Leveraging Learning and Motivation in the School Improvement Process: A Focus on Marginalized Students and English Learners

Schools serving historically marginalized students and English Learners (ELs) face unique challenges. These students, often coming from communities plagued by socio-economic challenges, are frequently left behind in the traditional educational system. However, the potential for positive change and improvement is immense, and school leaders are pivotal in driving this change. By leveraging learning and motivation, school leaders can effectively implement a school improvement process that is both inclusive and successful. Charter schools, in particular, offer several examples of breaking the mold to foster an environment conducive to improved teaching, learning, and achievement in mathematics and literacy.

The Importance of Learning and Motivation in School Improvement

Before delving into the mechanics of school improvement, it's crucial to understand the interplay between learning and motivation. Learning isn’t merely about transmitting information; it’s about creating an environment where students are eager to absorb, interpret, and apply knowledge. This is where motivation comes into play. Motivated students are more likely to engage in the learning process, persist through challenges, and ultimately achieve better outcomes.

In schools with a majority of marginalized students and ELs, there are often gaps in foundational skills and prior knowledge, which can lead to decreased motivation. School leaders need to understand these gaps and develop strategies that not only fill them but also inspire and motivate these students to strive for excellence.

Practical Strategies for Leveraging Learning and Motivation

Culturally Relevant Pedagogy: This involves delivering content in ways that are relatable to students' own experiences and cultural backgrounds. When students see themselves reflected in the curriculum, they are more likely to engage and be motivated to learn.

Professional Development: Regular training for educators ensures that they are equipped with the latest strategies to meet the unique needs of their students. This includes training in differentiated instruction, culturally responsive teaching, and strategies specifically designed for ELs.

Incorporate Student Voice: School leaders should seek feedback from students, especially when crafting policies and interventions. By involving them in the decision-making process, students feel a sense of ownership and are more likely to be invested in the outcomes.

Resource Allocation: Schools need to ensure that they have the appropriate resources, including textbooks, technology, and supplemental materials, which cater to the needs of their unique student population.

Charter Schools as Agents of Change

While the traditional public school system has made strides in recent years, charter schools have often been at the forefront of innovation, particularly for marginalized and EL student populations. Several charter school models have successfully disrupted the status quo to bring about significant improvements in mathematics and literacy. A few notable examples include:

Rocketship Public Schools:?

Serving predominantly low-income students and ELs, Rocketship integrates technology, personalized learning, and targeted tutor interventions. Their blended learning model ensures students receive instruction tailored to their specific needs. The results? Rocketship schools consistently outperform their district peers in mathematics and literacy. Results

Summit Public Schools:?

Through their personalized learning platform, Summit students set their learning goals, track their progress, and engage in projects that apply real-world skills. ELs and marginalized students, in particular, benefit from this autonomy, showing notable gains in both mathematics and literacy. Results

KIPP (Knowledge Is Power Program):?

KIPP focuses on rigorous curriculum, high expectations, and creating a culture of achievement. Through extended school days and intensive interventions, KIPP has showcased remarkable results, especially in mathematics and literacy, for marginalized students and ELs. Results

Similarities and Differences Between These Three Charter School Models

By design, these charter schools are meant to be centers of innovation within the public education system. While they share a broader mission to offer alternative educational pathways and challenge traditional models, each charter network has its unique approach. Rocketship Public Schools, Summit Public Schools, and KIPP are three prominent charter networks that have made a significant impact. Below, we delve into the similarities and differences between these networks:

Similarities Between These Charter School Networks:

• Commitment to Underserved Populations: All three charter networks prioritize serving marginalized students, including low-income students, English Learners, and those from underserved communities.
• Focus on College Readiness: Each of these charter networks emphasizes preparing students for college. This involves rigorous curriculum standards, promoting a culture of achievement, and providing resources and counseling to guide students through the college application process.
• Data-driven Instruction: They all use data extensively to drive instruction. By continuously monitoring student performance, they can tailor educational strategies, identify areas of improvement, and allocate resources more effectively.
• Extended Learning Time: Recognizing the importance of maximizing instructional time, these charter networks often have extended school days, longer school years, or supplementary programs to ensure students get the academic support they need.

Differences Between These Charter School Networks:

Educational Approach:

• Rocketship: Emphasizes a blended learning model, integrating technology and traditional instruction. They often use online tools and software to personalize learning for individual students, complemented by face-to-face teaching.
• Summit: Pioneered a personalized learning platform where students set and track their own learning goals. The emphasis is on project-based learning and real-world application of skills.
• KIPP: While it uses some elements of personalized learning, KIPP's core strength is its rigorous curriculum and high expectations, combined with a strong emphasis on character education.

School Culture:

• Rocketship: Focuses on tailoring school culture to the local community, often integrating cultural and community elements into the school environment.
• Summit: Emphasizes student autonomy, giving students a significant say in their learning trajectory and fostering a sense of ownership.
• KIPP: Operates under the belief of "Work Hard. Be Nice." The culture is built around discipline, consistency, and mutual respect between students and staff.

Scale and Reach:

• Rocketship: Primarily serves elementary-age students and has a more localized presence in certain communities.
• Summit: Operates middle and high schools and has expanded its model by offering its personalized learning platform to other schools nationwide.
• KIPP: With schools spanning from elementary to high school, KIPP has one of the largest footprints among charter networks, with numerous schools across multiple states.

What Are Some Examples of How This Playout in Their School Communities:

• Rocketship Public Schools: In the San Jose region, Rocketship Mateo Sheedy Elementary consistently outperforms local district schools in both math and English, showcasing the effectiveness of their blended learning model.
• Summit Public Schools: Summit Shasta, a high school in Daly City, CA, showcases the Summit model's effectiveness. The school has a high college acceptance rate, with students often gaining admission to top-tier universities.
• KIPP: At KIPP NYC College Prep High School, over 90% of the graduating students are accepted to college, showcasing the success of their rigorous curriculum and emphasis on college readiness.

While Rocketship Public Schools, Summit Public Schools, and KIPP share certain foundational principles and goals, each has carved out its unique approach to achieving educational excellence. The successes and challenges faced by each network provide invaluable insights into the potential and versatility of charter school education.

Improving schools that primarily serve historically marginalized students and English Learners is neither a straightforward nor easy task. However, by harnessing the power of learning and motivation, school leaders can make significant strides in ensuring all students have access to quality education.?

Charter schools provide valuable lessons in how to challenge the traditional model and offer pathways to success for these underserved populations. As the educational landscape continues to evolve, it's imperative to keep the needs of marginalized and EL students at the forefront, ensuring they are not left behind but are instead empowered to reach their full potential.

Explore School Improvement Processes that Can Help School and District Leaders Effectively Manage Their Change Cycles During the School Improvement Processes at the School or District Level with CREATE Solutions, LLC.