A r c h i v e d  I n f o r m a t i o n

Strengthening and Enriching the Secondary School Curriculum

Restructuring curriculum:

• Central unifying themes
  
• Trading breadth for depth
  
• Interdisciplinary courses/units
  
• Internships/experiential learning
  
• Community service/service learning
  
• Integrating academic and occupational focus in coursework

Increasing all students' access to challenging curriculum:

• Heterogeneous grouping
  
• More flexible uses of ability grouping
  
• Increasing student success in gateway courses

Adapting Organizations to Increase Learning

Creating personalized communities of learners:

• School-within-a-school
  
• Clusters/houses/teams
  
• Individualized instruction (e.g., self-paced independent study curriculum, open-entry/-exit courses)
  
• Increasing choice (i.e., in selecting a program of study)

Using time flexibly:

• Block scheduling
  
• Weekly schedule structured around college classes or work experience
  
• Extended day/evening classes
  
• Summer session

Linking Schooling to the Future

School-to-work programs:

• Work-based learning
  
• School-based learning
  
• Connecting activities
  
• Tech prep programs
  
• Youth apprenticeship programs
  
• Career academies
  
• Career exploration programs

College prep programs:

• Visits to/study on college campuses
  
• Assistance with admissions/financial aid applications

Creating Networks of Support for Students

Increasing sense of school membership:

• Co-curricular activities
  
• Peer tutoring/mentoring
  
• Adult-student mentoring

Other support programs:

• Student advising
  
• School safety
  
• Creating partnerships with families
  
• Developing comprehensive support systems (i.e., integrating health, education, and social services)

Resources for Improvement

Professional development:

• New methods and materials
  
• Peer collaboration
  
• Grounding in the principles of reform
  
• Climate that supports professional growth
  
• Resources for learning (e.g., partnerships with universities)

Other resources:

• Site-based decision making
  
• Project planning
  
• Funding (e.g., Title I funding)

[Appendix B]