Preparing for the Future: Employer Perspectives on Work Readiness Skills
The UMass Donahue Institute recently collaborated with the Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education (MBAE) on a project designed to inform educators and policy-makers about the work-readiness skills that employers expect of Massachusetts high school graduates, and to describe the skills and characteristics these corporations require for entry-level positions with potential for growth and advancement. Institute… Read More ›
The Walmart Foundation’s 2011 Investment in Summer Youth Employment: Encouraging Results and Lessons Learned
In Spring 2011, the Walmart Foundation funded summer employment opportunities for youth in five cities – Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles, New York, and Washington, DC. A team from the Center for Youth and Communities at Brandeis University’s Heller School visited all five sites, interviewing administrators, partners, and employers and observing program operations. This report summarizes… Read More ›
Liberty Mutual Mentoring Initiative: Mentoring. Modeling. More.
This report highlights key findings of the multi-phased research study conducted by the Donahue Institute. In 2003, Liberty Mutual launched the Liberty Mutual Mentoring Initiative (LMMI), a $1 million commitment to mentoring that provides grants and technical assistance to mentoring programs throughout Massachusetts, as well as funds relevant to research. In 2004, Liberty Mutual, in… Read More ›
National Evaluation of Learn and Serve America, Summary Report
In 1993, the National and Community Service Trust Act (P.L. 103-82) established the Learn and Serve America School and Community-Based Programs to support school and community-based efforts to involve school-aged youth in community service. Between 1994 and 1997, Brandeis University’s Center for Human Resources and Abt Associates Inc. conducted an evaluation of the national Learn… Read More ›
The Power of Combining Youth Development Principles, Culture and Arts: Findings of a Study of the Culture & Arts Youth Development Initiative
This study from the Skillman Foundation features the results of an evaluation of its Culture and Arts Youth Development Initiative, which integrates youth development with arts and culture by providing youth in underdeveloped neighborhoods opportunities to participate in long-term exposure to the arts. The findings are based on the evaluation of the first four years… Read More ›
My Voice National Student Report, 2014 Grades 6-12
The mission of My Voice, a Pearson Foundation initiative, is to help measure the perceptions of everyone at school, elevate the impact of student voice and foster the changes that are vital for students to realize academic, social and personal success. The My Voice Survey was created to assess a framework developed by the Quaglia… Read More ›
Blended Instruction: Exploring Student-Centered Pedagogical Strategies to Promote a Technology-Enhanced Learning Environment
This project provides a road map for creating a learning environment that supports instructional strategies that live at the intersection of blended instruction and student-centered learning. As part of this project, a blended instruction white paper was developed to capture what teachers do, what it looks like in the classroom, and explore important instructional strategies… Read More ›
Classroom Assessments that Informs Instruction
This paper introduces educators to the concept of assessments that informs classroom instruction. It offers representative formative assessments that elementary, middle, and high school teachers can use in their classrooms to inform their instructional practices. Specifically, the authors illustrate assessments teachers can use before, during, and after instruction that will help them understand their students’ learning… Read More ›
Even Geniuses Work Hard
In this paper, Carol Dweck brings to attention how research has shown that when students have a fixed mindset, they value looking smart over learning. Her research shows that students with a growth mindset—those who believe that their intelligence can be developed—are eager learners. Dweck argues for building a culture of risk taking that builds… Read More ›
The College Pathways Tools Series
The complete tool set provides all the Beating-the-Odds study tools in one publication: a framework and rubric, a student survey, a focus group protocol for students, and a focus group protocol and parent handout for families. Together, these tools enable high schools and their partners to get a multifaceted look at how well they are preparing students… Read More ›
Students as Allies in Improving Their Schools: Student and Teacher Surveys
What Kids Can Do worked with schools in 5 cities to support student involvement in reform as part of the”Students As Allies” initiative. They helped students conduct action research, participate in meaningful dialogue, and take action in partnership with adults. The Student and Teacher surveys, which were updated in 2011, can be adapted by student/adult… Read More ›
Student Ownership through Transparency
This powerpoint presentation provides an example of how educations at Boston Day and Evening Academy are using an assessment system. The presenters shares on how Boston Day and Evening Academy sift to a competency/proficiency- based system leading to a more engaged student body. Source Organization: Boston Day and Evening Academy