Work towards raising student achievement and personalizing the educational experience for high school students has led to the development of a number of comprehensive high school reform models. This page contains resources and links to programs, reports and research that support the implementation of these reforms.

Related resources from OVAE:

• Student Engagement and Options
• School Size
• Turning Around Low-Performing High Schools
  There are innovative, proven methods for turning around the nation's most troubled high schools.
  MS WORD (262K) | PDF (47K)

High School Reform Models:

• America's Choice
• ATLAS Communities
• Coalition of Essential Schools
• Community for Learning
• Co-NECT
• Edison Schools
• Expeditionary Learning Outward Bound
• First Things First
• High Schools That Work
• Modern Red Schoolhouse
• Paideia
• Talent Development High School

Resources from the web for high school reform models that support student achievement:

• Alternative School Calendars: Smart Idea or Senseless Experiment?
  Article that explores alternative school schedules (starting later to accommodate adolescent sleep needs, moving to a year-round schedule, setting up a four-day week, etc.) and their effects on student achievement. Includes links to additional resources on the subject.

• Around the Block: The Benefits and Challenges of Block Scheduling
  Article that explains block scheduling, gives some examples of its use, and discusses the research so far on whether or not block scheduling improves student achievement.

• Better by Design? A Consumer's Guide to School wide Reform.
  The Fordham Foundation describes the philosophy, environment and effect on student achievement of 10 widely-used school reform models. This is a well-written report aimed at education "consumers" - parents, teachers, community members and administrators trying to improve student achievement in their school or district.

• Block Scheduling Revisited.
  Review of the benefits and problems of block scheduling as it has been implemented in the US over the last few years. Includes recommendations to administrators and teachers for getting the most out of block scheduling.

• All Over the Map National High School Alliance.

• Betraying the College Dream a report from the Bridge Project at Stanford University

• A New Core Curriculum for All from EdTrust

• High School Academic Curriculum and the Persistence Path through College. (US Department of Education, NCES, 2001) PDF (86K)

• Career Academies: Impacts on Students' Initial Transitions to Post-Secondary Education and Employment (MDRC, 2001, to be updated 2003)

• Learning for the 21st Century: A Report and Mile Guide for 21st Century Skills. Find it on this page

• Supporting Charter Schools (U.S. Department of Education)

• Early College High School Initiative

• CRESPAR/Howard University -Talent Development research

• The Gates Foundation

CONTACT US

Please email HighSchools@ed.gov with your questions or comments regarding the Department's High School Initiative.