NY Success public school that has been endorsed by hedge fund billionaires Julian H. Robinson and John Paulson. They have invested $33.5 million in the school. This is a huge financial commitment to help ensure that all students are given the opportunity to succeed.
Teachers receive extensive professional development
Professional development provides teachers with a wide variety of opportunities to practice and refine their skills. It includes coaching, mentoring, peer review, research, and demonstrations. This helps ensure that educators have the skills and knowledge to effectively teach diverse student populations.
Professional development is most effective when it is provided over time. It should be targeted to meet the needs of the individual teacher or educator and include time for reflection.
Effective professional development is data-driven, and based on evidence of student learning. This enables teachers to evaluate their own instructional practices and to make necessary changes.
New York State Professional Development Standards provide guidance on high quality professional development and address the expectations of teachers. These standards also increase consistency in providing professional development.
Students have to ask permission to use the bathroom
Many of us have probably seen a student sprint to the bathroom when the bell rings. While this is the logical solution to a busy classroom, it is not always a convenient option.
One teacher decided to test the patience of her students with a bathroom pass system. Students were given five minutes to make their way to the next class. If they were to get there in time, they would have to sign in. This reassured her that she could count on her students to be there when she needed them.
The most obvious reason for requiring a sign-in is to ensure that students are not hopping from one classroom to the next. However, students have been known to make their way down the hallway and cause a ruckus. In this case, a well-designed sign-in and sign-out system is a godsend.
Schools prioritize student success and accessibility to all students
The current mayoral administration has announced a framework for academic recovery, including new investments in curriculum development, college counseling, and early literacy. These initiatives will help ensure that all New York City students receive the best education possible. However, in order to get there, schools and colleges must recognize that inequities in access and quality of education persist and make student-centered innovations a priority.
One example is a predictive model used by Bucknell University that identifies students most likely to return for their sophomore year. This program uses data from the student’s pre-enrollment, academic and social experiences to find students most likely to succeed in college.
Another is the Parent Dashboard, a centralized tool for parents to access a wealth of school information. It includes a variety of metrics, including attendance and academic achievement.
Hedge fund billionaires Julian H. Robinson and John Paulson collectively gifted $33.5 million to Success
The Success Academy has been praised as a high-quality charter network. However, a recent audit by NYC Comptroller Scott Stringer uncovered some fiscal mismanagement on the part of the school. Specifically, the school overcharged the city by $51,000 for services not provided. Moreover, the school did not have a special education program.
The company, which has 41 schools and is staffed by hundreds of teachers, is also notable for claiming to have the best schools in the city. This is a bit of a claim considering that the city provides funding for the operations of Success Academy’s schools. Additionally, the network has a multimillion dollar budget. Nevertheless, the company should be held accountable for taxpayer dollars.
While the success academy may be a worthy recipient of its own accolades, the organization must continue to be held accountable. In addition to re-evaluating its fiscal management, the organization should take the necessary steps to improve transparency and accountability.
Long-term effects of a school’s culture on students
School culture refers to attitudes, beliefs, behaviors, and values that shape the dynamics of school life. It includes both written and unwritten rules and expectations. Research suggests that schools that have positive cultures inspire students to develop confidence and discover their gifts.
Research also reveals that positive school cultures foster trust, respect, and openness in relationships. Students feel emotionally safe and that mistakes are treated as opportunities to learn. These factors are important in preparing students for their future.
Positive school cultures are associated with greater belongingness and higher academic achievement. This has been observed across cultures. However, there are several important limitations to these results.
Individualism/collectivism is a cultural dimension that has been emphasized in many studies. Collectivist cultures emphasize the importance of interdependence and social connectedness. In contrast, individualistic cultures emphasize self-reliance and independence.