The conventional public school model is not broken, but obsolete. To improve outcomes, it is critical that schools personalize learning and ensure students leave with a combination of academic, personal, and professional competencies that will enable their future success. The Generation Schools Model increases opportunities for student success using built-in evidence-based practices that offer greater equity to students who are traditionally marginalized and vulnerable due to issues of poverty.
"Notwithstanding how forward thinking GSN's Blended Learning Instructional Model may be, it would not be as impactful if it were not supported by GSN's focus on providing significant collaborative planning time for its teachers. With a minimum of ninety minutes a day of collaborative planning time, all grade level and content teams have the necessary time to develop standards-based, fully-aligned, yearlong plans, unit plans, and daily lesson plans as well as ample time to review and act upon student data. I simply cannot imagine trying to teach without this amount of collaborative time and support."
- Don Reynolds, 9th Grade Math Teacher at WGA
"Intensives were fun. We got to know our teacher well. The field trips were intense. We went to places I haven't seen. For example, we visited CU Boulder. I am now thinking of attending there. Intensives made me change the way I look at most of my classes."
- 8th Grade Student at WGA
"Because we start in August, I was able to see what the kids were capable of and gauge their interests. And because we have more time and smaller classes, I was able to depart from the rapid-fire curriculum dominant in the era of high stakes testing. While my students were in month-long College and Career Intensives, I spent my three-week break working with a filmmaker to develop a documentary film project for my students on human rights. When core classes resumed, students engaged in the research, story boarding, pre-production, and phone calls to speak with experts - lawyers, academics, etc. My students were enthralled and engaged in ways that I don't always see."
- Blair Namnou, 10th Grade Socal Studies Teacher at WGA
The mission of Generation Schools Network™ is to ensure that all students - regardless of life circumstances - have access to a great education. GSN seeks to transform public education through sustainable, scalable strategies that drive student achievement and teacher effectiveness for all students and teachers.
Generation Schools Network™ (GSN) is the first organization in the nation to implement public school solutions that expand learning time, reduce core class size, include daily health and wellness programming, integrate blended learning, increase common planning and training time for teachers, and transform college and career guidance. GSN accomplishes this and more - through cost-effective strategies that utilize the resources districts and schools already have to ensure a whole student approach to education.
GSN's award-winning and innovative educational approach is providing access to unique educational opportunities, which allow traditionally marginalized and under-resourced students to develop the personal, professional and academic skills they need to succeed. GSN firmly believes and has demonstrated that it's possible to close academic, opportunity and workforce readiness gaps simultaneously through thinking differently about how time, talent and resources are used more efficiently in schools allowing for students, teachers and industry to simultaneously benefit. Furthermore, GSN provides these improved learning opportunities to all students, not just students who have access to after-school and summer programming; crucial to closing the opportunity gaps which often hinder students' academic and professional potential (Brooks 2012). By ensuring all students, regardless of life circumstances, are equipped to succeed in school, work and life, GSN is employing its unique educational model to systematically break the cycle of poverty for traditionally underserved and marginalized students.
GSN has worked in New York, Ohio and Colorado to support the start-up of district, innovation and charter schools based on the GSN model that have radically transformed educational outcomes for high-needs students. This includes nearly doubling graduation rates in turnaround settings, closing achievement gaps as demonstrated by NWEA MAP and STARR test results, creating cultures of literacy where students are collectively reading thousands of books each year and seeing more than 80% of students applying to college and accumulating college credits in high school, most of whom had never considered college to be a possibility.
This happens as the model supports the belief that great teaching can transform lives. It happens every day in schools where teachers are given the time and support to deliver their best instruction. The thoughtful use of structures and resources allows teachers to demonstrate effectiveness as they:
• Place students at the center of their learning
• Dedicate more time to integrated STEM and Humanities courses
• Offer K-12 college & career readiness programing
• Integrate technology to personalize and support learning
• Provide integrated interventions and supports to students on a daily basis
• Receive support for their own professional practice and growth.
Organization name
Generation Schools Network
other names
GSN
2005
Tax id (EIN)
76-0783006
Category
Education
Address
455 Sherman St. Suite 120Other
540 President Street, 1st FloorDenver County, CO, US
NY, US