Appealing to passions and dreams

Reform models take personal approach, add academic rigor

Jennifer Miller, Rocky Mountain News

Published May 19, 2005 at midnight

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School districts, community groups, foundations and think tanks across the country are working to improve high schools and address concerns about low graduation rates. Of particular concern are urban districts and those with poor and increasingly diverse student populations that don't always thrive in traditional high schools.

These are some of the approaches and experiments being tried. For earlier stories in the series on reform efforts, go to www.RockyMountainNews.com.

Big Picture

The philosophy of the Big Picture Co. is to personalize an education plan for each student based on his or her interests and passions. Advisers, as teachers in the program are called, spend the day supporting students in individualized learning plans rather than directly teaching courses. Students often learn through internships.

• What the research shows: At Big Picture Co.'s Metropolitan Regional Career and Technical Center in Providence, R.I., math scores for all levels on state tests went from an index of 37.7 out of 100 in 2003 to 49.2 in 2004. The target score for district schools last year was 44.8, according to a state report.

The school's English and language arts scores went from a 63.5 index score in 2003 to 69.8 last year. The target score for 2004 was 62.6.

The percentage of students graduating is 94.2 percent, compared with a state average of 81.3 percent, according to statistics from Big Picture. Attendance is 93.3 percent compared with a state average of 89.5 percent.

• Pros: Students are more involved in their learning because school is tailored to their interests.

• Cons: The school offers fewer electives than a comprehensive high school. Preparing students for state tests and subject-oriented college entrance exams is difficult with no required courses.

• Local examples: Skyland Community High School in Denver, a charter school in operation since 2003, has 96 students and can accommodate up to 135 next year, said Principal Allen Smith. It's too early to measure success, but six of eight students who applied for college scholarships were awarded full tuition. Fourteen of 17 students who will graduate next year already are taking college courses.

Mapleton Public Schools in Adams County opened Skyview Big Picture High School last year.

• Cost: Varies. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has donated about $1,700 per student to launch Big Picture schools. Funds go toward training principals, video conferencing for professional development and to maintain a Web site for the schools. It can take up to five years to get a school started.

• Web site: www.bigpicture.org

Graphic

More than 400 students who began the eighth grade in Denver Public Schools in the fall of 1999 did not graduate with their class in 2004 and were still enrolled in March 2005.

Center for International Studies at West High School

CIS is a magnet program of Denver Public Schools that was started 20 years ago. It allows students to earn a Diploma of International Studies apart from a high school diploma. Students take 12 to 14 classes over four years focused on international studies, in addition to basic requirements.

The CIS Foundation, a nonprofit group, raises money to help fund travel for those who can't afford it. Students do yearlong projects and participate in conferences and festivals. Each student must present a graduation portfolio to a panel of adults and a student class.

The DPS school board will review a proposal this year to launch the CIS program in a new building and to extend it to sixth grade.

• What research shows: About 95 percent of graduates go on to postsecondary education. CIS starts with 65 to 70 students in a freshman class, and about 40 get a CIS diploma, said Daniel Lutz, program director. But those who leave the program don't tend to drop out of high school. Close to 100 percent get a regular high school diploma, which also is a requirement for getting a CIS diploma, Lutz said.

• Pros: Students who couldn't imagine or afford travel get a chance to do it. They gain maturity from visiting other countries and their preparation for working in an international field. The program attracts an academically, economically and ethnically diverse group of students.

• Cons: The rigor of the program is too much for some students. Participants can pick only one elective per semester and may miss out on classes such as art, drama or speech.

• Cost: The CIS foundation helps pay for trips abroad, projects and festivals. Typically, several grants of anywhere from several hundred dollars to $1,000 are awarded in merit-based or need-based travel scholarships.

This school year the foundation spent about $17,000 to fund an exchange program with a Chinese school. Six Denver students went to China and six Chinese students came to Denver.

The goal is to increase funding in the future, as the board works to secure more sponsorships.

• Web sites:

• www.cisdenver.org and www.internationaled.org

Colorado I Have A Dream Foundation (CIHAD)

CIHAD is not a high school reform model, but a long-term mentoring program for students. It's based on a national dropout prevention program. In Colorado, the program has been thriving since the late 1980s.

Members of CIHAD adopt a class of students, typically third-graders, and follow them throughout their school years, helping them get into college. Students who stay with the program are offered some financial assistance for college.

Throughout the program, Dreamers — as students are called — get help with homework and are encouraged to do community service projects and visit colleges. They take trips, such as to local museums, and ask CIHAD mentors for advice.

The program targets schools in the poorest neighborhoods that are on the brink of failing. On average, at least 90 percent of students are eligible for free- or reduced-price lunch.

CIHAD has 12 permanent staff members and 10 full-time volunteers.

• What the research shows: The first two CIHAD Dreamer classes graduated from high school in 1995 and 1998, with graduation rates of 87 and 83 percent — nearly double the rate of their counterparts who were not Dreamers.

• Pros: Constancy in students' lives and strong relationships with adults help students succeed. Staff members get to know kids' families and can offer support and advice when problems arise.

• Cons: Staff turnover is high and the work can be frustrating because of the many issues that are difficult to address, yet affect students' success. Transportation is a challenge. The program is expensive up front.

• Local examples: CIHAD, which primarily serves Denver, and the I Have a Dream Foundation of Boulder County. Each has adopted 10 classes. CIHAD has finished working with four classes and is still working with six.

• Cost: CIHAD looks for long-term sponsors and asks for a $1 million commitment up front. Classes have 50 to 60 students. The direct cost of a class is $80,000 to $90,000 a year. The organization raises funds for another $45,000 per class. The average per student cost is about $3,400. A project coordinator for a class is paid about $35,000 a year.

• Web sites:

• www.cihadf.org and www.ihad.org

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