Food for thought at a Vermont elementary school
State: Vermont
Posted: October 17, 2007
Summary: School improvement and civic engagement are just two pluses this school has experienced through its partnership with the Shelburne Farms' Sustainable Schools Project and local community members.
Topic areas: School improvement, civic engagement, English language learners, curriculum planning
Kansas elementary school closes the achievement gap
State: Kansas
Posted: June 25, 2007
Summary: This Title I school has closed the achievement gap for English Language Learners and students who are economically disadvantaged. See how these students consistently exceed both state standards and NCLB targets.
Topic areas: ELL, achievement gap, exceeding standards
Embracing a spirit of innovation at Walden III
State: Wisconsin
Posted: May 1, 2007
Summary: Student responsibility and student-directed learning goals are two of the core beliefs that drive Walden III middle and high school. See how this philosophy keeps students engaged in learning.
Topic areas: Funding, community, student engagement, high expectations, accountability
Middle colleges make a difference for struggling high school students in North Carolina
State: North Carolina
Posted: December 20, 2006
Summary: North Carolina's middle colleges help disengaged and disillusioned students find the right path. This unique environment helps students acclimate to higher standards and become engaged in school again and motivated to learn.
Topic areas: Student engagement, student success, extra supports, alternative education
Michigan district gets physical with reading
State: Michigan
Posted: November 3, 2006
Summary: Everything is fair game as reading tutors teach students the connections between sounds and letters. Find out how Michigan's Romulus Community Schools increased student achievement by using an imaginative system for teaching reading to struggling students, combined with the creative use of its school facilities.
Topics: Reading, afterschool programs, community involvement, leveraging resources
Hamilton County urban schools nurture good teachers
State: Tennessee
Posted: May 23, 2006
Summary: Many urban schools struggle to find and retain teachers willing to do the tough job of teaching low-income students, but not in Hamilton County, Tennessee. Learn how they mastered this challenge and created a win-win situation for all—students, teachers, and the schools themselves.
Topics: raising student achievement, teacher professional development, teacher retention
Parents power Portland schools' rebound
State: Oregon
Posted: May 10, 2006
Summary: In 2003, the financial situation for local schools in Portland, Oregon, was so bleak that Portland was spoofed nationally in Garry Trudeau’s Doonesbury cartoon strip. But when parents joined forces on behalf of public schools in the greater Portland area, it was no joke.
Topics: community engagement, school change, funding
Georgia district fares well in weathering change
State: Georgia
Posted: July 20, 2005
Summary: By getting in front of expected challenges a decade ago, Gwinnett County, Ga., school leaders kept the community involved and achievement levels high.
Topics: data for decision-making; changing demographics
Education partnership leads to 'Broad' success
State: California
Posted: June 6, 2005
Summary: When Long Beach Unified School District won the Broad Prize for Urban Education in 2003, and the $500,000 in college scholarships that came with it, judges frequently pointed to the district's powerful data collection system and research department as key to the district's success.
Topics: collaboration
Pennsylvania district communicates that 'Every Child Counts'
State: Pennsylvania
Posted: April 7, 2005
Summary: In this age of standardized testing, Every Child Counts clarifies to the students, staff, and community of the Williamsport Area School District that every child does count and is a valued member of the educational system.
Topics: collaboration; community involvement
Florida school district gets the vote out
State: Florida
Posted: Feb. 11, 2005
Summary: With teachers leaving the Pinellas County (Fla.) School District for higher salaries in neighboring states, the Pinellas County School Board and the local education association spearheaded a grassroots movement that won a tax increase to raise teacher salaries and bolster reading and art programs.
Topics: teacher retention; funding; outreach and communication strategies
Texas school district tackles truancy
State: Texas
Posted: Nov. 17, 2004
Summary: An original approach to school truancy in the Fort Worth (Texas) Independent School District is reducing absences and ultimately may curb the district's drop-out rate.
Topics: drop-out prevention; truancy
Long-term commitment key to Kansas City (Kan.) schools' success
State: Kansas
Posted: Oct. 22, 2004
Summary: Faced with a high drop-out rate and low student performance, the Kansas City (Kan.) School Board wasn't interested in quick fixes. Instead, members opted for across-the-board strategies to improve teaching and strengthen student learning.
Topics: student achievement; drop-out prevention; collaboration
Rolling out the red carpet in Norfolk, Va.
State: Virginia
Posted: Sept. 7, 2004
Summary: The Norfolk (Va.) Public Schools are seeing increased parental involvement and more interaction between parents and the school board thanks to a simple initiative launched by the board.
Topics: parent involvement
