FirstSchool-Uniting the Best
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What are the expected outcomes for schools working with FirstSchool?

  1. Improved school experiences and outcomes for children, especially African American, Latino and low income students.
  2. A school that challenges itself through ongoing inquiry and the willingness to ask questions about what contributes to patterns of success and failure (See FirstSchool Briefs: 21st Century Teacher Education for FirstSchool).
  3. Leadership that promotes and sustains change.
  4. Children who are engaged with their teachers, peers and the learning environment (See FirstSchool Briefs: Framework for Curriculum and Instruction).
  5. A school that relies on, utilizes, and values their knowledge of the needs and challenges of the children and families they serve.
  6. Collaborative structures (Professional Learning Communities, community-district teams, vertically aligned teams) that are in place and function well (See FirstSchool Briefs: 21st Century Teacher Education for FirstSchool).
  7. Financial plans that support and integrate PreK in the elementary setting (See Financing Services for 3- and 4-Year Olds in a PreK-3 School).
  8. The effective use of data to inform change and monitor progress.
  9. Seamless transitions from home to school, one grade level to the other, and throughout each school day and year (See FirstSchool Briefs: Framework for Curriculum and Instruction).
  10. A coordinated approach to health and wellness throughout the school community.
  11. A physical environment that supports relationships, health and safety and provides opportunities for a variety of groupings and activities (See FirstSchool Briefs: FirstSchool Learning Environments Supporting Relationships).
  12. Teachers who feel well prepared, supported, and respected (See FirstSchool Briefs: 21st Century Teacher Education for FirstSchool).
  13. Re-prioritization of the use of time that emphasizes communication between and among educators, families, interdisciplinary staff, community members and university faculty (See FirstSchool Briefs: Time is of the Essence).
  14. Home-school partnerships characterized by authentic, respectful dialogue and collaboration. (See FirstSchool Briefs: 21st Century Teacher Education for FirstSchool).