Big Picture Learning

Want to take a walk through BPL and The Met High School history with the dudes who founded the movement? Make sure you add the "Deep Roots, Bold Future" preconference option to your Big Bang Registration. But, hurry! Tickets are limited! Head over to https://lnkd.in/e3uhmpEt for full details... Deep Roots, Bold Future: Learning from Big Picture Learning's Founders: - How did The Met and Big Picture Learning get started? Hear the real stories, the trials and tribulations that led to 30 successful years. You'll go deep and get personal with our co-founders - Elliot Washor and Dennis Littky - and have a chance to interact with first year students and staff. We'll visit some important sites around Providence to see how our history provides a deeper understanding of the practices and philosophies that define Big Picture. cc: Elliot Washor Dennis Littky

"Education is the gateway to opportunity. It is the path to justice." Dolores Huerta's legacy and impact are woven directly into the fabric and everyday lives of Big Picture Learning students, particularly those who attend MetWest in Oakland, situated on a campus that bears Huerta's name. But any person's name on the side of a building - whether it be Dolores Huerta, Fannie Lou Hamer, or Ericka Huggins - has to serve as more than an honor. It must be a daily reminder that advocacy and community are essential components of education. Read more of our celebration of the life, legacy and impact of Dolores Huerta on the Big Picture Learning community as we celebrate International Women's Day and Women's History Month: https://lnkd.in/eYrbXM6T

Big Bang is Big Picture Learning's annual conference on student-centered learning, an intergenerational collaboration where students, educators, leaders and partners come together as equals to learn from one another and from our host community. This year will be no ordinary Big Bang. To celebrate Big Picture Learning's 30th Anniversary, we'll be returning to our roots - Providence, Rhode Island - birthplace to not only BPL, but also our flagship BPL network school - The Met High School. Whether you've been to 10 Big Bangs, or whether this will be your first time, trust us that this is the summer education conference not to be missed. Big Bang is specifically designed to mimic the BPL distinguishers that serve as hallmarks of our network schools - Advisory, Leaving to Learn, Leadership Soul and more. But there's always that special ingredient - a rain-soaked balloon fight, a live performance featuring Naughty by Nature, a drumline march through Atlanta - that gives each Big Bang its own unique flare (while also giving non-attendees intense FOMO). So you can imagine that, for our 30th Anniversary celebration, we'll have more than a few tricks up our sleeves for Big Bang Homecoming. Registration is now open! bplevents.org

Believe it or not, registration for Big Bang Homecoming - our summer celebration of Big Picture Learning and The Met High School's 30th Anniversary - opens next week (Monday, March 3). Go ahead and bookmark bplevents.org and be one of the first to signal that you'll be joining us for the biggest Big Bang yet!

Our International Homecoming - in celebration of Big Picture Learning's 30th Anniversary - kicks off in May with a trip down to Big Picture Learning Australia. From there we head to Placencia Elementary (in Belize) and Big Picture Learning Kenya. All culminating in a Big Bang that you won't want to miss - back where the whole thing started - Providence, RI and The Met High School. You can read all about it, join the tour, and catch up on all the latest in our most recent newsletter. https://lnkd.in/eGhXr8bN

Charles Walton moved to Rhode Island in the mid-1970's after accepting a teaching position at Roger Williams University. Determined to make a difference, Walton became Director of Providence's Urban Education Center and engaged actively with the National Urban League and the NAACP. His advocacy led to a landmark lawsuit against the state of Rhode Island, challenging its racially gerrymandered Senate districts. He won. In 1983, following this victory, Walton ran for office and was elected in a newly drawn, predominantly Black Senate district in South Providence, becoming Rhode Island's first African American state senator. Over the course of nearly two decades, Walton was a tireless champion for social justice, civil rights and economic empowerment. His leadership extended beyond the?legislature - he collaborated with grassroots organizations, fought against discriminatory policies and worked to bridge racial and economic divides. Walton's tenure in the Senate ended in 2002 after a contentious redistricting effort that many saw as a deliberate attempt to weaken Black political representation in Rhode Island. Yet, even after leaving office, he remained committed to advocating for progressive education, economic justice, and civil rights. His legacy is one of perseverance and commitment, a testament to the reality that progress often comes at great personal cost. A pivotal moment in Rhode Island's education history happened in the middle of his Senate tenure when - in 1995 - Senator Walton helped build a coalition in support of and cast a decisive vote in favor of the legislation that led to the founding of The Met High School. At a time when traditional education models were failing too many students - particularly those from marginalized communities - The Met emerged as a bold experiment in student-centered, real-world learning. As an educator himself, Walton understood the need for innovation and opportunity. His support helped lay the foundation for a school that has since transformed the lives of thousands of young people and influenced education worldwide. Too often, history is rewritten - or simply lost in the annals of time. As we celebrate the 30th anniversary of Big Picture Learning and The Met High School, we must acknowledge the often-unrecognized contributions of Black advocates. Without their support, The Met and Big Picture Learning would not stand as the steadfast champions of education that they are today. History cannot be rewritten for convenience. The voices and efforts of Black leaders are not footnotes; they are integral chapters in the American story. Senator Walton's legacy is not just about The Met - it is about ensuring that the doors of opportunity remain open for all students, regardless of race or background.

While it's something we've known for quite some time (say, 30 years!), we're always happy when the lightbulb goes off for the rest of the world! We invite you to check out a new OpEd in The New York Times, by Jenny Anderson and Rebecca Winthrop (authors of the upcoming book The Disengaged Teen) which, among other things, shouts out Big Picture Learning among the promising approaches to infusing engagement back into education. Check it out!

Is your New Year's resolution to read more? Boy do we have great news for you! BPL is pleased to announce our new Book Study Community - open to members of our BPL network and beyond! We'll be kicking things off on February 6 by reading and discussing Christopher Emdin's Ratchetdemic. But to participate, you must enroll and seats are limited and going fast. Sign up at bit.ly/BPLIT and your book is on us!

?? Honored to See Big Picture Learning Featured in The New York Times ?? Gratitude is in order! Thank you to Jenny Anderson and Rebecca Winthrop for this insightful?New?York?Times?Opinion?piece highlighting Big Picture Learning and, most importantly, for shining a light on the transformative power of?student agency and choice! At Big Picture Learning, we’ve long championed the idea that when students are empowered to set goals, make decisions, and take ownership of their learning, they not only thrive academically but also grow into thoughtful, engaged, and resilient members of their communities. This acknowledgment reaffirms our mission and the work of so many educators, students, and families across our network who are proving every day that personalized, learner-centered education is not just a vision—it’s a reality. Let’s keep pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in education, ensuring that every young person feels seen, valued, and capable of charting their own path. ??? Big Picture Learning Education Reimagined The Yass Prize The Center for Education Reform #Gratitude #NYTOpinion https://lnkd.in/eM8Hsnjd

"Meritocracy treats education as a ladder to be climbed rather than as a space to grow, discover, and contribute to society in diverse ways." Check out Dean Ashenden's piece in inside story. I feel that it's an incisive analysis and provocative response to last months David Brooks’ article in The Atlantic which was entitled, "How the Ivy League Broke America – the meritocracy isn’t working we need something new." (also definitely worth a read) I'm grateful that near the end of the piece Dean gave a shout out to Sandra Milligan and the International Big Picture Learning Credential (IBPLC) developed in collaboration with Big Picture Learning Australia as a game changing new form of learning assessment for the future. Onwards we go! https://lnkd.in/gyxXnZfZ