School Improvement

Ten Key Practices

Pennsylvania High Schools That Work (HSTW)

1.    Set HIGHER EXPECTATIONS and get all students to meet them.

2.    Provide EXTRA HELP to enable students to meet the higher expectations and standards of accelerated programs.

3.     Provide a GUIDANCE AND COUNSELING SYSTEM that involves parents and teachers in helping students plan and complete an accelerated program of study.

4.     Participate in and use student ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION DATA to continuously improve the quality of student performance.

5.     Engage all students in ACTIVE LEARNING.

6.     Provide a school structure and scheduling enabling TEACHERS TO WORK TOGETHER to plan and teach challenging integrated content.

7.    Give students access to a STRUCTURED SYSTEM OF SCHOOL-BASED AND WORK-BASED LEARNING planned cooperatively by educators, employers, and workers and resulting in an industry-recognized credential and employment in a career pathway.

8.    Emphasize use of high-level mathematics, science, language arts, and problem-solving skills in the CONTEXT OF MODERN WORKPLACE PRACTICES and in preparation for continued learning.

9.    Have students complete a CHALLENGING PROGRAM OF STUDY with an upgraded academic core and a major.

10.   Use REAL-WORLD EXAMPLES to teach the essential concepts of the college preparatory curriculum.

HSTW believes that schools need to recognize not only intelligence, but that effort often determines success.