Publications

Resources to support and inform all stages of the school design journey.

How Students Thrive
Positive Youth Development in Practice
Positive youth development is the foundation of any good school model and the backbone of our school design process. In this guide, we introduce the five key tenets of positive…

Positive youth development is the foundation of any good school model and the backbone of our school design process. In this guide, we introduce the five key tenets of positive youth development: caring, trusting, and supportive relationships; high expectations; opportunities to contribute; engaging learning experiences; and consistency. The publication features student voices and offers resources for assessing how well a school has embedded these principles into their school environment and outlines actionable suggestions for building these tenets into the school’s culture.
Learning from Great Practice
Schools to Visit in 2018
A practical resource for those interested in innovative and effective school practices, this list is organized by region and includes information on each school’s model, a brief overview of key…

A practical resource for those interested in innovative and effective school practices, this list is organized by region and includes information on each school’s model, a brief overview of key model elements, contact information, and links for more information. While not exhaustive, this directory can serve as a good starting point for educators as they determine the types of practices they want to see in action and explore further.
Inside Mastery Based High Schools
Profiles and Conversations
This collection of case studies from innovative, mastery-based schools across the country is based on interviews with practitioners and includes a robust set of sample resources from each school. The…

This collection of case studies from innovative, mastery-based schools across the country is based on interviews with practitioners and includes a robust set of sample resources from each school. The learnings and tools featured are useful for any practitioner interested in understanding more about mastery-based learning and how it can be effectively implemented to drive learning outcomes and cultivate student agency.
Promising and Effective Practices and Student-Centered Scheduling
Learnings from NYC Transfer Schools
A practical guide to an essential aspect of school design, this publication is based on real learnings and successes from across New York City’s alternative and transfer high schools, which…

A practical guide to an essential aspect of school design, this publication is based on real learnings and successes from across New York City’s alternative and transfer high schools, which serve over-age and under-credited students. It is centered around four key areas of student-centered programming and scheduling to meet student needs: creating versatile course pathways to graduation, dedicating necessary time and staff to complete individualized scheduling, providing nontraditional routes for students to earn credits, and creating a cohesive culture for students and staff.
The XQ Expert Series on School Mission & Culture
All great schools are mission-driven
Featuring our founding ED, JoEllen Lynch, this is Expert Q&A focuses school mission and culture. JoEllen and fellow panelists discuss best practices and challenges of articulating a school’s shared goals…

Featuring our founding ED, JoEllen Lynch, this is Expert Q&A focuses school mission and culture. JoEllen and fellow panelists discuss best practices and challenges of articulating a school’s shared goals and values, and how to create a student-centered culture that all stakeholders can rally around.
Youth Development and School Design Video
A conversation with Sabrina Evans Ellis and Michele Cahill
Michele Cahill speaks with Sabrina Evans Ellis (Youth Development Institute) about youth development and its impact on school design. Cahill discusses her wide-ranging experience in designing schools with youth development…

Michele Cahill speaks with Sabrina Evans Ellis (Youth Development Institute) about youth development and its impact on school design. Cahill discusses her wide-ranging experience in designing schools with youth development principles in mind, and ways in which youth development research can support student success in high school, college, and career.
Strategic Approaches to Growing Schools
A Reference Guide for School Design Teams
Developed in partnership with reDesign, this reference guide focuses on the unique opportunities and challenges of growing a school model, grade by grade. It offers a set of strategies to…

Developed in partnership with reDesign, this reference guide focuses on the unique opportunities and challenges of growing a school model, grade by grade. It offers a set of strategies to optimize the success of a school’s growth strategy in order to turn both challenges and opportunities into realized strengths. Practitioner spotlights and links to additional resources help guide readers as they delve deeper into school design and growth.

Blog

The news, research, ideas, and opinions from across the Springpoint ecosystem.

Featured Post

Five Lessons from a School Design Leader

At Springpoint, we are fortunate to work with a variety of dedicated and experienced practitioners to support their work to reimagine high school. The Barr Foundation’s Engage New England initiative, which invests in the design and launch of new school models for students who are off-track toward graduation, recently welcomed its…

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Partner Spotlight: Phoenix Academy Tackles the Build Phase Alongside Student Designers

We're excited to feature Phoenix Charter Academy in a partner spotlight this month. We spoke with Liz Murray, the Chief Academic Officer at Phoenix who has helped lead a robust, student-centered design process that will continue into the Build phase. Read on to see how Phoenix mindfully cultivates student and stakeholder voice, communicates the essentials of their new model development with the community, and will build structures and systems to address insights surfaced in the Understand phase.

Using Positive Youth Development in My Social Justice Class

As a founding teacher at Rhodes College and Career Academy, I have a lot of leeway for innovation in my social justice class. My colleagues and I get to flex our creative muscles in service of providing interesting and engaging experiences for students.

Partner Spotlight: Student Voice in Boston Day and Evening Academy’s Design Process

We sat down with Alison Hramiec, BDEA Head of School, to talk about authentic ways that school design teams can incorporate student voice into their design process. She discussed the why, what, and how behind this important practice. Read on for an inside look at how her school design team practices the student-centered mantra they were founded upon.

How Do Teachers Use Positive Youth Development to Personalize Learning?

Springpoint's Xochitl Garcia leads a conversation with three teachers on a recent iNACOL webinar to unearth tips and practices for using positive youth development to personalize learning.

Learning from Great Practice: Schools to Visit in 2018

We've released an updated 2018 Schools to Visit guide. While not exhaustive, this list can serve as a good starting point for practitioners as they determine the types of innovative practices they want to explore. This list has been sourced through our work taking educators to see great teaching and learning across the country, as well as recommendations from our partners and collaborators.

Partner Spotlight: A School Design Journey in Maine Leads to Aligned Milestones

Since June 2017, a design team from Noble High School has been working closely with Springpoint on a thoughtful and deliberate design process, starting with a thorough Understand phase to get a sense of students' assets, needs, and aspirations. The design team conducted focus groups, surveys, and other research activities to generate a composite student portrait, which has served as a foundational document, guiding designers as they create a set of experiences that will support students to graduation and beyond.

Learning from Innovative Schools: My Bay Area School Learning Tour Experience

In November, I learned that I would be going on a school learning tour in the Bay Area the following month led by Springpoint. I was excited by the opportunity and eager to see the school sites' community and culture building practices through the eyes of its students.

Map Academy’s School Design Process: Moving from Understand to Design

Map Academy is a new charter school in Plymouth, Massachusetts slated to open in September 2018 to serve students who have had trouble connecting, engaging, and attending school. The school's vision is to be a haven for disconnected and underserved students, and to empower them toward high school graduation and beyond.

2017 by the Numbers: Reflecting on our Work

As 2017 comes to a close, we're reflecting on a challenging year, one that has been filled with meaningful work and a profound sense of purpose.

Understand Phase Reflections: How Design Teams Engage in the School Design Process

This summer, nine Engage New England (ENE) partners embarked on a year-long design process, supported by Springpoint. Teams dove into the Understand phase with enthusiasm, engaging with and collecting data from students and the community. As ENE partners look ahead to the Design phase, they have reflected on lessons learned during the Understand phase that can lead the way. We've captured reflections here from some partners in an effort to drive deeper network collaboration and share learnings.
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