Helping all students graduate ready for college, work and citizenship

NCSL Annual Convention, Denver CO, 7/23/02

Helping all students graduate ready for college, work and citizenship

NCSL Annual Convention, Denver CO, 7/23/02

Budget crisis in 40 states “No Child Left Behind” questions Focus on elementary literacy

With a full agenda…

Why high schools? Least effective Gross inequities Most intractable High stakes

Students that don’t leave high schoolcollege ready are unlikely to enter economic and civic mainstream

Ineffective and inequitable

Science

Math

Science

Math

Science Math

4th Grade 8th Grade 10th Grade

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

White Black Hispanic

78%

56% 54%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Gra

duati

on R

ate

U.S. Student Relative Performance of 41 Countries Taking TIMMS

U.S. High School Graduation Rates

U.S. has high-performing elementary and higher education

But, high schools are among worst in the world, especially in serving disadvantaged students

Source: US Dept. of Education; NCES; Common Core of Data; Manhattan Institute

Transforming our secondary schools fromanonymity & incoherence to rigor & relationship

Grade & test focused

Command & control

Independent struggle

Passive coverage

Isolation & anonymity

InstructionInstruction

AssessmentAssessment

ProgressProgress

RelationshipsRelationships

ClimateClimate

Advocate for every student

Professional learning community

Frequent & varied performance assessment

Demonstration

Focused, relevant, & rigorous

A lab subject

Teaching LoadTeaching Load 70-80 students

TeachingTeaching

TechnologyTechnology

CurriculumCurriculum

ExpectationsExpectations

140-160 students

Credit accumulation

Unfocused, irrelevant & inconsistent

Varied by track Common goals and high expectations for all

In-depth active inquiry

Integrated & accessible

Respect & responsibility

4 types of schools Start with: Example: Denmark:

1. Academic Content Bard EC, GymnasiumF. Douglas

2. Applied Work HTH/NTH*, HTX/HHX,Art, CES 100 voc. paths

3. Alternative Student Met, MNC*, Production school,Diploma+ Individual

options

4. Affiliated Worldview Catholic Muslim

Every secondary portfolio needs diverse options thatprepare all students for college, work & citizenship

*High Tech High (San Diego), New Tech High (Napa), Met (Providence), Minn. New Country (Henderson, MN)

What states should do1. Standards, assessment & accountability:

Adopt college-ready/linked standards Develop online standards-based tests Use multiple accountability measures &

robust intervention strategies

2. Provide adequate need-based funding

3. Promote college awareness, access & aid

4. Start new secondary schools & remove incentives for mega-schools