator, Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (ME). (Forum Brief). This page contains video footage of the event.

07/09/10

Offering High School Credit Through Expanded Learning Opportunities This forum highlighted the New Hampshire Extended Learning Opportunities (NH ELO) Initiative that seeks to offer credit to high school students for opportunities pursued outside of the traditional classroom setting. Developed by Plus Time New Hampshire and the state department of education, NH ELO allows students to pursue learning of personal passion and interest outside of the traditional classroom setting for academic credit, based on a pre‐determined set of academic competencies. Participating high schools are working on systemic changes to provide students with greater access to credit bearing learning opportunities, with a focus on engaging underserved youth. Presenters included Paul Leather, Deputy Commissioner of Education, New Hampshire Department of Education (NH); Janice Hastings, VP of Program & Resource Development, Plus Time New Hampshire (NH); and Michael O’Malley, Principal, Newfound High School (NH). (Forum Brief)

06/22/10

Preparing College- and Career-Ready Students: Elements of Successful Programs: This webinar examined the elements of program models that have demonstrated effectiveness in preparing students for postsecondary access and success, based on the results of rigorous evaluations. This event was a follow up of the Success at Every Step forum from February 5, 2010. Presenters included Sarah hooker, Program Associate, American Youth Policy Forum (DC); James connell, President, Institute for Research and Reform in Education, (NJ); Ryan Reyna, Policy Analyst, Education Division, Center for Best Practices, National Governors’ Association (DC); and Joel Vargas, Senior Project Manager, Jobs for the Future (MA). (Webinar). This event was recorded and is now available on the webinar page.

06/11/10

Building a Portfolio of Options to Ensure All Students Graduate This forum highlighted the work of the Association for High School Innovation (AHSI), a collaboration of education providers and advocates that works to create pathways and expand options to future success for all youth. Over the past seven years, AHSI members have engaged in a variety of efforts at the state and local level to create and sustain the development of education options to ensure all students graduate.  Presenters shared lessons learned from their work along with implications for policy. Presenters included Talmira Hill, Director, Association for High School Innovation (NH); Elliot Washor, Co-Director, Big Picture Learning (RI); Nick Mathern, Associate Vice President, Policy & Partnership Development, Gateway to College National Network (OR), and Dr. Vincent Mays, Director, Office of Alternative Education, Newark Public Schools (NJ) (Forum)

05/21/10

Preparing Students for the Rapidly-Changing World: Implications for Instruction and Assessment This forum is the second in a series of three forums that discussed the skills students need to be successful and address the imperative for drastically changing teaching, instruction, and assessment in our middle and high schools. Speakers at this forum addressed innovative approaches to instruction and the implications of such instructional changes for teacher preparation and professional development. Presenters at this forum included Tony Wagner, Co-Director of the Change Leadership Group in the Harvard Graduate School of Education (MA), and Monica Martinez, President of the New Tech Network (CA). (Forum)

04/23/10

Preparing Students for the Rapidly-Changing World: Implications for Instruction and Assessment This forum is the first of three that will discuss the skills students need to be successful and address the imperative for drastically changing teaching, instruction, and assessment in our middle and high schools. Speakers included Ann Cook, Director, New York Performance Standards Consortium (NY) and Arleen Thelemaque a student from the Urban Academy (NY). (Forum Brief)

03/05/10

A Comprehensive Approach to Success in Education and Careers for Out-of-School Youth The Community Education Pathways to Success (CEPS) model targets out-of-school youth who have expressed interest in earning a GED, by addressing low literacy and math skills through an integration of youth development, social supports, and career-related services. Through building partnerships with community-based organizations and community colleges, participants are supported through completing their education, entering college, finding working, and contributing to their communities. This forum provided an overview of the model, discussed results from a recently released evaluation, and provided recommendations for policy.  Presenters included Peter Kleinbard, Executive Director, Youth Development Institute (NY); Vivian Vazquez, Director, CEPS, Youth Development Institute, Patricia Campbell, President, Campbell-Kibler Associates, Inc, and Jack Doyle, Executive Director, New Settlement Apartments. (FORUM Brief)

02/05/10

 

Success at Every Step of College and Career Preparation The American Youth Policy Forum (AYPF) has recently released a new publication, Success at Every Step: How 23 Programs Support Youth on the Path to College and Beyond, which profiles programs that have been proven to help young people complete high school and be prepared for success in postsecondary education and careers, based on the results of recent, high-quality evaluations. This half-day event provided an overview of the findings of the report, showcased a variety of programs that support college- and career-readiness, explored implications for federal and state policy, and included a networking lunch. Speakers included Greg Darnieder, Special Assistant to the Secretary on College Access, U.S. Department of Education (DC); RYAN REYNA, Policy, Analyst, Education Division, Center for Best Practices, National Governors’ Association (DC); Katharine Oliver, Assistant State Superintendent for Career and Technical Education and Adult Learning, Maryland State Department of Education (MD); michael wotorson, Executive Director, Campaign for High School Equity (DC); James Connell, President, Institute for Research and Reform in Education (NJ); Rachel Singer, Director of Academic Affairs, Kingsborough Community College (NY); Joel Vargas, Senior Project Manager, Jobs for the Future (MA); and david sinski, Executive Director, After School Matters (IL).(Forum BRIEF)

06/26/09 

Rethinking Professional Development: Comprehensive Approaches to Ensuring Effective Teaching: As teacher quality is the number one factor affecting student achievement, improvement in teacher effectiveness is a top federal priority. This forum will showcase two comprehensive models that have been implemented in school districts that use continuous professional development that have proven effects on student achievement and the quality of instruction in the classroom. The Long Beach Unified School District is exemplary in its use of internal resources to improve teacher effectiveness through year-round professional development linked to school improvement strategies. The Urban Teacher Residency program of the Academy for Urban School Leadership in Chicago ensures continuous improvement of teaching through intensive pre-service training, classroom residency, induction coaching, use of student-level data to inform instruction, and mentoring for teachers in urban schools that have been targeted for school turnaround. Speakers at this forum will include Stephanie Hirsch, Executive Director of the National Staff Development Council, Dallas (TX); Chris Steinhauser, Superintendent of the Long Beach Unified School District, (CA); and Michael Whitmore, Director of the Teacher Residency Program, Academy for Urban School Leadership, Chicago (IL).  (Forum Brief)

06/01/09

Preparing College-Ready High School Graduates: A Case Study of San Jose, CA:  This forum is the third in our forum series entitled “Laying the Groundwork for  a College-Going Culture,” focused on efforts to ensure more high school students graduate, both understanding their options for continued education and training and ready to succeed in college and careers.   This forum will examine the efforts of the San Jose Unified School District in California to ensure all students are prepared for success beyond high school, including through requiring all students to participate in a college preparatory curriculum and providing the necessary resources and support to ensure students are successful.  The San Jose Unified School District is a diverse urban district with 70% of students representing racial/ethnic minority groups. Efforts to increase the rigor of high school coursework for all students have been underway in San Jose since the mid-1990s. In 1998, San Jose became the first school district in the state of California to elevate its high school graduation requirements to match the requirements for entry into the University of California system. Don Iglesias, Superintendent of the San Jose Unified School District, Linda Murray, Acting Executive Director of Education Trust-West and former Superintendent of San Jose Unified School District, and Mark Walker, Managing Director of Community Affairs for Applied Materials, a community-based partner in college readiness initiatives in San Jose.  (Forum)  RSVP HERE!

05/29/09

Academic and Support Strategies for College and Career Readiness:  This forum is the second in our three-part series entitled “Laying the Groundwork for a College-Going Culture,” focused on efforts to increase the number of young people who graduate from high school prepared to make informed decisions about continued education and training, and ready to succeed in college and careers.  Viewing education as continuum that allows all Americans to access additional education and training is critical to ensuring our ability to emerge from the current economic downturn and compete in a global society.  Presenters will include: Cecilia Cunningham, Executive Director, Middle College National Consortium, Angela N. Romans, New England Network Manager, Diploma Plus, Commonwealth Corporation, Nicole Farmer Hurd, National College Advising Corps, and Cassandra Castillo, Early College  High School student. (Forum) RSVP HERE! 

04/27/09

Redefining College Readiness: Efforts from Leading States This forum is the first in our series entitled “Laying the Groundwork for a College-Going Culture” focused on efforts to ensure more high school students graduate, both understanding their options for continued education and training and ready to succeed in college and careers.   At this event, presenters will both define critical indicators for college readiness as supported by the research and describe efforts in two states, Arkansas and Indiana, to create statewide high school graduation standards more closely aligned with expectations for success in postsecondary education and work. (FORUM)

10/24/08

School Improvement and School Turnaround: Local Accomplishments Of MetLife Foundation/NASSP Breakthrough Schools: Driven by the No Child Left Behind Act, the need to improve high school graduation rates, and to lower the number of students dropping out, school improvement and turnaround initiatives continue to dominate efforts at education reform, in an effort to improve academic outcomes for students.  The upcoming series of AYPF forums will examine some of these efforts at the local, district and state levels. The first forum will focus on a project by the MetLife Foundation and the National Association of Secondary School Principals.  This project identifies, showcases, and recognizes middle level and high schools that are high achieving or are dramatically improving student achievement and serve large numbers of students living in poverty. Selection criteria are based on a school's documented success in implementing strategies aligned with the three core areas of Breaking Ranks II for middle level and high schools that have led to improved student achievement: Collaborative leadership; Personalization; and Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment. These strategies were outlined in two publications: In 2004, NASSP’s commitment to supporting principals in their schoolwide reform efforts resulted in the publication of Breaking Ranks II: Strategies for Leading High School Reform.  This was followed by the 2006 release of Breaking Ranks in the Middle: Strategies for Leading Middle Level Reform. This forum will showcase three schools that utilized these school improvement strategies, and that were grant award winners in 2008: Forest Grove High School in Oregon; Cashman Middle School in Nevada; and Wheaton High School in Maryland.  Mel Riddile of the National Association for High School Leadership (VA) will lead the presentation.  Speakers will be:  Kevin E. Lowndes, Principal, Wheaton High School (MD); John O’Neill, Principal Forest Grove High School (OR); and Misti Taton, Principal, Cashman Middle School (NV). (Forum)

01/25/08

Improving the Transition from Middle Grades to High Schools:  The Role of Early Warning Indicators with Robert Balfanz, Associate Research Scientist, Center for Social Organization of Schools, Johns Hopkins University; Elaine Allensworth, Co-Director for Statistical Analysis, Consortium on Chicago School Research, University of Chicago; Craig Jerald, Independent Consultant, Break the Curve Consulting (Forum Brief)

09/21/07

Exemplary CTE Districts and Programs with Gary Hoachlander, Executive Director, ConnectEd: The California Center for College and Career, Michael Hanlon, Founder, Health Careers Academy at Palmdale High School, California, Michael Owens, Associate Secretary, Adult Education and Workforce Development, Delaware Department of Education, Patrick Savini, Superintendent, Sussex Technical School District, Delaware (Forum Brief)

07/20/07

The Role of Career and Technical Education in High School Reform: Linking Secondary and Postsecondary Education through CTE with Dr. Laurel Adler, Superintendent, East San Gabriel Regional Occupational Program, West Codiva, CA and Mark Whitlock, CEO, Central Education Center, Coweta County, GA (Forum Brief and webcast)

06/22/07

The Role of Career and Technical Education in High School Reform: State Efforts to Integrate CTE with Rigorous Standards with Patrick Ainsworth, Assistant Superintendent for Secondary, Postsecondary & Adult Education, California Department of Education, Kathy Oliver, Assistant State Superintendent, Maryland Department of Education, and Alex Harris, Senior Policy Analyst, National Governors Association (Forum Brief and webcast)

05/10/07

The Role of Career and Technical Education in High School Reform: Career and Technical Education Responding to Industry Needs with Phyllis Eisen, Vice President, The Manufacturing Institute and Executive Director, The Center for Workforce Success, Duane Crum, California State Director, Project Lead the Way (forum Brief and webcast)

08/8/07

Philadelphia’s Project U-Turn, Citywide Efforts to Address the Dropout Problem with Paul Vallas, Chief Executive Officer, School District of Philadelphia, Ruth Curran Neild, Research Scientist, Center for Social Organization of Schools at Johns Hopkins University,  Courtney Collins-Shapiro, Director, Multiple Pathways to Graduation, School District of Philadelphia, Laura Shubilla, President of the Philadelphia Youth Network. (forum Brief)

01/26/07

Results from A National Study of Mathematics in Career and Technical Education with Jim Stone, Prinicpal Researcher, University of Minnesota, Joe Fullerton, Program Development Specialist, Lenape Technical School, Ford City, PA, and Jeff Linko, Teacher, Lenape Technical School, Ford City, PA. (forum)

10/27/06

New Century High Schools Initiative with Bob Hughes, President, New Visions for Public Schools, Ronald Chaluisan, Vice President of Programs, New Visions for Public Schools, and Elizabeth Reisner, Principal, Policy Studies Associates (Forum brief)

09/29/06

Secondary-Postsecondary Learning Options: Best Practices in the Field with Ron Kindell, Director, Miami Valley Tech Prep Consortium, Chery Wagonlander, Principal, Mott Middle College High School, and Jennifer Brown Lerner, Program Associate, American Youth Policy Forum (FORUM Brief)

09/22/06

Citizen Schools: Putting Students on a Pathway to Academic and Social Success with Eric Schwarz, President and Co-Founder of Citizen Schools, Lara Fabiano, Senior Researcher, Policy Studies Associates, and Chris Harris, Campus Director, Citizen Schools, McKinley Middle School, New Brunswick, New Jersey (FORUM)

06/23/06

Middle Grades Reform: Breaking Ranks in the Middle and Schools to Watch with John Nori, Director, School Leadership Services, National Association of Secondary Schools Principals, Irv Howard, Director, California Schools to Watch, Linda Hopping, Co-Chair, Georgia Lighthouse Schools to Watch (Forum brief)

05/19/06

Career and Technical Education's Role in High School Reform with the Association for Career and Technical Education (Forum brief)

05/15/06

Schools for a New Society Roundtable Discussion with Rochelle Nichols-Solomon, Director, Schools for a New Society Technical Assistance Program. Academy of Educational Development, Donnie Evans, Superintendent, Providence Public Schools, Mary Harrison, Executive Director, Rhode Island Children's Crusade, Jesse Register, Superintendent, Hamilton County Department of Education, Dan Challener, Public Education Foundation, Chattanooga, and Mindy Hernandez, Carneige Corporation of New York (Forum brief)

04/07/06

How Do High School Students Get Academic, Leadership, Work Skills, and Still Manage to Serve the Community? With students and faculty from Howenstine High School, Tucson, Arizona (Forum brief)

03/10/06

Rhode Island High School Diploma System: Lessons Learned from Implementation with Joe DiMartino, President, Center for Secondary School Redesign, Andrea Castaneda, Development Officer, Providence Public Schools, and Joe Maruszczak, Principal, Ponaganset High School (Forum brief)

01/13/06  

Charter Schools Providing Academically-Based Workforce Development for Out-of-School Youth: with Ann Higdon, president and founder of Improved Solutions of Urban Systems ISUS and Phil Matero, Deputy Director of the Los Angeles Conservation Corps. (Forum brief)

10/21/2005

Coordinated Efforts Focused on Workforce Development for Out of School Youth in Portland with Carole Smith, Director of Alternative Education, Portland Public Schools, Linda Huddle, Director, Alternative Programs/PCC Prep, Portland Community College, and Andrew Mason, Executive Director, Open Meadow Alternative Schools (forum Brief)

9/23/2005

First Things First: An Effective High School Reform Model with Jim Connell, Founder and President, Institute for Research and Reform in Education and Janet Quint, Senior Associate, MDRC. (Forum Brief)

7/22/2005

Employer-School Partnerships: The Role of Education in Workforce and Economic Development:  with Mark Whitlock and Don Moore, Chair and Vice-Chair of the Board, Central Education Center in Coweta County, GA, Jeff Dole, Administrator, Lansing Area Manufacturing Program, Lansing, MI, and Connie Thompson, UAW-GM Human Resources Center. (Forum Brief)

6/17/2005

Talent Development High School Model: Findings from MDRC Evaluation, with James Kemple, Senior Research Associate and Corinne Herlihy, Research Associate, MDRC; Jim McPartland, Project Director, Talent Development, Johns Hopkins University; Lois Mondesire, Principal and Laura Schulz, Talent Development Organizational Facilitator, Strawberry Mansion High School, Philadelphia, PA. (Forum Brief)

6/10/2005

Early College High Schools: Lessons Learned in New School Creation with Joel Vargas, Senior Project Manager, Jobs for the Future; Tom Lasley, Dean, University of Dayton; and Judy Hennessey, Principal, Dayton Early College Academy. (Forum Brief)

11/13/2002

In Schools We Trust: Creating Communities of Learning in an Era of Testing and Standardization,Deborah Meier, Vice Chair Emeritus, Coalition of Essential Schools. (Forum Brief)

4/9/2002

Baldrige Education Award Winners, Harry Hertz, Director, Baldrige National Quality Program, NIST; Richard DeLorenzo, Superintendent, Chugach School District, Anchorage, Alaska; Frank Auriemma, Assistant Superintendent, Pearl River School District, Pearl River, NY; Charles Sorensen, Chancellor, University of Wisconsin-Stout, Menomonie, Wisconsin. (Forum Brief)

4/5/2002

Can Policy Keep Pace with Changing Practice on Our High Schools? with Mike Cohen, Senior Fellow , The Aspen Institute Program on Education in a Changing Society; Adria Steinberg, Program Director, Jobs for the Future; and Tim Knowles, Deputy Superintendent for Teaching and Learning, Boston Public Schools (Forum Brief)

3/1/2002

Addressing the Causes and Consequences of High Student Mobility: The Role of School Systems and Communities, with Barbara Buell, educator and parent advocate, Chicago Panel for School Policy's Parent Connection; Carlos Azcoitia, Deputy Chief Education Officer, Chicago Public School System; and David Kerbow, Research Associate, Center for School Improvement, University of Chicago. (Forum Brief)

11/16/2001

Community-Based Organization Schools, with Richard Murphy and Jean Thomases, Academy for Educational Development; Daniel Grego, TransCenter for Youth, Milwaukee; Perry Price, Minneapolis Urban League Street Academy, Minneapolis; and Arnaldo Rivas, Former Student, Shalom High School, Milwaukee. (Forum Brief)

11/9/2001

First Things First a district wide school reform model, with Jim Connell, President, Institute for Research and Reform in Education, Philadelphia, PA, and Steve Gering, Executive Director for Instruction, Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools. (Forum Brief)

5/11/2001

High Schools That Work: State Policies That Support Student Achievement, with Gene Bottoms, Senior Vice President, Southern Regional Education Board. (Forum Brief)

1/30/2001

DeWitt Wallace-Reader's Digest Fund Release of New Rules, New Roles: Preparing All Young People for a Changing World, with Gene Bottoms, Senior Vice President, Southern Regional Education Board, Atlanta, GA; Hilary Pennington, President, Jobs for the Future, Boston, MA; David Stern, University of California, Berkeley; Jim Kemple, Senior Research Associate, Manpower Research Demonstration Corporation, New York, NY; Ephraim Weisstein, Vice President, Center for Youth Development and Education, Corporation for Business, Work and Learning, Boston, MA; Dorothy Stoneman, President, YouthBuild, Somerville, MA; and Kathleen Selz, President, National Association of Service and Conservation Corps, Washington, DC. (Report Release)

10/18/2000

Every Student a Citizen: Creating the Democratic Self, with Terry Pickeral, Project Director, Compact for Learning and Citizenship, Education Commission of the States; Shelley Berman, Superintendent, Hudson Public Schools, MA; John Mingler, Teacher, National Council of Social Studies. (Roundtable Discussion)

7/28/2000

Service-Learning in State Legislation (Part II): South Carolina's Efforts to Integrate Service-Learning into Schools and Communities, with Kathy Gibson Carter (Executive Director, Commission on National & Community Service), Dr. Janet Mason (University of South Carolina), and Jamaal Young. (Forum Brief)

3/13/2000

Youth Engaged in Communities Through School: A Perspective From One National Service-Learning Leader School (Forum Brief)

3/10/2000

Deepening Partnerships Between School and Community, with Martin J. Blank, Staff Director of the Coalition for Community Schools, Mary Freeland, Executive Director of Jacksonville Children's Commission, Phil Gonring, Program Officer at the Rose Community Foundation, and Shirley Farnsworth, Director of Community Education for the Denver Public Schools. (Forum Brief)

10/22/1999

The Schools Our Children Deserve: Moving Beyond Traditional Classrooms and "Tougher Standards" Alfie Kohn, author. (Forum Brief)

7/9/1999

Contextual Learning: What is it? with representatives of CORD. (Forum Brief)

Trip Reports

02/15/10-
02/17/10

 

Preparing Rural Students for Success Beyond High School AYPF led a study mission for federal policy leaders to North Carolina to examine how rural education systems are providing high quality instruction and improving the readiness of young people for life beyond high school. Trip participants included Congressional staff, Department of Education officials, and representatives of national education organizations. Discussions and site visits provided examples of how resources are being utilized to address the challenges facing rural areas. Participants learned how federal and state policies and funding streams affect rural school districts; the unique challenges of providing high quality instruction in rural settings; and innovative approaches to providing comprehensive education in rural communities. In addition to discussions with school leadership, educators, and students during our site visits, we also met with high-level state and local policy leaders and other stakeholders committed to improving college access and preparedness for life for all of North Carolina’s youth. (Field Trip)

06/23/09-
06/24/09

The American Youth Policy Forum (AYPF) and the Data Quality Campaign (DQC) are hosted a learning exchange entitled, “Building and Using Longitudinal Data Systems for Effective Reporting and to Improve Student Achievement.”  This learning exchange provided state teams an opportunity to learn and share best practices needed to build a high-quality longitudinal data system such as data governance, data quality, and considerations of end user needs.  The trip was designed to provide participants an opportunity to hear perspectives from two showcase states, Massachusetts and Kansas, who have excelled at one of the critical elements involved in the building and use of longitudinal data systems.   The trip is part of a series of field trips for state policy leaders to learn more about high school redesign, supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.  AYPF is a nonprofit, nonpartisan professional development organization that bridges youth policy, practice and research for professionals at the national, state, and local levels. The DQC is a national, collaborative effort to encourage and support state policymakers to improve the availability and use of high-quality education data to improve student achievement. (Trip Report)

11/07/07-
11/09/07

State Policy Trip to Little Rock, AR, November 7-9, 2007: Expanding Advanced Placement Participation and Building Public Will. Highlights from this trip include meetings with T. Kenneth James, AR Commissioner of Education; Senator Jim Argue, Chair of the AR Senate Education Committee; Kathryn Hazelett, Governor Mike Beebe's Education Policy Advisor; Steve Floyd, Director of the AR Department of Higher Education; as well as other policy and education experts at the state level. In addition, we visited the historic Little Rock Central High School and the Wilbur Mills University Study School. (Trip Report)

10/18/07-
10/19/07

State Policy Trip to Miami, Florida, October 18-19, 2007: Career Pathways and K-12 Education. Highlights from this trip include meeting with Rudy Crew, Superintendent of Miami-Dade Country Public Schools, as well as other policy and education experts at the state and local levels. In addition, we visited Miami Edison Senior High School, MacArthur South Senior High School, and Robert Morgan Educational Center. (Trip Report)

2/14/2005

Exploring Service-Learning as a Way to Increase Student Academic Performance and Civic Involvement visit to Friendship Edison Public Carter School in Washington, DC. The field tip featured a tour and discussion on the adoption, implementation and sustainability of service-learning as a way to engage students in increasing academic and civic skills. (Trip Report)

5/13/2002

Comprehensive School Reform and Service Learning: A Potential Partnership? With Shelley H. Billig, Vice President, RMC Corporation, Hudi Podolsky, Executive Director, Coalition of Essential Schools; Greg Farrell, President, Expeditionary Learning Outward Bound; and Susan Kovalik, President, Integrated Thematic Instruction. (Forum Brief)

3/17/2000

National Guard — Free State Youth ChalleNGe Program, Aberdeen, MD. (Trip Report)

Publications

View PDF	The College Ladder: Linking Secondary and Postsecondary Education for Success for All Students This compendium identifies and describes schools, programs, and policies that link secondary and postsecondary education to help students earn college credit or take college-level courses while in high school. It raises issues for practitioners and policymakers to consider as these program grow and target a wider range of students.
View PDF	Whatever It Takes: How Twelve Communities Are Reconnecting Out-of-School Youth This report documents what committed educators, policymakers, and community leaders across the country are doing to reconnect out-of-school youth to the social and economic mainstream. It provides background on the serious high school dropout problem and describes in-depth what twelve communities are doing to reconnect dropouts to education and employment training. It also includes descriptions of major national program models serving out-of-school youth.
View PDF	Lessons Learned: What the WAY Program Can Teach Us About Program Replication This paper addresses the issue of program replication based on the experience of replicating the Work Appreciation for Youth (WAY) program in four urban community-based organizations, with support from the United States Department of Labor/Employment and Training Division. WAY was originally developed by The Children’s Village (CV) for youth in the child welfare system’s most restrictive level of care—residential treatment—to assist and motivate them to stay in school and to develop and practice work ethics after they had been discharged from care.
View PDF	RAISING ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT: A Study of 20 Successful Programs 20 youth programs that succeeded in raising test scores, retention rates, graduation rates and other measures of academic performance. The report analyses the strategies used by the programs for their participants. Summaries of the programs are included.
View PDF	SOME THINGS THAT DO MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR YOUTH: A Compendium of Evaluations of Youth Programs and Practices This guide summarizes 69 evaluations of youth interventions involving education, employment and training, mentoring, service-learning and youth development to craft strategies affecting services and support for our nation's youth, particularly disadvantaged young people.
View PDF	MORE THINGS THAT DO MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR YOUTH, Vol. II A Compendium of more evaluations of youth programs. Summarizes 64 evaluations of career academies, school-to-work, Tech Prep, school reform, juvenile justice and related areas of youth policy.
View PDF Word document	Essentials of High School Reform This report speaks to a concern that much attention is being paid to greater academic achievement in core subjects, resulting in little focus on improved academic outcomes that include other valued skills, such as communication, teamwork, analytical, and interpersonal skills, that youth need to be successful. The report contends that high school students also need to learn about potential careers, have a familiarity with the world of work beyond the classroom walls, and develop some occupational competencies. Inside, the reader will find two papers and summaries of roundtables that provide policy recommendations and practical advice on how to structure contextual teaching and learning and alternative assessments activities at the high school level. Included are a multi-faceted approach to educational leadership, professional development, and federal education policy, and descriptions of effective policies, practices, and programs for improving student learning.