A new model of A new model of educational entrepreneurship educational entrepreneurship

in the public in the public education systemeducation system

How far will the ripples spread?

Tuition Free Public Charter School Tuition Free Public Charter School 77thth – 12 – 12thth Grade Grade

Historical PerspectiveHistorical Perspective

Born out of the progressive, communal model of Born out of the progressive, communal model of Miles Horton and Paulo Freire (1930s)Miles Horton and Paulo Freire (1930s)

Theoretical underpinnings from John Dewey Theoretical underpinnings from John Dewey (1900) & Ted Sizer (1980s & 90s)(1900) & Ted Sizer (1980s & 90s)

Practical lessons from the open school Practical lessons from the open school movement of the 1960s & 70smovement of the 1960s & 70s

One of few schools in the country to truly One of few schools in the country to truly integrate student interests and performance integrate student interests and performance assessment with systemic high standards and assessment with systemic high standards and the latest technologythe latest technology

The Future is Here, The Future is Here, Are You Ready? Are You Ready?

““The Minnesota New Country School The Minnesota New Country School is a learning community committed is a learning community committed

to quality personalized project-based to quality personalized project-based learning with demonstrated achievement.”learning with demonstrated achievement.”

Enter the doors of innovation…Enter the doors of innovation…

Creating a “Win-Win” EnvironmentCreating a “Win-Win” Environment

Students get Students get unbridled attention unbridled attention and activityand activity

Parents get constant Parents get constant communication and communication and feedbackfeedback

Teachers get a sense Teachers get a sense of professionalism of professionalism unheralded in public unheralded in public educationeducation

Teachers as Owners modelTeachers as Owners model Teachers organize Teachers organize

themselves in a small themselves in a small professional associationprofessional association

The association negotiates The association negotiates a lump sum contract with a lump sum contract with the governing boardthe governing board

Teachers perform their work Teachers perform their work in a spirit of ownership and in a spirit of ownership and are accountable for are accountable for everything from the learning everything from the learning program and student program and student achievement to facility achievement to facility management and school management and school financefinance

Governance ModelGovernance Model

Democratic principles of governance – Democratic principles of governance – decision-making model gives equal voice to alldecision-making model gives equal voice to all

Teacher Professional Practice - teachers take Teacher Professional Practice - teachers take genuine ownership and accept ultimate genuine ownership and accept ultimate responsibility for student achievement, school responsibility for student achievement, school finance, and professional developmentfinance, and professional development

Professional Development Plans for all staffProfessional Development Plans for all staff Peer evaluation, performance-based pay and Peer evaluation, performance-based pay and

at-will agreementsat-will agreements

Changing the relationship between Changing the relationship between the board and the teachers…the board and the teachers…

Board becomes a purchaser of Board becomes a purchaser of educational services and other related educational services and other related contractscontracts

Board focuses on goal setting and Board focuses on goal setting and monitoring performance-based monitoring performance-based agreementsagreements

Shared ownership offers teachers true Shared ownership offers teachers true site-based management and control of site-based management and control of resourcesresources

Learning ModelLearning Model

Grounded in a Constructivist FrameworkGrounded in a Constructivist Framework Project-based learning is the core of the Project-based learning is the core of the

learning programlearning program State standards are met primarily through State standards are met primarily through

projects, not classes or coursesprojects, not classes or courses Projects are student-initiated and student-Projects are student-initiated and student-

drivendriven Performance-based assessment is a Performance-based assessment is a

critical means of assessing studentscritical means of assessing students

Learning Model (continued)Learning Model (continued)

Assessment of life skills is a key outcomeAssessment of life skills is a key outcome Advisory Groups of 15-20 students are teamed Advisory Groups of 15-20 students are teamed

with each Generalist Advisorwith each Generalist Advisor Public presentations of student projects are part Public presentations of student projects are part

of the design planof the design plan Full integration and broad application of Full integration and broad application of

technologytechnology Facility allows for open, flexible space and Facility allows for open, flexible space and

personal work stations for studentspersonal work stations for students Facility provides a public presentation areaFacility provides a public presentation area

Open spaces encourage Open spaces encourage collaborationcollaboration

VISUALLY . . .VISUALLY . . .

A classroom without A classroom without walls – 17,000 sq. ft. walls – 17,000 sq. ft. buildingbuilding

Mostly unpartitioned, Mostly unpartitioned, open space filled with open space filled with student and advisor student and advisor workstations and workstations and meeting/work tablesmeeting/work tables

STRUCTURALLY . . .STRUCTURALLY . . .

A high school without A high school without high school courseshigh school courses

No daily course No daily course periodsperiods

No high school bellsNo high school bells

A community member donated a Silo A community member donated a Silo that provides a unique, that provides a unique,

quiet space on the inside quiet space on the inside

……and a sliding door on the back of and a sliding door on the back of the Silo opens up to create a stage!the Silo opens up to create a stage!

Refocusing the use of technologyRefocusing the use of technology

To a central and To a central and integral part of the integral part of the learning processlearning process

To be directed by To be directed by studentsstudents

To enhance student To enhance student presentationspresentations Every student has their individual

work space and ready access to technology – wide array of software and access to the internet

Teachers take on the role of Teachers take on the role of AdvisorsAdvisors

Connections to caring adults

motivates students to master an academically rigorous, relevant curriculum

Changing the role of the teacherChanging the role of the teacher

From lecturer and From lecturer and director of instruction director of instruction to to resource provider resource provider and participant in the and participant in the learning activitieslearning activities

Advisors collaborate with one Advisors collaborate with one another throughout the day . . .another throughout the day . . .

Students work independentlyStudents work independently and collaboratively and collaboratively

A time for silent reading

Students work together on their math

Students earn their freedom…Students earn their freedom…

Expectations are Expectations are made clear to all made clear to all studentsstudents

Students earn Students earn

privileges and privileges and freedoms based on freedoms based on their performancetheir performance

Students take pride Students take pride in keeping their school clean in keeping their school clean

Each advisory group Each advisory group takes on the janitorial takes on the janitorial duties for one week at duties for one week at a timea time

Students hold one Students hold one another accountable another accountable for keeping the facility for keeping the facility cleanclean

Students acquire knowledge, attitudes Students acquire knowledge, attitudes and skills to engage in and skills to engage in

sustained, lifelong learningsustained, lifelong learning Define their own roles, Define their own roles,

tasks, and time tasks, and time managementmanagement

Learn how to Learn how to communicate, show, communicate, show, affect, produce, and take affect, produce, and take responsibilityresponsibility

Understand and apply Understand and apply complex ideas and complex ideas and processesprocesses

Develop depth of Develop depth of knowledge and master knowledge and master integrated skillsintegrated skills

A Purely Project-Based SchoolA Purely Project-Based School One that asks learners to One that asks learners to

devise, develop, process, devise, develop, process, self-assess, produce, self-assess, produce, and perform a long-term and perform a long-term project project

One that provides One that provides students with an students with an opportunity to learn how opportunity to learn how to learn, learn about the to learn, learn about the world, learn who they are world, learn who they are and what they want to and what they want to becomebecome

Project Proposal FormProject Proposal Form

Project Proposal Form (Continued)Project Proposal Form (Continued)

Performance Rubric

Student Performance GoalsStudent Performance Goals

All students are required to complete 10 project All students are required to complete 10 project credits per year (approximately 100 hours per credits per year (approximately 100 hours per credit)credit)

Interdisciplinary projects are developed around Interdisciplinary projects are developed around an individualized learning plan with input from an individualized learning plan with input from the student, parent and advisorsthe student, parent and advisors

Projects must meet the requirements of the Projects must meet the requirements of the State StandardsState Standards

To graduate, seniors are required to design an To graduate, seniors are required to design an in-depth, interdisciplinary Senior Projectin-depth, interdisciplinary Senior Project

Intrinsic motivation is a natural Intrinsic motivation is a natural by-product when students… by-product when students…

Can choose what they will learnCan choose what they will learn Have time to really investigate something of Have time to really investigate something of

interestinterest Are truly responsible for their learningAre truly responsible for their learning

The door of opportunity is opened to The door of opportunity is opened to

learning worthwhile, meaningful skillslearning worthwhile, meaningful skills

Creating a Creating a Resource-rich EnvironmentResource-rich Environment

Media CenterMedia Center

Resource Library including a wide array of books, Resource Library including a wide array of books, videotapes, software programs, digital cameras, etc.videotapes, software programs, digital cameras, etc.

Another quiet space to workAnother quiet space to work Includes additional resources for students with special Includes additional resources for students with special

needsneeds

Incorporating “The Arts”Incorporating “The Arts”

Students are in the process of completing a Stained Glass Mural – reflecting the beauty of diversity

Students have created stained glass panels for front and side doors

Artists in the making…Artists in the making…

Let the music flow…Let the music flow…

Students share their talents with one another

History comes alive . . .History comes alive . . .. . . A student gives relatives a tour of the school and explains about the Holocaust project that is displayed on the walls

Relatives share with students about their experiences during World War II . . .

Hands-on ScienceHands-on Science

. . . In the science lab,

or where ever you find it!

The GreenhouseThe Greenhouse

Auto ShopAuto ShopStudents work on a car they

pulled out of a ditch full of water during heavy rains

Student project resulted in an experimental, high performance vehicle that exceeded 280 mpg!

Serving the community…Serving the community…

Profit from the soda Profit from the soda machine provides machine provides resources for various resources for various community service community service projectsprojects

Students take full Students take full responsibility for responsibility for related accountingrelated accounting

Student-run businessesStudent-run businesses

Students sew logos Students sew logos etc. for local etc. for local businessesbusinesses

Profit goes back into Profit goes back into the school budget for the school budget for student activitiesstudent activities

Documenting Documenting Lifelong Learning Experiences Lifelong Learning Experiences

Students document Students document learning that takes learning that takes place outside the place outside the classroom – with classroom – with family and friends and family and friends and earn credit based on earn credit based on the learning that the learning that occursoccurs

Students share their Students share their experiences with their experiences with their peers and advisorspeers and advisors

Assessment of learningAssessment of learning

Demonstration of Demonstration of learning throughout learning throughout the processthe process

Requires processes Requires processes or performances or performances and tangible and tangible accomplishments to accomplishments to be witnessedbe witnessed

Student shares the insights she is learning through her economics project

Attributes of a High Achieving School Attributes of a High Achieving School (Gates Foundation)(Gates Foundation)

Common FocusCommon Focus High ExpectationsHigh Expectations Respect and Respect and

ResponsibilityResponsibility PersonalizedPersonalized Time to CollaborateTime to Collaborate Technology as a ToolTechnology as a Tool Performance-BasedPerformance-Based

How far will the ripples spread?How far will the ripples spread?

Transforming Education Transforming Education and Creating a and Creating a

Passion for Learning . . .Passion for Learning . . .