America’s Best Chance is a program that addresses every aspect of the school experience, from the material taught in the classroom to what is served in the cafeteria.
All academic and non-academic areas are clearly defined, including budgets, curriculum, standards, assessment, accountability, expectations, governance, school culture, teacher quality and training, technology, counseling and guidance, length of the school day, class size, nutrition, discipline, child safety, community involvement, and parent, student, and teacher partnerships.
To develop this revolutionary course of action, we thoroughly researched, analyzed and integrated a broad spectrum of data. Sources include the U.S. Department of Education, the highest ranking domestic and international school systems, research conducted by colleges and universities, social and psychological research, journals and publications, research conducted by nonprofit organizations and private foundations, and extensive feedback from educators and educational leaders.
No stone was left unturned. America’s Best Chance is not a consequence of a guessing game, politically motivated, or a product of preconceived notions or opinions. Every single thing in it is backed by extensive evidence to justify its inclusion.
America’s Best Chance delivers an open learning curriculum that brings success for all children, regardless of their future goals. Students are challenged to think creatively and to use higher order thinking and critical analytical skills. The curriculum offers a combination of theoretical and practical learning opportunities, and promotes integrated knowledge, enhances communication skills, and encourages self-management and personal development. The goal is for students to go beyond the acquisition of knowledge to problem solving and application, as well as to become life-long learners and contributing citizens.
A key element of America’s Best Chance is the students’ ability to choose their educational path according to their abilities and interests. In 9th grade, students will choose either a vocational or academic track. The academic track provides a cohesive curriculum designed to expand knowledge and capabilities. Students can earn higher learning credit for core coursework through partnerships with junior colleges, universities and technical institutes.
The vocational track is a dual-track approach, which combines applied training with classroom instruction. This program offers students the practical experience and real-world knowledge necessary to succeed in the 21st century global economy and includes pre-apprenticeship training courses; a modular system of workplace apprenticeships; and a well-defined transition straight from the program to community or technical colleges.
There is a strong element of mentorship along this path. America’s Best Chance partners with employer organizations in the community that commit their time and resources to help our kids succeed (and, in turn, they assure themselves a continually qualified workforce). These heroes provide apprenticeships and internships and facilitate field trips and job shadowing, among many other work-based learning opportunities. This is one of the coolest parts of America’s Best Chance. Our hope is that thousands of American companies will be involved with this program.
To help facilitate the transition to America’s Best Chance, highly trained teams are available for as long as they are needed. The transition teams collaborate with each individual school to create a framework of shared beliefs, customs, and behaviors.
Although the core of America’s Best Chance follows a standard model based on exhaustive research, certain elements of the program remain flexible to retain school autonomy. It’s imperative that the changes implemented are appropriately linked to each school’s unique culture. Schools and educators retain a certain amount of sovereignty regarding curriculum and standards, and teachers and staff are encouraged to systematically evaluate both.
