Whole Child Education

Northview High School is a public separate special education school in the Special School District of St. Louis County. Northview serves a diverse student population with significant support needs as outlined in their individualized education plans. Students either require significant support to access curriculum or have not been successful in the traditional school environment. The movement from extrinsic to intrinsic motivation has been very challenging as we are a special education school working with students across the continuum. The character education journey has taken strong dedication and is the result of a steady increase in staff commitment.
 

The origins of character education at Duffy Elementary School go back to May 1998, when the school's strategic planning committee decided to implement character education. Named a 2011 National School of Character by whole child partner the Character Education Partnership, Duffy is a school in which students take learning seriously: Student behavior—not only in the classrooms but also in the cafeteria and on the playground—indicates a high degree of intrinsic motivation to do well. Many factors account for this: high parental expectations, an extraordinarily dedicated faculty, and a student body that truly pursues academic excellence.

A recipient of the National Forum to Accelerate Middle-Grades Reform's 2011 Schools to Watch® Award, Hotchkiss K–8 School in Colorado is set on maintaining a positive school culture through focusing on their "Famous 3": passion, purpose, and plan.

Dedicated to providing middle-level students with the utmost ability to achieve success, programs like Child Advocacy Program (CAP) and Help, Understanding, Guidance & Support (HUGS) have been used to instill a sense of responsibility among students, promote proactive engagement, and develop a relationship between the staff and students that encourages high performance across both an academic and nonacademic spectrum.

Hotchkiss K–8 continues to flourish as an exemplary school, and we agree wholeheartedly with their motto: "If you believe, you can achieve."

Recognized as a 2011 Breakthrough School by the MetLife Foundation and whole child partner National Association of Secondary School Principals, Amityville Memorial High School in Suffolk County, N.Y., has truly overcome its previous identification as a failing school.

Principal Scott Andrews has led the focus on the four Rs—relevance, respect, responsibility, and relationships—as academic rigor increases and the achievement gap closes between the 86 percent minority population. Along with academics, communication and trust continue to increase among the students and staff through events like the Amityville Awareness Weekend, where 120 needs-based students are chosen to spend an engaging weekend at school developing their social-emotional skills while fostering a sense of acceptance and respect for themselves and others.

Amityville's motto is "The best is yet to come," and based on the achievements thus far, we believe it.

A four-time winner of whole child partner America's Promise Alliance's 100 Best Communities for Young People recognition, Grand Forks, N.Dak., strives to evoke positive action through strong policies and community collaboration.

Practices like the Grand Forks Youth Commission, composed of students from middle and high schools who express their voice about community issues; the PASS and Interventions programs, which use innovative approaches to assist in responding to student challenges; and the Grand Forks Helping Hands Summer Camp, which helps young people understand the importance of volunteerism as they provide opportunities for a wide range of children, are all positive change agents that will continue to promote leadership and service among all generations.

Kalamazoo, Mich., is an exemplary community hub for young people and a two-time winner of whole child partner America's Promise Alliance's 100 Best Communities for Young People recognition.

Focused on providing resources for youth in elementary school through college, the community has created enriching opportunities that will continue to foster youths' academic and nonacademic potential. The dedication is shown through community-wide programs, like the Kalamazoo Youth Development Network that has linked 82 agencies together to ensure that a wide variety of services are available to youth. For every graduate of the Kalamazoo Public Schools, the Kalamazoo Promise guarantees free college tuition at public colleges and universities in Michigan (if requirements are met). Over $17 million has been invested by donors to provide more than 1,500 students with post-secondary education.

Barnstable County, Mass., a four-time winner of whole child partner America's Promise Alliance's 100 Best Communities for Young People recognition, has set the stage for youth dialogue in its community.

A variety of innovative partnerships have helped promote this dialogue, thanks to the Barnstable County Council for Children, Youth, and Families. These include

• The Cape and Islands Youth Congress, a diverse group of high school students who encourage their peers to step up to challenges and be positive agents of change.
• The Cape Youth Force, which enables youth participants to become involved in the grant-making process.
• The Cape and Islands Gay-Straight Youth Alliance, a youth-led group that networks with fellow youth organizations across Cape Cod.

Barnstable County is definitely doing its part in promoting the value of youth engagement.

Ranked as one of the best places to live, Honolulu, Hawaii, is fully committed to serving its youth population. The city hosts programs such as YouthBuild Honolulu, a project aimed at motivating young and expectant parents to become self-sufficient, and 21st Century Ahupua'a Ambassadors Program, an initiative that encourages students to learn and be proactive about creating a sustainable environment.

The city provides local government support for the Keiki (Child) Caucus, a partnership focused on identifying and recommending legislation about issues that affect youth and their families. These programs are specific examples of inspiring practices Honolulu is using to spread the importance of community engagement among a wide range of individuals and speaks to why the city is a three-time winner of whole child partner America's Promise Alliance 100 Best Communities for Young People recognition.

Robert M. Finley Middle School has become the spotlight of Glen Cove, N.Y., culminating in recognition as a 2011 Breakthrough School by the MetLife Foundation and whole child partner National Association of Secondary School Principals.

At Finley Middle School, Principal Anael Alston has helped transform the once poor environment into a center for success. Determined to celebrate diversity and increase achievement through building community, Finley Middle School is committed to investing in the human capital already in the building: its students. The reflective learning initiative, standardized schoolwide notebook system, and project-based learning practices have helped foster among the students a love for learning and drive to succeed.

Deemed a "priority school" by the state four years ago, North Brunswick High School in Leland, N.C., has made incredible strides in breaking the cycle of low student performance, culminating in the receipt of a 2011 Breakthrough School Award by the MetLife Foundation and whole child partner National Association of Secondary School Principals.

Principal Sheila Grady has helped promote the expansion of instructional leadership, the creation of professional learning communities, and the use of formative assessments and bridge courses to close the achievement gap at the school. Success has come through the school's inspiring dedication to leadership—more than half of the teachers at the high school serve in leadership roles. In 2010, the school's proficiency rate increased to 85 percent from 48 percent, a true testament to the dedication to student achievement at North Brunswick High School.