|
High School Reform Tools and Resources
New Resource!
Alternative High School Initiative Policy Database
The YEF Institute has launched a searchable online database - http://ahsi.nlc.org - containing examples of policies that can facilitate the growth of high-quality alternatives for high school. The database houses materials such as pieces of legislation, fact sheets, research studies, and other helpful documents that will help city leaders make the case for local, state and federal policy and funding changes to expand alternatives and options for students who struggle in traditional high school settings.
The database was created using resources developed by the Alternative High School Initiative (AHSI) - a network co-convened by the YEF Institute and Big Picture Learning and supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The network consists of 12 youth development organizations that have created nearly 300 high-quality alternative high schools across the nation to reduce high school dropout rates.
Visit the AHSI Policy Database »
View the AHSI Policy Framework »
|
The State of City Leadership for Children and Families: Innovations and Trends in Education (2010)
The State of City Leadership for Children and Families is a groundbreaking new report from NLC's Institute for Youth, Education, and Families that identifies the nation's most cutting-edge city strategies to help children and families thrive.
This chapter highlights the broad range of innovations and trends in municipal leadership around education.
Download the Education chapter »
|
|
|
Setting the Stage for New High Schools: Municipal Leadership in Supporting High School Alternatives (2007)
This report outlines seven key policy conditions that facilitate the expansion of alternatives and options for dropouts and other students who struggle in traditional high school settings, as well as promising collaborations among mayors, school district officials, and alternative high schools program innovators.
The report showcases city leadership in Atlanta, Boston, Corpus Christi, Hartford, Phoenix, San Jose, and Seattle.
Download the Report »
|
 |
City Education Snapshots (2007)
These "snapshots" provide a glimpse of how 30 cities are partnering with local school districts to improve education. The document provides an overview of city initiatives to support student academic achievement, the top challenges faced by each city, partnerships with school districts, and school governance structures. The document also includes contact information for the Education Policy Advisors Network (EPAN) member who responded to the survey on which the snapshots are based.
View the City Education Snapshots »
|
Engaging Cities: How Municipal Leaders Can Mobilize Communities to Improve Public Schools (2006)
This report published by the Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University in cooperation with the YEF Institute and its Mayors' Education Policy Advisors Network (EPAN) looks at five cities where mayors have engaged the public and built civic capacity around education reform, using the leverage of their offices in strategic ways.
The stories of Denver, Akron, Long Beach, Nashville, and New York describe practical, high-yield strategies and solutions mayors are using and resources they have found or created.
Download the Report » |
 |
|
Stronger Schools, Stronger Cities (2004)
This report highlights lessons learned from the six cities that participated in NLC's Municipal Leadership in Education (MLE) technical assistance project.
The project describes the efforts of the Cities of Charleston, S.C.; Columbus, Ohio; Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; Lansing, Mich.; New Haven, Conn.; and Portland, Ore., and provides lessons emerging from these cities' experiences, contact information for project team leads, a list of collaborating organizations that participated in the project, and further resources on improving public schools.
Download the Report » |
 |
|
Action Kit on Improving Public Schools (2002)
This action kit outlines a wide range of ways that municipal leaders, working in partnership with school officials and the community as a whole, can help ensure that our public schools work for all children.
The action kit describes roles local officials can play in using data to frame the challenge, building coalitions for change, promoting adequate school funding, removing obstacles to achievement, sharing information and resources, and supporting learning. The kit also provides a broad range of city examples along with additional facts and resources.
Download the Action Kit » |
 |
Education City Examples
This series of city examples highlights innovative local practices in the following areas: afterschool, business partnerships, career and technical education, community schools and joint use agreements, high school reform, high school to college transition, improving public schools, parent involvement, public engagement, safety and youth violence prevention, school funding, school readiness, and teacher and administrator recruitment.
View the Education City Examples »
Audioconference Transcripts
The YEF Institute's monthly audioconference series features talk-show style discussions between Institute staff, national experts, and city leaders to highlight best practices in a broad range of program areas. The Institute makes transcripts of these calls available for local officials who are unable to dial into the calls.
Dropout Recovery as a Local Economic Development Strategy Webcast 
This webcast is of a forum co-sponsored by the YEF Institute and the American Youth Policy Forum on Sept. 8, 2006 features the efforts of Montgomery County, Ohio, and Baltimore, Md., to reconnect out-of-school youth to education and employment training.
View the Webcast »
So You Don't Run the Schools Webcast
This webcast of a workshop held on Dec. 9, 2005, at NLC's Congress of Cities in Charlotte, N.C., focuses on how mayors and councilmembers can be strong partners in improving the quality of education in their communities, even if they do not have a role in the governance of public schools.
View the Webcast »
Building Public Will: Promoting Citizen Engagement to Improve Your City's Schools Web Seminar
This web seminar, sponsored by the YEF Institute on Sept. 21, 2006, features Michael Grady of the Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University as well as local officials representing cities highlighted in the Annenberg Institute's report on Engaging Cities: How Municipal Leaders Can Mobilize Communities to Improve Public Schools. (Note: Windows Media Player required to view this web seminar.)
View the Web Seminar »
Alternative High School Initiative
The Alternative High School Initiative (AHSI) is a network of youth development organizations committed to creating educational opportunities for young people for whom traditional school settings have not been successful. AHSI network organizations work with local communities to generate and sustain safe, top quality high schools for vulnerable youth. The Big Picture Company convenes the network, and NLC supports the network as a liaison to municipal leaders.
AHSI was launched in 2003 as a response to the growing national trend of diminishing graduation rates, affecting the nation’s low income, African American and Latino youth.The YEF Institute helps build linkages and relationships between the AHSI organizations and their local elected officials and municipal agencies. It also provides guidance in the development of city-level strategies and policies to improve high school education for all students.
Visit the AHSI Web Site »
| YEF Institute Home | About Us | Events and Audioconferences | Publications and Resources |
| Peer Networks | Technical Assistance | Summit on Your City's Families | YEF Council |
| Early Childhood Success | Education and Afterschool | Youth Development |
| Family Economic Success | Safety of Children and Youth |
|