Beyond Bubbles

A CES Big Idea by Matt Underwood As we enter into the final 8 weeks of the school year, there are several ways we are assessing student learning, in particular how students have grown over the course of the first 75 percent of the school year in what they know and can do. One way is, of course, state standardized tests—in Georgia, the Milestones Assessment System.  These tests—mainly multiple choice “bubble tests,” with just a handful of “constructed response” questions—provide one perspective on student learning. At Atlanta Neighborhood Charter School, we supplement what we can glean from standardized tests with
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CES Individual Affiliate Program

To the greatest extent possible, we urge schools and organizations to join CES so that we can demonstrate strength in the amount and variety of CES affiliates. If you’re a member of a school community or supportive organization, please talk with your colleagues to explore affiliating with CES. Need help? Let us know! We do realize that there may be cases when that’s not possible. We also know that there are those of you who want to affiliate with CES but aren’t currently part of a school or an organization that can join us. To make our network as inclusive as possible,
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CES Affiliation Open!

The Coalition of Essential Schools (CES) invites schools and organizations engaged in building student-centered, democratic classrooms to “raise their hands” and be listed in our national directory of affiliates. Now is the time to demonstrate that schools and organizations across the country are showing results through personalized, equitable, and academically vibrant teaching and learning. → Click here to join CES as a school! → Click here to join CES as an organization! → I’m just one person. How do I join? Click here to learn more about individual affiliation. Schools and organizations that join us now to take advantage of Fall Forum discounts,
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Unanxious Expectations for Life

A CES Big Idea by Kayla Reeves The Francis W. Parker Charter Essential School and the Ten Common Principles have no doubt shaped me as a life-long learner and citizen in the world. So much so, in fact, that I have found it incredibly daunting to sit down and reflect. There are so many ways that my identity has been profoundly impacted by the six years I spent at Parker as a student and the three years I have served as a Trustee. Attempting to put it into words is to risk not doing it justice. I think back fondly on
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Happy Birthday, Debbie!

We are delighted to wish CES founder Deborah Meier a very happy birthday! Among her many accomplishments, Debbie helped found the Coalition of Essential Schools and currently serves on the CES executive board. At the Coalition schools that she founded and led, Meier helped foster democratic community, giving teachers greater autonomy in the running of a school, giving parents a voice in what happens to their children in schools, and promoting intergenerational connections. She has always been a proponent of active, project-based learning, and of graduation through a series of exhibitions of high quality work. Debbie is the author of many
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Fall Forum and Affiliation: now live!

On Monday, April 4, we opened up registration for Fall Forum 2016, which will take place on December 2-3 in Providence, Rhode Island. We also opened CES affiliation for the 2016-2017 year. Though the new affiliation year starts July 1, we opened up the process now in anticipation of new schools and organizations coming on board for the Year of Demonstration. In the coming days and weeks, we’ll post more about how we’ve changed affiliation this year in order to expand and deepen networking among CES schools and organizations. We’ll also share Fall Forum info as we add details to
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