Dr. Zimmerman and Ted Sizer are now working in collaboration with several other schools and organizations to investigate how college faculty, classroom teachers, and pre-service teachers might develop ways of using technology to learn and teach. The group has met twice and drafted a position paper. They will seek funding for this endeavor during the coming spring and summer. Located on Devens, a former military base, the school educates almost 300 students from 33 towns in Massachusetts. Class groups include a heterogeneous mix of 15 to 50 students whose ages span several years, and who work with one or two faculty members toward mastery of common standards.
Students progress by demonstrative performance rather than age.
The ability of the students to use the knowledge they have gained in a variety of situations is the ultimate goal. In pursuit of quality education, an advisory system is used to allow teachers to serve their students both academically and personally. To achieve this, Parker's design gives most teachers responsibility for fewer than 50 students. In addition, Parker relies on parents and others in the community to play an important role in mentoring students in their areas of expertise. Students at Parker serve the community in various ways.