State policymakers can ensure that high school transformation reflects the aspirations and needs of local communities by creating initiatives that explicitly empower local stakeholders—students, families, employers, community and cultural leaders and, of course, educators—to take the lead in the design process.
Unlike conventional “top-down” processes of school redesign or “turnaround,” a truly community-led process can produce stronger school models, and earn community buy-in and support at the same time. The initiative should provide design guidelines, relevant research and data, flexibility and other incentives, and funding that inspire and empower local communities to take on the demanding work of reenvisioning the high school experience of their students.
With the right supports, communities take up this challenge with enthusiasm. When XQ invited communities across the country to engage in a design challenge in 2015, more than 10,000 people representing nearly 4,000 communities across 49 states answered our call to propose student-centered designs for 21st-century learning.
To meet the criteria for this policy action, a state must demonstrate the following:
The state has a grant program or provides other state funding to local communities to support high school design; and
State policy establishes flexibility from outdated rules and requirements (e.g., through waivers or an innovation zone or status) so that high schools and communities are empowered to innovate; and
State policy offers guidance on a design process that ensures high quality and accountability, including requiring participation of a broad range of stakeholders in the high school design journey, including parents, students, educators, business leaders, and community leaders.
Excellence looks like: students, families, educators, and employers co-creating schools that reflect their community’s strengths and aspirations—empowered by supportive state leadership. Communities and schools continuously improve together so every student leaves high school ready to thrive in new and emerging economies.
Download the How to Be a Frontier for State Excellence Guide here
