The YTFG Dialogue on Alternative Pathways
Educators throughout the US are creating an exciting new generation of high schools designed to address individual needs of students. Yet, while many of these schools are showing great promise, overall, national trends are still troubling. In many states, dropout rates are not declining, and more students than ever are completing school by obtaining a GED.
In response to this challenge, the Alternative Pathways Project (APP) was launched in early 2005 as part of an effort by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to increase graduation rates of minority and low-income students and ensure that all students are college-ready. The project, which builds upon prior investments into the Alternative High School Initiative to expand the range of model schools for vulnerable youth, began by outlining critical elements for school
districts developing educational pathways for struggling students and those who have dropped out of school. The model that emerged was then refined through field investigations of dropout reduction and recovery efforts in six cities across the nation: Boston, Chicago, Houston, New York, Portland (Oregon), and Sacramento.
The APP Framework highlights policies and practices that push children out of school,suggests strategies for overcoming barriers to re-enrolling in school, and gives direction for expanding educational alternatives that are effective for vulnerable youth. An accompanying paper entitled APP Assessment Process discusses the proposed methodology for assessing regional progress toward building a secondary system aimed at educating all youth.
The APP is being developed in conjunction with other efforts addressing dropout recovery including the Youth Transition Funders Group, Jobs for the Future, National League of Cities’ Institute for Youth, Education and Families, American Youth Policy Forum and the Alternative High School Initiative. For more information on these initiatives, see Attachment I.
Please note that the views reflected in this document are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
On this blog, we have included a copy of the Alternative Pathways report in draft form, as well as assessment tools to help advocates as they work to build stronger educational systems for youth. We would appreciate your feedback and comments as we finalize the report. Please take the opportunity to share your thoughts and post a blog.
Chris Sturgis, MetisNet (c.sturgis@sbcglobal.net)
J.D. Hoye, Keep the Change, Inc. (jdhoye@aol.com)
In response to this challenge, the Alternative Pathways Project (APP) was launched in early 2005 as part of an effort by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to increase graduation rates of minority and low-income students and ensure that all students are college-ready. The project, which builds upon prior investments into the Alternative High School Initiative to expand the range of model schools for vulnerable youth, began by outlining critical elements for school
districts developing educational pathways for struggling students and those who have dropped out of school. The model that emerged was then refined through field investigations of dropout reduction and recovery efforts in six cities across the nation: Boston, Chicago, Houston, New York, Portland (Oregon), and Sacramento.
The APP Framework highlights policies and practices that push children out of school,suggests strategies for overcoming barriers to re-enrolling in school, and gives direction for expanding educational alternatives that are effective for vulnerable youth. An accompanying paper entitled APP Assessment Process discusses the proposed methodology for assessing regional progress toward building a secondary system aimed at educating all youth.
The APP is being developed in conjunction with other efforts addressing dropout recovery including the Youth Transition Funders Group, Jobs for the Future, National League of Cities’ Institute for Youth, Education and Families, American Youth Policy Forum and the Alternative High School Initiative. For more information on these initiatives, see Attachment I.
Please note that the views reflected in this document are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
On this blog, we have included a copy of the Alternative Pathways report in draft form, as well as assessment tools to help advocates as they work to build stronger educational systems for youth. We would appreciate your feedback and comments as we finalize the report. Please take the opportunity to share your thoughts and post a blog.
Chris Sturgis, MetisNet (c.sturgis@sbcglobal.net)
J.D. Hoye, Keep the Change, Inc. (jdhoye@aol.com)
posted by YTFG Learning By Connections at 12:13 PM
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