As part of its continuing effort to identify and learn from high-performing middle
schools, the National Forum, in collaboration with NMSA, NAESP, NASSP, and NSDC, launched its Schools to Watch® State Program in 2002. Through this program, the Forum has trained teams of education leaders to implement Schools to Watch programs in their states.
Through the state Schools to Watch® initiative, schools are identified across the United States that are well on their way to meeting the criteria for high performance. Three things are true of STW, high-performing middle-grades schools:
- They are academically excellent—these schools challenge all students to use their minds well.
- They are developmentally responsive—these schools are sensitive to the unique developmental challenges of early adolescence.
- They are socially equitable—these schools are democratic and fair, providing every student with high-quality teachers, resources, and supports.
To achieve this level of performance, high-performing schools establish norms, structures, and organizational arrangements to support and sustain their trajectory toward excellence. They have a sense of purpose that drives every facet of practice and decision-making.
Each year the National Forum invites state middle-grades associations, state departments of education, post-secondary institutions, and other collaborating organizations to join in expanding the STW program through a state application process. States have the opportunity to participate in a unique professional learning opportunity and identify middle-grades schools that are on a solid upward trajectory.
Current STW states include: Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Utah and Virginia.
Over 180 schools have been identified through 2009.
States that Joined in 2009
The National Forum is pleased to announce Indiana has been added as the 18th Schools to Watch® state for 2009. Read the press release.
Schools selected in 2009
Seventy-nine exemplary middle-grades schools have been named “Schools to Watch” as part of an eighteen state recognition and school improvement program developed by the National Forum to Accelerate Middle-Grades Reform. Having established partnerships with education leaders in these states, the Forum today announced the names of schools in each state that meet its strict criteria. Read the Press Release.