High School Leadership Summit Transforming High Schools Linda Clarke Executive Director Houston A+ Challenge October 8, 2003 Archived Information

October 8, 2003© Houston A+ Challenge 2 Project Partners Houston Schools for a New Society Carnegie Corporation, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Houston A+ Challenge Houston ISD Regional Initiative Five Houston metro area school districts Aldine ISD Alief ISD Houston ISD Humble ISD Spring Branch ISD Houston A+ Challenge

October 8, 2003© Houston A+ Challenge 3 Key Elements Reconstruct large, comprehensive, traditional high schools into small, personalized learning communities Develop and implement new small high schools

October 8, 2003© Houston A+ Challenge 4 Large Schools Regroup into small, semi-autonomous, theme-based academies with no more than 300 students each Examples Fine Arts, Business and Technology, Health Science Technology, Industrial and Engineering Technology, Magnet Technology

October 8, 2003© Houston A+ Challenge 5 Large Schools (cont.) Add adult advocate for each student for academic and social support from 9th grade through graduation Examples Meet 35 minutes per week one-on-one with students Multi-grade advisory groups that allow teachers to keep the same group of students for four years regardless of retention or change in grade status

October 8, 2003© Houston A+ Challenge 6 Large Schools (cont.) Teacher professional development that improves the quality of instruction Teachers identify need Small group delivery model 90-minute weekly meeting outside of instructional time Examples CO-Nect Kagan Cooperative Learning All teachers gifted/talented certified

October 8, 2003© Houston A+ Challenge 7 Large Schools (cont.) Develop teachers as leaders Teacher-led action teams American Leadership Forum

October 8, 2003© Houston A+ Challenge 8 Large Schools (cont.) Literacy instruction is embedded in all core subjects Literacy coach Work with content teachers in the classroom Each core-subject department outlines strategies to identify and address areas of weakness

October 8, 2003© Houston A+ Challenge 9 Large Schools (cont.) Curriculum is aligned, rigorous and based on standards essential for successful entry into college or the workplace Curriculum provides authentic, real-world experiences Example Service Learning

October 8, 2003© Houston A+ Challenge 10 Large Schools (cont.) Internships for students Externships for teachers Faculty shadow professionals in businesses related to their academy

October 8, 2003© Houston A+ Challenge 11 Large Schools (cont.) Each school develops a school-wide, systemic set of interventions for one-on- one student remediation Students' strengths and weaknesses are pinpointed with data Teachers focus on problem areas Academy structure allows teachers to quickly address issues: struggling academics, excessive tardies & absences, behavior Utilize community programs Communities in Schools

October 8, 2003© Houston A+ Challenge 12 Large Schools (cont.) All teachers belong to professional learning communities that regularly meet to examine student work, then analyze how to alter curriculum and instruction to improve student achievement Example Critical Friends Group protocols

October 8, 2003© Houston A+ Challenge 13 Large Schools (cont.) Community involvement Parent academies Town hall forums Community advisory councils Free media Business oversight committee Community based organizations

October 8, 2003© Houston A+ Challenge 14 Status As of fall 2003, 18 of 24 comprehensive HISD high schools have begun restructuring 11 regional high schools begun restructuring 6 more HISD schools expected to begin in fall 2004

October 8, 2003© Houston A+ Challenge 15 Model Reagan HS Process model for large school transformation in Houston Met Adequate Yearly Progress for NCLB Achieved significant student progress Began work in 1999

October 8, 2003© Houston A+ Challenge 16 New Small Schools Open three early college high schools by 2005 Five-year program Housed on community college campus Students graduate with a high school degree and two-year college degree

October 8, 2003© Houston A+ Challenge 17 New Small Schools (cont.) Schools limited to 400 students Service Learning Authentic assessment Adult advocate

October 8, 2003© Houston A+ Challenge 18 New Small Schools (cont.) Use time differently Students complete curriculum at own pace Start classes one hour later on Mondays Teachers use hour for peer-group meeting to assess students’ progress

October 8, 2003© Houston A+ Challenge 19 New Small Schools (cont.) Personalized academic plan for each student Tutoring/mentoring One day week students chose content- teacher to visit for one-on-one instruction in the morning

October 8, 2003© Houston A+ Challenge 20 New Small Schools (cont.) Students take ownership Design extracurricular clubs Outdoor chess Gamesters Rap band Voice in other decision making

October 8, 2003© Houston A+ Challenge 21 New Small Schools (cont.) Teachers certified in content area Teachers have masters degree Will become adjunct professors at community college

October 8, 2003© Houston A+ Challenge 22 Status First early college opened fall 2003 by Houston Community College, Houston ISD and Houston A+ Challenge

October 8, 2003© Houston A+ Challenge 23 Design Comprehensive, three-pronged approach Restructure schools Align district to new work Engage community

October 8, 2003© Houston A+ Challenge 24 Leadership New Visions in Leadership Academy All principals (new schools and large schools) participate District superintendents (five districts )

October 8, 2003© Houston A+ Challenge 25 Accountability Peer Review by community State of Texas standards No Child Left Behind

October 8, 2003Houston A+ Challenge Louisiana, Box 9 Houston, Texas