Issues

Other Resources

Model Schools and Programs

• As part of the 2008 Model Schools Conference, Strong American Schools published a list of some of the most successful, innovative schools and programs across the country, schools that can be a shining example for others looking to boost academic performance.
  • Strong American Schools Model Schools
  • Strong American Schools Model Programs 

American Education Standards

• Find out what students need to learn to be prepared for life after high school:
  • ACT, “Ready for College and Ready for Work: Same or Different?”Achieve, “Ready or Not: Creating a High School Diploma That Counts”
• Find out how your state’s education standards measure up:
  • Thomas B. Fordham Foundation, “The State of State Standards 2006”Thomas B. Fordham Foundation, “Has a ‘Race to the Bottom’ Begun?”

Effective Teachers In Every Classroom

• Find out which students do not have qualified and effective teachers:
  • Education Trust, Teaching Inequality
• Find out about efforts to compensate teachers for their performance and for taking on tougher jobs:
  • The “Teacher Advancement Program” (TAP)
  • Denver, Colorado’s “ProComp” Program 
  • Minnesota’s “Q Comp” Program
• Find out how major education associations propose to attract strong teachers to work in high-poverty, low-performing schools:
  • Learning First Alliance, “A Shared Responsibility”
• Find out why some of the nation’s top teachers think it’s time to compensate teachers based on performance:
  • Teacher Solutions, “Performance-Pay for Teachers: Designing a System that Students Deserve”

More Time and Support for Learning

• Find out what the research says about providing more time for learning:
  • Education Sector, “On the Clock” report and audio recording
• Find out about the Massachusetts Expanded Learning Time Initiative:
  • Massachusetts 2020
  • Center for American Progress, “The Massachusetts Expanding Learning Time to Support Student Success Initiative”
• Find out why we need to do a better job guiding students toward college and careers:
  • ACT, “College Readiness Begins in Middle School”