A+ School


A+ School The A+ Schools Program is a whole school re-form model that views the arts as fundamental to teaching and learning in all subjects. The mission of the A+ Schools Program is to create schools that work for everyone—students, teachers, administrators, parents and the community. The central vision of A+ is to create enhanced learning opportunities for all students by using arts-integrated instruction, which incorporates Howard Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences, other theories of intelligence, and recent brain research. A+ is a comprehensive education reform reaching all areas of education from assessment to scheduling and collaboration to parent involvement, creating one central vision. At Community Charter School (CCS) we combine interdisciplinary teaching and daily arts instruction into project based learning, offering children opportunities to learn through all the ways in which they are able. The arts are taught daily to every child: drama, dance, music and visual arts at least once each week. Teaching the required curriculum involves a many-disciplined approach, with the arts continuously woven into every aspect of a child's learning. CCS covers the North Carolina Standard Course of Study through interdisciplinary project based learning, combined with arts integration and hands-on, experiential learning, including daily arts instruction by arts teachers. We also develop strong partnerships with parents, area cultural resources, local colleges and universities, and the media. The A+ Schools Program has created a statewide networks of 42 A+ Schools that choose to adopt and implement the A+ philosophy and practice, and that make a commitment to participating in Network activities. As part of a statewide Network of A+ Schools, teachers and principals participate in ongoing professional development, and planning retreats facilitated by A+ Program administration located at UNC Greensboro. Evaluators have consistently found that A+ Schools are able to respond to accountability standards in both effective and creative ways, meeting standards in North Carolina's high-stakes testing program and developing a school identity around the arts by deeply integrating the arts into the curriculum. In addition to the usual measures of student achievement and school success (expected gains in test scores, student and teacher attendance, student discipline and parent involvement), CCS has identified the unique contributions that the arts in education make to students' intellectual, social, and emotional growth. This "value-added" case for the inclusion of the arts in a school's curriculum proves a strong justification for A+, and allows continued growth on North Carolina's accountability tests comparable to that of other schools statewide without "narrowing" our curriculum (i.e. not eliminating non-tested subjects such as science, history and the arts). The A+ Essentials™ is the overarching conceptual framework that guides A+ Schools. They are intended for use as a reflective tool for the continuing implementation of A+ over many years. We also use these to document specific goals and outcomes as part of School Improvement Plans, school accreditation renewal, professional development plans, and in identifying specific strategies to help meet No Child Left Behind benchmarks. The eight A+ Essentials™ Arts In A+ Schools, the arts are: • inclusive of drama, dance, music, visual arts and creative writing • integrated within non-arts content areas • taught daily • valued as essential to learning and personal experiences • part of the whole school's identity Curriculum In A+ Schools, curriculum is addressed through the use of: • curriculum mapping by all teachers and specialists • thematic webbing reflecting both horizontal and vertical alignment • essential and focus questions • teacher-created interdisciplinary thematic units • cross-curricular and two-way integration Multiple Intelligences In A+ Schools, MI theory: • is used daily within planning and assessment • is understood by administration, teachers, students and parents • is studied and implemented, with a continued emphasis to explore new research • creates balanced learning opportunities Enriched Assessment In A+ Schools, enriched assessment is: • designed for learning • inclusive of Arts and MI • on-going and integrated • experiential and collaborative • a reflective practice • used to help meet school system requirements • used as a self-assessment tool by teachers and students Experiential Learning In A+ Schools, experiential learning: • is grounded in arts-based instruction • is a creative process • is guided by essential and focus questions • acknowledges a range and variety of entry points • includes differentiated instruction • provides multi-faceted assessment opportunities Collaboration In A+ Schools, collaboration: • is intentional and valued • is given priority by providing time for teachers to plan together • occurs throughout the day • includes teachers, students, families, & local community • includes broad-based leadership Climate In A+ Schools, climate improves because: • teachers grow professionally • morale improves • stress is reduced • teaching and learning through arts and MI is fun • A+ whole school reform is exciting Infrastructure In A+ Schools, infrastructure supports the philosophy by: • addressing logistics of daily school routines • providing appropriate space for the arts • continually developing faculty commitment • creating a shared vision • providing relevant professional development • supporting team building Click to Visit the official A+ website. 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