Why focus on high school reform?
Nationally, urban high schools face a host of structural and human issues that affect the potential for student achievement, participation and growth. They are large, serving between 900 and 1500 students each. In most, traditional forms of tracking still prevail. The dropout rates are high, particularly for minority students. The core systemic issue for these schools is the stubborn disparity in student achievement – and the network of nearly habitual practices that sustain these disparities. The overriding factors in this disparity of achievement are family economic status, differences in student engagement and effort, and differential adult expectations. What are the goals of the WEP? • To personalize the scale and context of learning • The Partnership aims to ensure that each student experiences the adult support and guidance necessary to develop and learn. • To equalize opportunities for development and learning • The Partnership aims to help every student discover her or his capa
