Archived InformationArchived Information

© 2003 NCEE2

What is the America’s Choice School Design?

Comprehensive—Includes all elements that affect student learning

Research-Based– Only those things that have been shown to work

Standards-Based– Student work meeting and progressing toward standards

displayed with rubrics and samples

– Classroom organized and equipped to support work expected of students

Aligned– All the elements fit together and relate to one another

© 2003 NCEE3

America’s Choice: Engaging and Motivating Students

Our Goal:

All students graduate high school ready for college without remediation

Key Elements:

Personalization

Moving all students to standard

Performance benchmarks

Focused options for older students

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• Lower Division (grades 9/10) and Upper Division (grades 11/12)

• Teachers and students are organized into smaller learning communities of approximately 400 students to create a more personalized learning environment

• Within each smaller learning community, teachers work with teams of approximately 100 students and stay with them for two years

• Class Teachers that act as student advocates are also assigned to students for two years

Smaller Learning Communities:Personalization

© 2003 NCEE5

Moving All Students to StandardLiteracy and Math

• Data tell us that the majority of our students enter high school not up to standard

• Focus of the Lower Division is core curriculum, with an emphasis on reading and math skills– Ramp Up Literacy course– Foundations of Advanced Mathematics

core units

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Moving All Students to Standard Ramp-Up Literacy

• Double-period block for struggling students• Reading and Writing Workshop structure

– Independent Reading– Read-Aloud/Think-Aloud/Talk-Aloud– Work Period– Closing

• Large, high interest classroom library• Cross-age tutoring• Content tied to on-grade level course

© 2003 NCEE7

Moving All Students to Standard Mathematics

• Series of units focused on essential math concepts that students need to be successful in more advanced mathematics

• They are intended to be integrated into the school-adopted curriculum

• America’s Choice materials emphasize conceptual learning in mathematics

• In our professional development, trainers model strategies to help teachers engage students in building conceptual understanding

© 2003 NCEE8

Performance Benchmark:Academic Foundation Certificate

• 10th grade benchmark signaling student is ready for college

• High minimum standards in core academic subjects

• Applied learning portfolio project • Performance-based: focus on student work• Rite of passage from Lower to Upper Division

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Academic Foundation Certificate Academic Foundation Certificate RequirementsRequirements

• Successful Course Completion and Exams/Portfolio Work– Two years of prepatory Math

– Two years of College preparatory English

– Two years of Laboratory Science

– Two years of College preparatory Social Science/History

– Two years of elective courses

– Applied Learning Portfolio Project

© 2003 NCEE10

Early Colleges: Focused Options Early Colleges: Focused Options for Older Studentsfor Older Students

• Early College: Humanities• Early College: Mathematics and Science• Early College: Career Academies• Community College AA/AS degrees

Upper Division includes four Early College models to engage students and help them build on their interests:

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Common to the Early Colleges: Common to the Early Colleges: Adult-Like EnvironmentAdult-Like Environment

• Organized into focused smaller learning communities

• Challenging coursework, with opportunities to enroll in college courses

• Adult-like learning environment• Mentors/real-world connections• Capstone projects as culminating performance

benchmark

© 2003 NCEE12

Conclusion: Engaging, Motivating and Connecting Students

• Personalized learning environment with connections to caring adults (smaller learning communities, Class Teacher, mentors)

• Instructional materials to engage students in learning

• Rigorous core curriculum with safety-nets

• Application and demonstration of knowledge

– Applied Learning Portfolio Project (10th grade)

– Capstone Project (12th grade)

• Opportunity for focused study in Early Colleges

• For more information, visit: www.ncee.org