Through generous funding from the Annenberg and Brown foundations, Houston A+ Challenge currently supports 16 high schools in four Houston-region school districts as they work to reorganize into smaller learning communities tailored to meeting individual student needs.
Teachers and administrators from Aldine, Alief, Humble and Spring Branch ISDs meet monthly to collaborate on the school reform process, participate in cross-site visits to every campus in the fall, and attend a January leadership conference and an end-of year conference to review progress.
Participating Schools and Districts
Characteristics of schools and districts participating in the regional redesign include:
- Personalized learning environments, including Small Learning Communities that foster academic growth, caring relationships, and tailor learning to student interests.
- An Adult Advocate Program to give each student an advisor who knows him or her well.
- Project-based learning, portfolios and exhibitions for assessment.
- Student learning with real-world experience.
- Common planning time for teachers.
- Technology integrated into teaching and learning.
- Whole-school professional learning communities.
- Professional development for principals around leading and managing change.
- District administrators who support school restructuring plans.
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