Like so much of the current debate around education reform and the reauthorization of No Child Left Behind, Secretary Duncan's piece focuses on academic standards and testing, school and state accountability, and teacher evaluation. These are important and complex issues, to be sure, but Elev8's experience suggests that critical services for students and families must also be part of our country's education reform agenda.
Elev8 Chicago has begun interviewing graduates to explore how their Elev8 experiences in middle school have impacted their high school careers. Meet Vanessa Perez, who says that Elev8 taught her to try new things- "You never know what you're missing"; Brianna Reed, who credits Elev8 with helping her develop "leadership qualities"; and Richlyn Whittaker, who grew into "a peacemaker... and national youth advocate," with Elev8's support.
Elev8 New Mexico's Microsociety is confronting real-life challenges in the community. In Microsociety, students produce goods and services, establish laws, arbitrate disputes and report the news. But at Gadsden Middle School, Microsociety students are not just creating a microcosm of the real world inside their school.They are working to build a better community in the surrounding town of Anthony, NM.
Elev8 Baltimore parents recently gathered to tell the city's leaders about "deplorable conditions are in our public school buildings." Along with parents from other schools in the city, they asked leaders to consider an innovative plan out of Greenville, SC, which was able to raise $1 billion for school construction. As a result of the plan, Greenville constructed or renovated 70 schools in just five years.
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Adolescents with access to school-based health care were 10 times more likely to make a mental health or substance abuse visit than those who were enrolled in a managed care system (HMO) but lacked a school-based facility. Learn More
