High School Restructuring/Investing in Innovation (i3)
The U.S. Department of Education has selected the Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) Making Time for What Matters Most grant as one of its Investing in Innovation (i3) 2010 awardees. The grant will be used to help six JCPS high schools improve achievement, decrease dropout rates, and increase high school graduation rates. Other goals include increasing college readiness and access and improving teacher and school leader effectiveness.
Nearly 1,700 applications were submitted. Making Time for What Matters Most was one of 30 projects selected in its category, receiving a score of 99.68 on a 100-point scale.
“This unique opportunity will provide a tremendous boost to our comprehensive efforts to ensure that all students graduate ready for college and career and with the skills and dispositions to be contributing citizens and innovative leaders for the 21st century,” said Dr. Sheldon Berman, JCPS superintendent.
The i3 grant will support the restructuring of six JCPS schools: The Academy @ Shawnee, Fern Creek Traditional High School, Moore Traditional School, Valley Traditional High School, Waggener High School, and Western MST Magnet High School. Grant funds will be used for staff, professional development (PD), and the required external evaluation to support academic acceleration, college access, and teacher professional growth.
Academic Acceleration
The trimester schedule will give struggling students over 30 percent more learning time to catch up with their peers, increase time for in-depth study, and increase opportunities for electives and advanced study.
College Access Time
The schedule will enable students to participate in regular small-group meetings that support a strong relationship with an adult who is “on my case and on my side;” will provide affiliation with peers who have similar interests and career focus; and will provide adult support for encouragement, course selection, and habits and persistence for college readiness.
Teacher Professional Growth
The trimester schedule will allow for increased time for collaboration and reflection within disciplines, will provide time for collaboration across disciplines, and will allow time for work with content experts. We will develop professional learning communities to transform our teaching.
The project will be supported with $5 million from the U.S. Department of Education, as well as more than $1 million from private sector funders, including AEGON, the Brown-Forman Corporation, Community Foundation of Louisville, E.ON U.S., Gheens Foundation, Hilliard Lyons, Humana Foundation, Jefferson County Public Education Foundation, National Philanthropic Trust for J.P. Morgan Charitable Giving Fund, Kindred Healthcare, PNC Foundation, Sandra Frazier, WHAS TV, and Yum! Brands Foundation.
The graphic below illustrates the Making Time for What Matters Most logic model:
