Six Schools Receive EL Education Credential

NEW YORK, Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- EL Education, a leading K-12 non-profit organization, has announced that six schools from across its national network have received the EL Education Credential, a recognition of mastery in three dimensions of student achievement. Thirty-three of the 150 schools in the EL Education network have now met all the credentialing requirements.

"The EL Education Credential marks a milestone on each school's journey to put character and quality work side-by-side with mastery of knowledge and skills," said Mark Conrad, Chief Schools Officer at EL Education. "Now more than ever, our country needs models of schools that fuse academics and character, building an ethic of service as well as grit and tenacity. Now more than ever, we need the example set by EL Education Credentialed schools."  

The six schools that received an EL Education Credential at the organization's 25th anniversary National Conference in October include district and charter schools from urban and rural locations:

• Open World Learning Community, St Paul, MN - Dave Gundale, Principal
• Downtown Denver Expeditionary School, Denver, CO - Letia Frandina, Executive Director; Erin Sciscione, Principal
• Presumpscot Elementary School, Portland, ME - Cynthia Loring, Principal
• Four Rivers Public Charter School, Greenfield, MA - Peter Garbus, Principal
• Marathon Venture Academy, Marathon City, WI - Sarah Budny, Principal
• Fox Creek Elementary School, Highlands Ranch, CO - Brian Rodda, Principal

Redefining how performance is measured in K-12 education, EL Education in 2014 began recognizing schools that demonstrated high levels of implementation and achievement with a credential. EL Education defines achievement as mastery in three areas, all of which are powerfully associated with success in college and career:

• Mastery of Knowledge and Skills. Students show evidence of proficiency and deep understanding of a subject, critical thinking, the ability to communicate clearly, and application of their learning. Performance on state assessments over a period of several years is one measure.
• Character. EL Education schools establish consistent school-wide "Habits of Scholarship" (such as perseverance and responsibility), which are then tracked by students and teachers to provide evidence of growth over time.
• High-Quality Student Work. Schools present evidence showing how the quality, depth, and authenticity of student work has improved during the school's multi-year partnership with EL Education.

The six schools join 27 schools with the EL Education Credential:

1. Anser Charter School -  Boise, ID
2. Arbor-Vitae Woodruff School - Arbor Vitae, WI
3. Capital City Public Charter School - Washington, D.C.
4. Casco Bay High School - Portland, ME
5. Clairemont Elementary School - Decatur, GA
6. Codman Academy Charter Public School - Dorchester, MA
7. Entheos Academy-Kearns - Kearns, UT
8. Evergreen Community Charter School - Asheville, NC
9. Genesee Community Charter School - Rochester, NY
10. Grass Valley Charter School - Grass Valley, CA
11. The Greene School - West Greenwich, RI
12. Harborside Academy - Kenosha, WI
13. Kettle Falls Elementary School - Kettle Falls, WA
14. King Middle School - Portland, ME
15. Leaders High School in Brooklyn, NY
16. MAELS - Staten Island, NY
17. MELS - Queens, NY
18. Oakhurst Elementary School - Decatur, Georgia
19. Odyssey School of Denver - Denver, CO
20. Pocatello Community Charter School - Pocatello, CA
21. Polaris Charter Academy - Chicago, IL
22. Rimrock Expeditionary Alternative Learning Middle School - Bend, Oregon
23. Sierra Expeditionary Learning School - Truckee, CA
24. Springfield Renaissance School - Springfield, MA
25. Tapestry Charter School - Buffalo, NY
26. Two Rivers Public Charter School - Washington, D.C.
27. William Smith High School - Aurora, Colorado

About EL Education
EL Education (formerly Expeditionary Learning) creates great public schools where they are needed most, inspiring teachers and students to achieve more than they thought possible.

Created over 25 years ago through the collaboration of the Harvard Graduate School of Education and Outward Bound, EL Education's research-based approach challenges and empowers teachers and students. The model focuses on ensuring that all students master rigorous content, develop positive character, and produce high-quality work. 

EL Education transforms classrooms in thousands of schools and districts across the country through a unique combination of challenge and joy in learning. Students' impressive results encompass high academic achievement and college readiness, pride in the mastery of complex, authentic work, and a passion and capacity to contribute to a better world.

EL Education works with all kinds of public schools: district and charter, from pre-K through 12th grade, serving populations that reflect the diversity of our country. It creates powerful resources--including its open-access literacy curriculum--provides masterful coaching and professional development, and shares a portfolio of award-winning, educator-developed materials. One reason for its success: its work is informed by decades of learning in its national network of over 150 high-achieving public schools.  For more information, visit www.ELeducation.org.

SOURCE EL Education

Related Links

http://www.ELeducation.org