A new report by LFA and Grunwald Associates, with support from AT&T, examines how parents perceive the value of mobile devices, how they see their children using mobiles, and what they think of the possibilities for mobile learning.
Respectful Behavior
Success Stories
Strategic Staffing Helps a Title I School Succeed
Story posted November 19, 2009. Results updated December 7, 2011.
Results:
- Proficiency rates close to or exceeding 88% on 2011 state reading and math tests at every grade level, outperforming the state as a whole on each test.
- In 2011, grade 4 math and reading scores both exceeded state averages by 5% at 88% and 93% respectively.
- Since 2008, grade 3 math scores rose by 4% and exceeded state math scores in 2011 by the same amount.
Indian Springs Elementary is located along one of the many rural highways that crisscross northern Mobile County, in territory marked by signs of poverty and under-development. There’s no interesting history behind the name of the unincorporated community the school serves—Eight Mile is just the distance down U.S. 45 to the city.
The exterior of Indian Springs shows the wear and tear of a building that has housed students for many decades. The school comes alive only after you cross the threshold, where you find a physical space that is clearly well-loved by the faculty, staff and students.
Just inside the front doors, a small sitting area decorated with potted plants and flowers welcomes visitors. The walls are bright and the floors shine. Bulletin boards and student work cover every inch of the hallways. Teachers decorate the entrances to their classrooms with personal touches, like the kindergarten teacher whose door resembles a front porch with columns, shutters and an awning.
The school serves 451 students in grades pre K-5. It has a 50-50 ratio of white and African American students—87% of whom meet federal poverty guidelines. About 14 percent are classified as having special needs. The demographics offer few clues about the school’s academic performance. But in fact ...
Practicing a Common Goal of Goodness
Story posted June 18, 2010
Results:
• Physical bullying decreased by 50 percent, from 21 to 10 incidents, from 2004-05 to 2007-08
• The percentage of students scoring proficient or advanced on state tests is consistently above state averages
• Named a 2009 National District of Character by the Character Education Partnership (CEP)
Hidden in a picturesque area of Bucks County, Pennsylvania, surrounded by winding lanes, manicured lawns, and well-maintained split-levels and ranchers, Alta S. Leary Elementary School could easily serve as the backdrop for Leave It to Beaver. The school, now 50 years old, still retains its “small town” friendliness; however, its students are global, not suburban, citizens. Each morning, they recite the No Place for Hate promise and the Centennial Diversity Pledge, and each day, inside and outside school, they demonstrate the philosophy and practice of global citizenry: respect for all, ability to settle disagreements amicably, and helping those in need.
“We’re teaching our kids to go back to the community to change things. It’s nice to have a common goal of goodness,” says Kelly Kohler, student support teacher. The “common goal of goodness” that envelops the school is the result of 15 years of conscious character-building begun when the school, in response to escalating discipline problems, started working on conflict resolution with the Peace Center in Langhorne. In 2004, Leary adopted Project Peace, a program that aims to reduce school violence through peer mediation training, positive interpersonal skills, and problem-solving strategies.
“When Dr. [Donna] Dunar became our principal four years ago, she brought a new vision to our school and to the way we inculcate character,” says second-grade teacher Debbie Walker. Dunar envisioned a model school of ...
Transforming School Culture the Waterloo Way
Story posted March 19, 2009
Results:
• Over 80% of students met or exceeded state mathematics standards in 2008, compared to 49% in 2003
• School consistently makes Adequate Yearly Progress in all areas
• Serious disciplinary offenses (as defined by No Child Left Behind) fell 71% (79 to 23) between 2004-2005 and 2006-2007
• First recipient of the New York State School of Character Award and a 2008 National School of Character
Just eight years ago, Waterloo Middle School, located in the heart of New York’s scenic Finger Lakes region, was anything but an educational beacon. The story of its transformation from a school struggling with disciplinary and academic problems into an award-winning model school is proof that committed teamwork can revolutionize school culture. ...
Using Incentives to Motivate Students
Story posted June 2, 2008
Results:
• Substantial decrease in discipline visits to the principal's office
• Increased homework completion rate
• Average number of participating students increased from 100 to between 250 and 300 each month
Cameron Elementary School in Barstow, CA, serves a very diverse population-almost half are Hispanic and a quarter are African-American. Over 70% of students receive free or reduced lunch. School staff faced a daunting challenge: getting students to want to come to school and learn.
Cameron staff wanted to show students, especially those with behavioral issues, about how beneficial and rewarding learning can be. In 2005, former Principal Shirley Lester came up with an idea: a monthly "Principal's Prize"-special events for students who are doing well. With the collaboration of the principal and the PTA, the Prize became a reality that has continued through Ms. Lester's retirement and into current Principal Delton's term. ...
Changing a Culture by Building Relationships
Story posted May, 2008
Results:
• Student suspensions down almost two-thirds
• Student drug violations down almost 80%
Tracy Bale didn't even wait for school to start on his first day as principal of Spencer County High School to make some changes. It was 45 minutes until the first bell, and students were gathering in the parking lot, as they had always done, with the intention of hanging out until school began. Bale was in the parking lot, too. He told the students that if they were going to arrive early for school, they had to come into the gym.
"It had become a real circus out there," Bale said, noting that the early-morning hangout scene was just one example of how SCHS had developed into what Bale called "an unhealthy learning environment."
Today, SCHS students no longer hang out in the parking lot, there are clear rules against cursing and other disruptive behaviors, and students know they get three warnings in class before they are given in-school suspension and their parents are called. ...
Pinellas County Schools Keep Character at the Core
Story posted March, 2009
Results:
• At Sawgrass Lake Elementary, discipline referrals have dropped by 50% since the school focused on character education
• The suspension rate at schools actively involved in the Partnerships in Character Education grant declined by an average of 2.7%, avoiding more than 600 missed school days in one year
• In schools implementing character education programs, disciplinary referrals from bus drivers have decreased by more than 60%
The Pinellas County School District is the 7th largest in Florida and the 23rd largest in the country, with over 152,000 Pre-K through adult students.
When in 1995 several Pinellas students were caught stealing from a program that gave them hands-on experience in local small businesses, the district swung into action. It collaborated with the community to develop an innovative character education program. Over 12 years later, character education has become an integral part of what we do, and it is paying impressive dividends for students across the district. ...
Innovative Character Education Leads to Safe, Supportive, and Successful School
Story posted January, 2008
Results:
• 74% drop in disciplinary referrals since the 2001 school year
• Met academic goals for all 29 student subgroups in 2005
A low-income community might seem an unlikely setting for an award winning public school. But St. Stephens Elementary is just such a school, thanks in large part to the safe, supportive learning environment school staff have worked hard to create.
St. Stephens Elementary enrolls 750 children, over half of whom participate in the free/reduced-lunch program, and more than half of whom are students of color.
Faced with such an economically, socially and ethnically diverse student population, the school has created a strong sense of family through an innovative character education program and a challenging academic curriculum. Children at St. Stephens know they are safe and loved. The school accepts and in fact celebrates their diversity. ...
The Miracle on 1401 Ridgewood School Road: Transforming Ridgewood Middle School
Story posted December, 2007
Results:
• 70% drop in disciplinary referrals
• 0% retention rate the last two years
• Dramatic improvements in test scores (one of Missouri's Top Ten Most Improved Schools in four of the last five years)
Stymied by crumbling facilities, poor achievement and a general malaise, Ridgewood Middle School in Arnold, Missouri faced serious challenges in transforming the school into a safe and exciting place to learn. Angry parents regularly called the school about the poor conditions, and many demanded transfers. School administrators and teachers were equally discouraged by a rowdy and apparently apathetic student body. ...
- « first
- ‹ previous
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
SIGN UP
Sign up for our e-newsletter on public school success.
A VISION FOR GREAT SCHOOLS
On this website, educators, parents and policymakers from coast to coast are sharing what's already working in public schools--and sparking a national conversation about how to make it work for children in every school. Join the conversation!
