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Thank you for joining us at Sundance Resort for our 7th annual summer
retreat. Please click on the links below to access:
Retreat summary by Richard Erdmann:
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Our summer retreat focused on two broad themes:
(1) There are non-school factors over which schools have no control
and little influence but nonetheless must respond to if they are to be
successful.
(2) In spite of these factors, schools can be successful, even
with those currently failing.
National high school graduation rates peaked at about 70% over thirty
years ago - so the problem we face is not new. It is more serious than
before because the economy has changed the game and placed an increasing
premium on education, work skills and attitudes. In addition, the
make-up of the students in the 30% dropping out has changed over the years.
In this group there are both macro and micro issues affecting student success
that have nothing to do with schools but have everything to do
with educational success. On the macro level these range from family income,
to health to the second language and cultural issues of a very large and
growing immigrant population. On the micro level cultural characteristics
manifest themselves in family differences in everything from family conversations
to purchasing to valuing school. All of these and more have an
impact on school success. Business as usual is unlikely to make a significant
impact on these numbers.
In responding to this challenge we need to remember
to evaluate student success using a number of different measures.
The use of testing alone will lead down the incorrect path as evidenced
in the data provided from the University of Texas study where class
rank proved a more accurate indicator for college success than SAT scores
(the reliance on any one indicator to the exclusion of others will almost
always lead to an inaccurate picture of what is happening). Regardless
of measures, however, there are some promising models and practices that
can be followed.
It is also important that we understand the crucial nature
of the ninth grade. Getting students through the ninth grade is
critical because the dropout rate for students who repeat the ninth grade
is staggering. Perhaps the most successful practice is buying time in literacy
and math. This may include double blocks (perhaps the most successful
practice), after-school, twilight school, weekend school, holiday school
and summer school - but it almost always includes more time. This effort
must include improving the classroom practice, such as actually focusing
on reading rather than including it only in the broader context of another
subject area.
There are also models of successful reform and creating
a model from scratch reduces the chances for success. While all
of the models mentioned involved small learning communities, it is not
clear that this translates necessarily into small schools. These models
in several cases involve themes, like career academies, and both vertical
and horizontal planning among teachers. Although we did not study
them in the conference, I would suspect that theme schools including media,
technology and film even demonstrate increased success over a general
education program for our students at risk of dropping out. I suspect that
the theme approach forces courses to become relevant to each other across
a grade level (think history and science being related) as well as between
grade levels (biology and chemistry being related). What we learned
from the Gates Foundation study is that relevance is extremely important
in the eyes of our students. In some cases, like reform based on Advanced
Placement, the changes reach down into the middle schools.
Sponsor information:
Thank you to our generous sponsors for supporting our summer retreat at Sundance Resort.
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Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
www.gatesfoundation.org
Guided by the belief that every life has equal value, the Bill & Melinda
Gates Foundation works to reduce inequities and improve lives around
the world. In developing countries, it focuses on improving health, reducing
extreme poverty, and increasing access to technology in public libraries.
In the United States, the foundation seeks to ensure that all people
have access to a great education and to technology in public libraries.
Through partnerships with states, school districts and non-profit organizations
around the country, the foundation’s education program aims to
significantly increase the number of students, particularly low-income
African Americans and Hispanics, who graduate from high school ready
for work and college - and ready to participate in our democracy.
Based in Seattle, the foundation is led by CEO Patty Stonesifer and Co-chairs
William H. Gates Sr., Bill Gates, and Melinda French Gates. |
eInstruction
www.einstruction.com
1-888-707-6819
Darren Ward, darren@einstruction.com
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eInstruction is headquartered in Denton,
Texas and specializes in real-time, interactive wireless response pad
technology. eInstruction was founded in 1981, by Dr. Darrell L. Ward,
a long-time researcher and teacher. He recognized a significant need
in educational institutions for innovative technology-based products.
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Many years of consistent cutting-edge research and development have
earned eInstruction a reputation of excellence in the education market. Classroom
Performance System (CPS) moves seamlessly into the K-12 classroom with
innumerable benefits to students and instructors. eInstruction’s
hand held response pad technology appeals directly to a new generation
of learners, while the ease and aid in data collection appeals directly
to a new generation of teachers. CPS is interactive, fun, and highly
productive! Simply pose a question verbally or create ahead of time using
one of eInstruction’s 57
question templates and wait a few seconds while each student enters an
answer on his or her individual response pad. Every student is involved.
No one is embarrassed or shy about giving an answer. They’re having
fun and behind the scenes CPS is correlating all the results, freeing
the teacher to teach. Use the technology in your classroom one time and
your students will ask for more! |
National Academy Foundation
www.naf.org
Bill Taylor, (212) 635-2400 x 260, bill@naf.org
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NAF
is a nonprofit 501(c)3 intermediary organization that sustains a national
network of high school career academies in finance, hospitality & tourism,
and information technology. NAF Academies represent business/school
partnerships that prepare young people for future careers through a combination
of school-based curricula and work-based experiences.
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What is a NAF Academy?
Each NAF Academy operates as an independent
small school or as a “school
within a school” in high schools across the country. Students
apply to participate in a cadre of 75-125 Academy students per school
per year. These students share a minimum of two to three common
Academy classes each semester. The Academy can be a three- or four-year
program of study, fully integrated with the core academic curriculum. NAF
Academies are targeted to schools in the nation’s urban centers,
but are appropriate for—and thrive in—urban, suburban, and
rural areas where businesses exist alongside the schools.
How is a NAF Academy different from other career academies?
The
NAF Academy model consists of three critical components:
- A career-themed small learning community comprises the resources,
leadership, and supports needed to sustain the Academy and features
NAF’s curriculum--designed, reviewed, and updated regularly by
a team of educators and industry experts;
- Community partnerships includes the collaboration between the school
and the larger community toward the development of local advisory
boards and paid student internships--a critical factor in connecting
the “real
world” to classroom study;
- Professional development ensures that all stakeholders have regular
opportunities to enhance their academy related skills and competencies
through NAF conferences, technical assistance materials, and other
local activities
These three components form NAF's "Academy Frameworks," a
system of quality assurance and guidelines designed to help set expectations
for new programs and developing Academies, to provide benchmarks for
all Academies to assess program progress, and to encourage innovation
among all Academies over time.
Pearson Achievement Solutions & Pearson Education
www.pearsoned.com
Kathy Hurley, khurley@pearsoned.com
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About
Pearson Education: Educating 100 million people worldwide,
Pearson Education is the global leader in educational publishing, providing
scientifically research-based print and digital programs to help students
of all ages learn at their own pace, in their own way. Virtually all
students and teachers in America learn from a Pearson program at some
point in their educational career. |
In the U.S., nearly 25,000 schools use Pearson technology to help instruct
preK-12 students and manage how they are doing. Pearson provides schools
customizable services to create, deliver, score and report educational
assessments, both in print and online that help promote learning. The
company is home to such renowned publishing brands as Pearson Prentice
Hall, Pearson Scott Foresman, Pearson Early Learning, Pearson Digital
Learning, Pearson Learning Group, and Pearson Allyn & Bacon. Pearson
Education is part of Pearson (NYSE: PSO), the international media company.
In addition to Pearson Education, Pearson's primary operations include
the Financial Times Group and the Penguin Group.
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At Pearson Achievement Solutions, we
understand that when districts work to improve the quality of teaching
through sustained professional learning and teacher support, the result
is schools organized for success with increased student achievement,
improved teacher retention and lower overall professional development
costs. That is why we develop and deliver coherent district-wide
professional learning plans focused on school improvement that transform
the culture of
teaching. |
Our plans can include expanding district and
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instruction and maximizing professional growth. Drawing from a
collection of research-based programs, evidence-based practices and program
implementation processes, we can help your district meet and exceed federal
and state mandates. Pearson Achievement Solutions is committed to improving
teaching and ensuring that every child has equal access to an exceptional
education. |
Pitsco, Inc. – Synergistic Learning Systems
www.pitsco.com
www.synergistic-systems.com
Jack Hemenway, jhemenway@pitsco.com
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Pitsco began as not much more than a product flyer and
a handful of kits and curriculum. But an unwavering focus on offering
innovative solutions and great customer service has grown a weekend endeavor
into a multifaceted corporation with thousands of products and close
to 200 employees. And while time and success have changed Pitsco's appearance;
every division, product, and employee of Pitsco is dedicated as ever
to learner success. Since its inception, Pitsco has been a company dedicated
to helping students and teachers succeed. |
After more than 30 years of
innovation, Pitsco products and solutions now serve more than seven million
students every year. Synergistic Systems is the original — the
most successful learning method for middle-level students based on our
rock-solid curriculum framework, enhanced with quality hands-on activities
and our interactive multimedia curriculum. |
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