Replicable Practices

• STEM instruction for all students through math/science classes engaging students in PBL, robotics, and jet propulsion.

• All core teachers offer interdisciplinary project-based units encountering realistic problem solving including research, design, testing, and evaluation of projects.

• Music program includes band, choir, and a vocal/dance performing group. Students can also receive weekly instruction in piano, guitar, and music composition.

• School supports 1:1 technology in all classrooms and implements Google Classroom and Google Apps for Education schoolwide.

• Trimester assessments and release time for analysis, allow teachers to provide academic interventions while spiral learning occurs and mastery is achieved.

• No Excuses University practices include each classroom “adopting” a university and supporting classroom displays, field trips to a college for each grade level, school-wide “wear your college gear” Monday, as well as workshops for parents and students on college aid options and planning for college.

• Teachers have adopted Common Core Strategies to implement, including 50/50 student-teacher talk, academic discourse, speaking in complete sentences, use of formative assessment, close reading, DOK levels, student-friendly learning targets, use of questioning strategies, and citing evidence from text.

• Core teachers have students for 120- minute blocks to meet academic standards and give time for hands-on projects. ELA and math are 80 minute blocks and science/history are 40 minute blocks.

• Intervention programs include an individual remediation plan to give students an additional opportunity to demonstrate mastery in a class, extended-day tutoring, After-school Community Education (ACE), study hall elective, i-Ready, and additional tutoring by teachers at lunch and before/after school.

• All language arts teachers have been trained and implement ELD grammar program for support of EL and low-performing students.

• Student safety is addressed through a variety of programs including: WEB, Botvin’s Life Skills Training, annual internet safety training course, and full implementation of “Capturing Kids’ Hearts” principles.