Schools That Work

Elementary Students Speak Their Minds

toryread@earthnet.net (Tory Read) — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 16:00:50 +0000

Students at Challenge Foundation Academy, a new elementary charter school in inner-city Indianapolis, Indiana, talk about what they’ve learned at the school, what makes them feel safe and their dreams for the future.

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Risks and Rewards of Teaching at Charter Schools

toryread@earthnet.net (Tory Read) — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 15:00:19 +0000

Three teachers at Challenge Foundation Academy, a new charter elementary school in Indianapolis, Indiana, talk about the risks and benefits of teaching in a charter school.

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Charter Schools Offer Alternatives

toryread@earthnet.net (Tory Read) — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 16:46:29 +0000

Two seniors at Decatur Discovery Academy, a charter high school in Decatur, Indiana, talk about their transformation as students at the school. They also describe why the school works for them, and they discuss their plans for the future.

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Project-Based Learning

toryread@earthnet.net (Tory Read) — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 19:39:53 +0000

Teachers at a small charter high school in Decatur, Indiana, talk about project-based learning and what it has to offer students in the 21st century.

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Charter Schools Can Help Districts

toryread@earthnet.net (Tory Read) — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 16:24:42 +0000

A forward-looking school district superintendent in Decatur, Indiana, describes the benefits of organizing a charter school in his district. His experience calls into question the assumption that charter schools undermine traditional district schools.

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All Students Can Go to College

toryread@earthnet.net (Tory Read) — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 17:07:03 +0000

High school students in Indianapolis, Indiana, talk about the impact of College Summit, a program that helps low-income students go to college. According to IPS Superintendent Dr. Eugene White, the number of Emmerich Manual High School students applying to college has increased by 50 percent since College Summit came to the school.

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New Teaching Talent Comes to District Schools

toryread@earthnet.net (Tory Read) — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 17:21:01 +0000

The superintendent of Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) describes his district’s efforts to improve education for low-income students by recruiting new teaching talent to the city through Teach for America and New Teachers Project. IPS serves 35,500 students. Roughly 80 percent of them qualify for free or reduced price lunch.

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Students Are the Best Evidence

toryread@earthnet.net (Tory Read) — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 18:24:14 +0000

Students at Parks talk about what they contribute to success at Parks and what inspires them to achieve at school. They also demonstrate the results of Parks’ success through their reflections on how they have changed in their time at the school and their descriptions of their plans for the future.

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Karate Supports Learning in the Classroom

toryread@earthnet.net (Tory Read) — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 17:49:58 +0000

Karate is one of many before- and after-school enrichment programs at Parks Middle School in inner-city Atlanta. Teachers and students talk about how karate contributes to the school’s efforts to improve results for kids and families at Parks, which went from chronically failing school to best in the district.

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Parent Involvement Contributes to Results

toryread@earthnet.net (Tory Read) — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 20:03:59 +0000

A parent at Parks Middle School in Atlanta describes her involvement at the school and how it contributes to improved results for students. Engaged parents helped Parks change from a chronically failing school to best in the district.

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Adult Role Models Inspire Students

toryread@earthnet.net (Tory Read) — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 15:50:13 +0000

A social worker at Parks Middle School in urban Atlanta describes his work with students and families at the school and the role that community service plays in improving results for kids and families at Parks. Focused attention to student and family needs outside of school has helped Parks change from a chronically failing school to best in the district.

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Data Helps Students Succeed

toryread@earthnet.net (Tory Read) — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 16:00:24 +0000

The instructional specialist at Parks Middle School in inner-city Atlanta defines data and talks about the role that it plays in improving results for kids and families at the school. Intelligent use of data helped Parks change from a chronically failing school to best in the district.

Bonus Audio: Listen to uncut interviews

Foundations Can Help Schools Improve Results

toryread@earthnet.net (Tory Read) — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 20:21:54 +0000

Parks Middle School in Atlanta went from failing school to best in the district, making AYP (Adequate Yearly Progress) under the federal No Child Left Behind law for the past three years in a row.

The school principal and a representative of the Annie E. Casey Foundation talk about how the Foundation supported the school’s efforts to improve results for kids and families at the school.

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