How District Leaders Can Support the New Schools Strategy

Author: Hassel, B., Fullwood, W., Terrell, M.G.
Publisher: Education/Evolving
Publication Date: 2004, January
Publication City: Saint Paul
Publication State: MN
Full text available online at: http://educationevolving.org/pdf/Districtleaders.pdf

Abstract (written by WestEd)

This report characterizes new schools as high-quality schools that are starting anew, designing and operating themselves to serve the diverse educational needs of public schools students. Although the new schools vary tremendously in terms of structures and strategies, the best are characterized as:

• being autonomous enough to be innovative and responsive;
  
• being of choice for students and staff;
  
• receiving an equitable share of financial and other resources;
  
• having enforceable performance contracts/agreements/MOUs; and
  
• focusing on results and producing outcomes that show increases in student educational achievement.

This report gives an overview of why and how districts are creating the space for these new, typically smaller schools; and summarizes the lessons learned and advice offered on creating new schools. It then provides case studies from seven cities: Baltimore, New York City, Chula Vista (CA), San Diego, Milwaukee, Philadelphia, and Oakland.