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Mark Draper
712-366-4210
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Warren Weber
515-281-7007
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Home High School Focus

High School Focus

Over the past several years, Iowa has increasingly sharpened its focus on the changing needs of high school students. The Urban Education Network's 2001 Redefinition of High School report and the state's 2002 Focus on High Schools report highlighted the many challenges facing high schools. Former Governor Tom Vilsack convened a cross-section of Iowans in 2003 to study the transitions of students from prekindergarten to employment as part of the Iowa Learns Council. From 2004 through 2008, an average of 1,500 participants attended the annual Iowa High School Summit conferences. Each of these initiatives contributed, in a positive manner, to the momentum for a new look at high school education - ensuring that graduates have the advanced skills necessary to succeed in an international marketplace.

As the workplace becomes more sophisticated and the world becomes smaller, Iowa high schools are challenged to equip their students with the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in this rapidly changing environment. Graduation rates are too low, learners continue to struggle, and the development of the Iowa Core promises to assist in better preparing our youth - not just to become employed, but also to be informed, concerned and productive citizens.

The case for change is clear. The charge now is to encourage educators, families and community members to rise to the challenge of providing the kind of rigorous and relevant learning experiences and meaningful relationships that prepare every student for success.

 

Iowa High School Project

The Iowa High School Project, jointly supported by the Iowa Department of Education and the International Center for the Leadership in Education (ICLE), has been a unique opportunity for Iowa high schools to access support to assist in high school reform efforts. Fifty-seven (57) Iowa high schools voluntarily applied to participate in a three-year support process over the past five years. Schools entered the project in staggered cadres. Participants focused on growing their respective improvement and reform efforts with a concentration on struggling learners within the rigor and relevance framework. Findings from the ICLE suggest that a directed focus on struggling learners have a far-reaching positive impact on the overall effectiveness to improve teaching and learning in high schools.

Participant schools in the Iowa High School Project are representative of our state, including urban, suburban, small city, and rural sites. Participant schools demonstrate sound initial efforts and the potential to substantially expand and grow positive reform to all learners in their respective settings. Supports to selected schools included, but were not limited to the following: membership in the Successful Practices Network (SPN), web- based supports, national consultation assistance, print and on-line resources, regional trainings, team attendance at a Model Schools Conference, participation in ICLE research efforts, and ongoing customized supports to meet the unique needs of the individual building sites.

Support from the Iowa Area Education Agencies (AEAs) was integral in the ongoing success of the project. Project efforts blended resource expertise from the Department of Education, the ICLE, the SPN, and Iowa’s AEAs to meet the ongoing needs of the identified schools in the project. AEAs assisted schools in the project with consultation, support and expertise, while simultaneously participating as members of the learning communities in the participating sites.

 

Iowa's Rapidly Improving Schools (IRIS)

Following extensive awareness building, it became increasingly evident that rapidly improving schools be identified as a resource for other Iowa high schools. The multi-year IRIS effort will focus on continuing high school reform and reinvention work. The six project targets (Learning Criteria, Professional Development, Struggling Learners, Iowa Core, Characteristics of Effective Instruction, and Systems Approaches) will serve as the beacon for on-going work.

In fall 2009, the Iowa Department of Education identified ten Iowa high schools, from a voluntary applicant pool, as sites that have demonstrated successes in more than one of the target areas - with a specific focus on improving the achievement of struggling learners (those students with IEPs and others who are not experiencing success in school). Leadership teams will work collaboratively with project consultants, and other participant schools, to continue their commitment to improving the achievement of all struggling learners.

Identified IRIS project sites are:
West Delaware High School, Manchester (Keystone AEA 1)
Sumner-Fredericksburg High School, Sumner (AEA 267)
Union High School, La Porte City (AEA 267)
Manson NW Webster High School, Manson (Prairie Lakes AEA 8)
Central High School, DE Witt (Mississippi Bend AEA 9)
Davenport North High School, Davenport (Mississippi Bend AEA 9)
Bellevue High School, Bellevue (Mississippi Bend AEA 9)
Muscatine High School, Muscatine (Mississippi Bend AEA 9)
AHST High School, Avoca (Loess Hills AEA 13)
West Sioux High School, Hawarden (Northwest AEA)


Identified IRIS sites will commit to:

  • Work from a clear and specific focus on improving the success of struggling learners
  • Use the Learning Criteria to frame data collection ongoing school improvement efforts
  • Identify a leadership team to attend regional workshops and share efforts with others
  • Link efforts to the Iowa Core
  • Frame professional development focused on the improvement of instruction
  • Use a systems approach to establish and maintain a culture and climate that supports the learning for each and every student.

Questions pertaining to the IRIS initiative may be directed to Mark Draper, Loess Hills AEA 13, at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or Warren Weber at the DE, at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

 

Iowa Core Curriculum

Research shows that high expectations are a critical ingredient in improving student performance and ensuring student success beyond high school. The Iowa Core Curriculum provides a guide to delivering challenging and meaningful content to students that prepares them for success in life.The Iowa Core Curriculum identifies essential concepts and skills for kindergarten through 12th grade in literacy, mathematics, science, social studies, and 21st century skills. It also includes direction for teachers regarding effective instruction and assessment. It takes learning to a deeper level by moving students beyond superficial knowledge to deep conceptual and procedural knowledge. It also enhances student engagement by emphasizing interesting, robust, and relevant learning experiences.


Documents

Rigor and Relevance in Iowa

 

Statewide Graduation Requirements and Eighth Grade Plan Requirements

 

High School Review Visits

icon High School Review Visits Summary - In the spring of 2005, the department director and state board members visited every district in the state to gain input from local school leaders about the current state of high schools and how well they are preparing students for success.

 

Community Involvement Resources
Several districts have hosted Community Conversations to gain citizen input about the need for high school improvements, and what those improvements should look like.

 

Additional Resources


Links

High Schools That Work

International Center for Leadership in Education

Learning Point Associates

National Clearinghouse for Comprehensive School Reform

National High School Alliance