What is the National Center for Scaling Up Effective Schools (NCSU)?

The National Center on Scaling Up Effective Schools is a collaborative partnership between Research universities, program developers, and two large urban districts: Broward County Public Schools, FL and Ft. Worth Independent School District (FWISD), TX. This project is funded by the Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education. Purpose of Study: The National Center for Scaling Up Effective schools seeks to identify the combination of programs, practices, and processes that explain why some high schools are particularly effective and develop processes to transfer and scale up these practices to less effective schools within the same districts. This is a multi-year study being conducted in your district. What are the important facts I need to know? -SHHS was one of three FWISD high schools chosen to participate in the study as an innovation school and two staff members from your school are part of the District Innovation Design Team (DIDT). -This is a five-year project and we are in year three of its implementation with two more years to go.

Increasing Student Ownership and Responsibility for Their Academic Learning

-In the first phase of the study (2010 2012 SY), research findings from FWISD found that schools in the district that were making a difference had programs in place that increased student ownership and responsibility for their learning.
-In this next phase (20122013 SY), the work will involve designing an innovative solution that responds to the need to increase student ownership and responsibility and can be scaled up to serve a larger number of students across FWISD. -Progress of our work will be shared with

The beauty of Project SOAR is that it has its roots in the positive and successful work already happening in FWISD. Too often, solutions are foisted upon our schools. This is of our school, by our schools, and for our students. Project SOAR has the potential to entirely change the educational experience of our students and our teachers. Mike Sorum Deputy Superintendent, Leadership, Learning, Student Support Fort Worth Independent School District

FYI & Soar Update

Increasing Student Ownership and Responsibility for Their Academic Learning

SHHS Motto Every student, by name, by face, by familyto graduation! SHHS Mission SHHS educates and prepares its students for success in college, career, and community. SHHS Vision A premier high school committed to upholding academic and personal excellence. SHHS Core Values Courtesy, Dignity, Respect Continuous improvement Unity and Clarity Interdependence

SHHS is going to SOAR

Core Elements of SOAR

Indicators of SOAR
Students come to class prepared, complete assignments well and on time, make up missed work in a timely manner, and seek additional help when they are struggling. Students are engaged in class, ask questions when they are confused, monitor their own learning, and attempt to master material with which they struggle. Students believe they can achieve challenging tasks and that it is in their control to succeed in school. Students are personally invested in academic success. Students demonstrate life skills such as initiative, self-direction, productivity,

Teachers and other school personnel have high academic expectations for students Teachers and other school personnel provide instructional supports to help students meet high expectations Teachers and other school personnel provide organizational supports to help students meet high expectations Teachers and other school personnel use techniques to deeply engage students in academic work.