A recent report from Transcend, a national organization focused on innovation in school design, surveyed more than 100 education providers and experts to identify “instructive lessons for extraordinary learning.”
Stand Together Trust reported on three key findings from the report regarding innovative education models.
Key finding 1: Promising education models were fueled by powerful agreements about what families wanted for their kids and connected learning to the assets, knowledge, needs, and opportunities in their communities.
The report highlighted multiple examples of community-created learning options. yes. every kid. foundation. believes kids can learn everywhere—especially in their communities.
“At One Stone Lab 51, students work with community partners to solve local problems using design thinking. These deep-dive and immersion projects are student-driven, experiential, and interdisciplinary. Learning experiences are structured to provide intensive exposure to specific topics driven by student interest, ranging from recurring weekly sessions to four-week immersions to summer-long internships. Learning is not contained to “four walls” and is situated in the authentic context of the topic, whether at a mineral mine, in the graphic design studio, or at an advertising agency.”
Key finding 2: Promising education models prioritized flexible, meaningful, customized, and experiential learning.
yes. every kid. foundation. believes every child is unique and learns differently. We must allow kids to learn in ways that respect their differences and foster individuality.
“Samuel Everett School of Innovation pairs the homeschool experience with support and academic guidance from the local school system. It is designed for families who are enthusiastic about homeschooling but want access to extra resources for academically rigorous experiences. Students engage with an online curriculum as well as the district’s curriculum at their own pace and flexible grade levels. Parents provide 1-to-1 guidance at home four days a week, with one day of academic instruction from district-employed teachers. Families build schedules for instruction with options to participate in school-based art, gym, and music classes.”
Key finding 3: Promising education models creatively navigated physical, scheduling, regulatory, financial, and other constraints.
yes. every kid. foundation. believes every child deserves educational experiences that foster the free movement of ideas and promote self-actualization. This means every family should be empowered with financial decisions to pursue education that’s best for their children.
