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.
Rich Curriculum
Success Stories
Incorporating the Arts and Closing the Gap
Story posted Jaunary, 2008
Results:
• Rapidly closing the gap separating black and economically disadvantaged students from their peers
Mary B. Austin Elementary's reputation precedes it. More than 80 percent of its students transfer into the Mobile, Alabama, school from outside its boundaries, in part because of a curriculum that fuses the arts with student achievement and a focus on making sure every student gets the help he or she needs.
The school's reputation stands on the academic performance of its students, just over half of whom are African American and nearly half of whom are economically disadvantaged. But while Austin Elementary students fare better on state standardized tests than their counterparts elsewhere in the city and state, closer examination of test results revealed that black male students needed additional help.
Budget cuts had also reduced the amount of music instruction at the elementary levels. "They did not have the manpower to offer what they realized was a balanced education," says Sarah Wright, the Mobile Symphony's education director. ...
A Revolutionary Course in Boston
Story posted January, 2008
Results:
• Students produce a 40-plus-page research paper they present to the class and to the community
• Urban youth are civically engaged, voice their opinions and act on their convictions
Seniors at the Boston Community Leadership Academy have taken the notion of "action learning" to a new level. One of 20 public "pilot schools" in the city, BCLA launched the senior Capstone Project in 2006-2007 to engage graduating students in a rigorous program of historical study, participatory research, community internships and writing.
As a pilot school, the 367-student Boston Community Leadership Academy is free to create its own curriculum and a unique school mission. BCLA's mission - to develop students as community leaders - became the basis for the 2007 Capstone course: "Lead, Act and Change: Youth Empowerment and Possibility in a Democratic Society."
BCLA history teacher James Liou designed the course. He said the goal was to create "the academic capstone for our BCLA seniors, as well as to serve as the core evidence that they've met the mission of the school." ...
Arts Integrated Curriculum Helps Students Overcome Challenges of Poverty
Story posted January, 2008
Results updated December, 2011
Results:
• In 2010, the school outperformed the state in every test at every grade level, despite serving a significantly higher percentage of students in poverty overall (74% compared to 30%)
• 100% of fourth grade students met proficiency scores in science and math in 2010
Woodrow Wilson is a pre-kindergarten to eighth grade school located in Union City, New Jersey. One of the most densely populated cities in the United States, Union City has a large immigrant population-90 percent of the students are Hispanic-and high rates of poverty. In fact, the city has the lowest median family income in the state, and 84 percent of the school's population is eligible for a free or reduced-price lunch. ...
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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!
