22^nd Annual HSTW Staff Development Conference

School Improvement Initiatives

High Schools That Work —The HSTW Goals, Key Practices and Key Conditions define the framework for whole-school improvement at more than 1,100 high school sites in 32 states. HSTW works with the states to deliver technical assistance, professional development, publications and assessment services to the school sites. The Annual HSTW Staff Development Conference inspires and informs more than 7,500 administrators, teachers and counselors seeking ways to raise standards and achievement.

Making Middle Grades Work — SREB’s middle grades consortium works with more than 275 schools in 16 states to raise the academic achievement of middle grades students and to increase the percentages of students that reach the Basic and Proficient achievement levels as defined by the National Assessment of Educational Progress. Schools implement a comprehensive improvement framework that emphasizes rigorous academic courses to prepare students for challenging high school studies.

HSTW Contracted School Network — HSTW provides services to more than 100 high schools and middle grades schools in 36 states that have received grants to adopt HSTW or MMGW as an improvement design. The states, districts and schools are committed to a three-year plan of improving student achievement by providing challenging academic and career/technical programs, setting high expectations for students and teachers and offering quality professional development.

HSTW Urban Network — Ninety-eight high schools in 12 urban districts are working with HSTW to advance student achievement. Urban districts are asked to raise graduation requirements, align their curricula with national and state standards, and support schools in developing and implementing school improvement plans. Urban schools seek to raise expectations, implement the HSTW Key Practices and offer site-specific professional development.

Learning-Centered Leadership Program —This program stimulates and supports states to redesign leadership preparation and professional development programs to align such programs with accountability systems and standards that focus on improved student achievement. Its major initiatives include: conducting research on the preparation and development of school principals; developing training modules that support aspiring principals’ preparation and current principals’ application of knowledge and practices that improve schools and increase student achievement; and providing guidance and assistance to states, districts and universities interested in leadership redesign.

Project Lead The Way® (PLTW, Inc) —This national engineering program builds partnerships among public schools, postsecondary institutions and the business community in preparing more students to enter the field of engineering technology. PLTW, Inc offers both a middle grades curriculum and a high school program of study. Schools receive assistance from SREB in staff development, counselor training, equipment selection and program planning.

Technology Centers That Work (TCTW) —This enhanced design for school improvement includes the HSTW framework of Goals and Key Practices, recommended core curriculum and key conditions. It outlines what participating technology centers agree to do to set up a literacy program, measures and reports progress, and explains how to collaborate with HSTW to become a successful site for getting students ready for work and further education beyond the technology center.

SREB school improvement initiatives are supported by state consortia, The Wallace Foundation, the Joseph B. Whitehead Foundation, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, Project Lead The Way®, United States Department of Education and contracts with state and local school districts.

 

 

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For more information, e-mail SummerStaffDev@sreb.org.