Out-of-school programs can offer personalized and meaningful learning experiences that deepen students' knowledge and cater to their passions and interests, but it has been a painful reality that many such programs have been available only to students and families with privilege and resources. Karen Hammerness, Anna MacPherson, Preeti Gupta,…

The near-term social-emotional and academic benefits of arts-based field trips has been well documented, but a new study shows that multiple arts-based field trips can have positive effects that endure for multiple years. Laura Florick, Jay P. Greene, Rebecca Levenberg, and Rebecca Pogue describe a partnership between a school district and arts…

The shift from the No Child Left Behind Act to the recently authorized Every Student Succeeds Act could beckon a renaissance of K-12 arts education in the U.S. Over the past decade, NCLB's increased emphasis on accountability testing in core subjects has coincided with a notable decline in school-based arts exposure. Recognizing this trend and…

This article describes an urban high school's response to gun violence, chronicling how the school's mission, full-service community orientation, and commitment to authentic cariño (caring) allowed students to respond to grief and tragedy and develop an ongoing peace building movement that seeks to transform students' lives and the communities…

The Academy of Information Technology and Robotics (AITR) in the Volusia County (Florida) Schools district is leading students to stronger academic gains and better preparation for college and career. AITR is a beefed-up version of the career academy model that began in Philadelphia in 1969. The strengths of AITR exemplify the features of career…

In June 2011, the Souris River flooded the city of Minot, North Dakota, destroying schools, businesses, and more than 4,000 houses. District administrators, staff, and teachers responded creatively to provide continuity for the students over a two-year period while three schools resided in temporary locations. The author details how the schools…

Drawing on their experience with school tragedy and resultant trauma, as well as from their leadership in their field and in the National Association of School Psychologists, the authors derive five guidelines for crisis prevention, preparedness, and response.

Today's classrooms emphasize helping students learn not just for the sake of learning but to become prepared to join the workforce. While teachers across the U.S. know students must be ready for college and career, many may not be sure exactly which skills, competencies, and lessons they need to teach to prepare and animate students for the world…

The New Mexico Rural Revitalization Initiative (NMRRI), an innovative program to enhance the growth and development of rural communities, involves schools and students as part of a holistic approach. The program requires community members to take responsibility for revitalizing their economy and fosters an entrepreneurial spirit among students.

Tuscaloosa, Alabama, created a prekindergarten program for at-risk children by bringing together the entire community. With donations and volunteer help, the city managed to fund 19 classrooms serving 275 children.

In 2001, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation launched the SPARK initiative to improve early learning and transitions into elementary school for vulnerable children. Eight programs were funded, each of which anchored their work in their local communities by forming partnerships with parents, schools and a variety of local organizations. Seven of the eight…

The main purpose of Project DEEP (Detroit Energy Education Project) was to organize and transmit useful energy information to the lowest income communities of Detroit. The schools were the primary vehicle for transmitting the information. (Author/IRT)

Describes the SerVermont initiative, an innovative volunteer program for high school students supported neither by state legislation nor public funds. It came into being through a nationally recognized service-learning expert's willingness to work closely with the governor, the state education commissioner, superintendents, and community agencies…

Briscoe's article explains how PennServe, Pennsylvania's youth service program, converts young people from a problem to a community resource of which to be proud. Silcox explains various facets of a Philadelphia high school's PennServe program and shows how school-based service has changed attitudes, values, and relationships and enlivened…

Discusses the proposals of some American educational authorities who favor smaller, more diverse high schools with greater emphasis on action learning, career education, and alternative educational programs. (JG)