From tracking to grading systems, many high schools are designed to sort students into high achievers and low achievers. Unfortunately, this leaves too many students – especially those from disadvantaged communities – not on track for success. The best high schools prioritize equitable practices that enable all students to get the time, resources, and support they need to succeed.
• Anti-racist school culture – The school is committed to identifying and eliminating individual and institutional racism. (Read, 10 minutes)
• Banishing bias from school – A Pennsylvania high school rebuilt its culture through an antiracist lens. A Texas teacher’s culturally responsive teaching builds on the strengths and needs of her students. (Listen, 33 minutes)
• Radical rethink – In rural North Carolina, one district launched a radical experiment to rethink one of its traditional high school. It worked so well, they’ve become a national model. (Listen, 26 minutes)
• Culturally responsive teaching – Teachers adjust their practices to include students from different backgrounds. (Read, 10 minutes)
• Equitable curriculum – The school’s learning materials foster community by reflecting students’ backgrounds and cultures. (Read, 7 minutes)
• Equitable grading – Grading policies are fair and transparent in measuring how well each individual student is advancing. The goal is to help all kids, including those from underserved communities, succeed. (Read, 6 minutes)
• Culturally responsive teaching is… good teaching – From helping kids relate to their schoolwork to limiting bias, learn more about culturally responsive teaching. (Watch, 3 minutes)
• What if all students got accommodations? – Legally every child with a learning disability receives accommodations, such as extra time on tests or access to audiobooks. But this innovative school gives them to all students. (Watch, 3 minutes)
• Trauma-informed teaching – Recognizing that no student experiencing trauma can learn, every teacher and staff member commits to fostering safe, nurturing relationships. (Read, 10 minutes)
• Innovations that will outlast the pandemic – During the pandemic, educators found amazing ways to reach students. Some of those innovations are so great, they’re here to stay. (Watch, 4 minutes)
• Mastery-based pacing – Students learn at their own pace until they “master” a concept or skill. Then they move on to the next skill. (Read, 8 minutes)
• Practicing restorative justice – Instead of strict discipline for students, this practice teaches students to resolve conflicts on their own and in small groups. The desired outcome is to foster community and build students’ skills in relationship-building and conflict resolution. (Read, 6 minutes)
• The difference between high school in the U.S. and Latin America (video in Spanish only) – In this video, school leaders who oversee schools with a high percentage of Spanish-speaking families share what they think are some of the crucial differences that families from Latin America should understand. (Watch, 2 minutes)
• College is possible (video in Spanish only) – Tuition for many U.S. universities and colleges is outrageously expensive, but the truth is that the sticker price is often not what students pay. More importantly, at some of the most expensive colleges in the nation, students from families with few resources often receive full scholarships. (Watch, 2 minutes)
• Why teachers and parents need to work together (video in Spanish only) – Parental roles in American schools are different from those in much of the world. In many American schools, parents are considered part of the learning team. In other words, there’s often an expectation of parental involvement – both with the school and with the child’s learning at home. In this video, an award-winning teacher shares her vision of parent-teacher partnerships for parents who may have come from a school system with different expectations.
(Watch, 2 minutes)
