North Carolina New Schools Project - Innovator SPECIAL EDITION - Nov. 18, 2011

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SPECIAL EDITION  - Nov. 18, 2011 

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NC New Schools Project 

Federal grant to help NC broaden the reach of early college  

 

The North Carolina New Schools Project, in partnership with the N.C. Department of Public Instruction and local school districts, will use a prospective $15 million federal grant to help as many as 20 traditional high schools with lessons learned from the state's growing number of early colleges.

The U.S. Department of Education has selected NCNSP from among nearly 600 applicants as one of 23 organizations to share $150 million under the federal Investing in Innovation (i3) competitive grant program. The NCNSP proposal is the only bid from North Carolina to have been awarded funding under the high-profile grant program, now in its second year.

Final approval of the funding from the Department of Education hinges on NCNSP's success in securing additional financial support for the five-year initiative. Under the terms of the federal i3 program, grantees must also enlist private support to receive the federal funds. NCNSP is now in the process of raising a $1.5 million match to ensure that the state receives the funding.

More than 20,000 students would benefit from the grant-supported effort.

"This is an affirmation of North Carolina's early college high schools and a boost to the state's efforts to bring similar opportunities to students in more communities where options are often limited," said Tony Habit, president of the NC New Schools Project. "We are delighted to partner with the State Board of Education, the Department of Public Instruction and higher education in this ground-breaking effort."

With 74 early college high schools now open in 63 counties -- from some of the state's largest to some of its smallest -- North Carolina claims about a third of the innovative schools nationwide. The mold-breaking schools allow students to earn an associate degree or significant college credit along with their high school diploma. The schools are intended to serve students who are often underrepresented in college, including those who are from low-income families, minorities and those whose parents don't have a college degree.

A multi-year research study of early colleges in North Carolina is finding strong evidence of success. Dropouts are few and graduation rates are high. Solid academic achievement is reflected in test scores that exceed state averages as well as high rates of postsecondary enrollment. The study is also finding that the schools are helping to close gaps in achievement between white and minority students.

The NC New Schools Project supports the 74 existing schools with coaches for teachers and principals and carefully designed professional development based on a set of proven design principles, all of which are aligned to an overarching goal of graduating all students ready for college, careers and life.

Under the new federal grant, NCNSP will help between 15 and 20 traditional high schools -- and up to 10 rural, low-income county districts where they're located -- apply many of the same strategies to raise expectations and achievement. NCNSP will also be working in partnership in the initiative with the N.C. Community College System, the State Board of Education, the N.C. Department of Public Instruction, and the SERVE  Center at UNC-Greensboro.

Each of the high schools will receive support similar to the early college high schools already affiliated with NCNSP. Teachers will learn to follow a proven common instructional framework that ensures consistent expectations and teaching approaches are followed in all classrooms. Students will be challenged to read, write, think and talk every day in every class.

One key goal of the initiative is for all students to graduate with at least 21 college credits, or the equivalent of about seven courses.

Early college high schools, typically located on the campus of a community college or university, are aimed at challenging students who are the first in their family to earn a college degree and who also need additional support to succeed academically. The North Carolina Early College High School Initiative is a joint effort between the Department of Public Instruction and the NC New Schools Project in cooperation with the state's institutions of higher education.

Read more in Ed Week ... 

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INNOVATOR is produced by the North Carolina New Schools Project, an initiative of the Office of the Governor and the Education Cabinet with the support of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and other businesses and foundations. For story suggestions or to opt out of receiving this e-mail report, please send an e-mail to innovator@newschoolsproject.org or call Todd Silberman at (919) 277-3760.