Principles of Youth Development A High School of the Millennium recognizes the needs, beyond the academic needs, of high school-aged youth and embraces a youth development approach to create engaging learning opportunities and to help prepare youth for lifelong learning, civic involvement, leadership, and careers and engage young people in learning, work, and service throughout their community. High Schools of the Millennium surround youth with caring and competent adults to help them navigate not only the challenges of high school and preparation for college and further learning, but also the stages of adolescence. Teaching and Learning Learning occurs in a wide variety of settings and contexts, in teams and independently. Students have many opportunities to engage in authentic learning, which involves them in the creation of knowledge, disciplined inquiry, and engagement in real-world issues. The general and vocational tracks do not exist, and all students are expected to pursue a course of studies that leads to high academic achievement with the goal of postsecondary education leading to careers.
All students have the opportunity to experience learning in the community.
Teachers are highly competent, have access to on-going professional development, externships in the community, and are given authority for determining the curriculum. Principals provide instructional leadership for the high school. New Forms of Assessment Assessments are used on an ongoing-basis to determine how well students are learning the coursework and to provide information to teachers about how to alter or modify their practice to better meet their students needs. High Schools of the Millennium use multiple assessments for demonstrating learning in recognition that no one test can truly measure a student s knowledge, understanding, and skills. Structure and Organization A High School of the Millennium is designed to provide small, personalized, and caring learning communities for students, with a clear focus on a career, academic, or thematic topic.