School Design — Edison Schools

District Partnership School Design

The Edison School Design seeks to complement the best aspects of what your district is already providing your school community. To this, we add the collective results of million spent on research and development and 10+ years of school management experience.

SCHOOLS ORGANIZED FOR EVERY STUDENT'S SUCCESS

Each district partnership school is organized into small, flexible schools-within-a-school, called academies. The students are then grouped into houses of approximately 100 students. Each house is taught by a team of four to six teachers who stays with the same group of students for the duration of their academy experience. This organization ensures that students are better known and more closely guided by adults. To learn more click here.

A RICH AND CHALLENGING CURRICULUM

Edison district partners use an absorbing curriculum that is built on classic liberal arts traditions but fully integrates the demands of the 21st century. Students participate in a program that focuses on the essential academic disciplines as well as enjoying an enriching program of fine arts, world language, health and fitness, and an emphasis on practical skills from technology to teamwork that are crucial to success in the workplace. Click here for more about the curriculum.

TEACHING METHODS THAT MOTIVATE

Teachers have the support of a variety of instructional programs, pedagogical methods, and intentional professional development. Edison provides teachers not only with the tools to teach, but also with the tools that help students to learn. This applies to all students, including those requiring special education services or learning English as a second language (ELL). A policy of responsible inclusion governs the education of students who have special needs. Students who have limited English proﬁciency are offered ELL or bilingual programs, depending on community preference and needs.

ASSESSMENT THAT PROVIDES REAL ACCOUNTABILITY

Students in Edison district partnership schools take all assessments mandated by the states and school districts in which they operate. Edison is strictly accountable for student performance on these assessments. In addition, students in district partnership schools use the Edison Benchmark Assessment system which was specifically designed to measure monthly progress toward end-of-year-standards. Click here to learn more about the Benchmarks and assessment at district partnership schools.

A PARTNERSHIP WITH FAMILIES

Edison is committed to keeping families engaged in their children’s education, both at school and in the home. We encourage district partnership schools to provide a variety of opportunities for parents to get involved in their children’s school.

Volunteerism is encouraged and desired at every level of school operations. Edison’s comprehensive program brings parents to school the old-fashioned way—to see and hear their children perform, exhibit their artwork, participate in science fairs, or compete in athletics.

A Family and Student Support Team (FASST), a system that builds on a model developed at Johns Hopkins University, works with those families whose problems may be interfering with learning. Family members also have a role in shaping parts of the school’s program and practices through participation in the school’s Parent Advisory Council.

For more on family involvement, click here, and to hear what Edison parents have to say about their schools, click here.

A PROFESSIONAL ENVIRONMENT FOR TEACHERS

Edison provides teachers with the career development, resources, and opportunities that talented professionals deserve. Teachers and administrators at district partnership schools typically receive intensive training and professional development, and have the opportunity to attend regional and national curriculum and leadership conferences throughout the year.

TECHNOLOGY FOR AN INFORMATION AGE

In Edison district partnership schools, technology is integrated with the education program and used to facilitate instruction, assessment, productivity, communication, professional development, and management, as it is used in the real world. To support this integration, students, teachers, and administrators have easy access to computers and other technologies.

Every teacher typically receives his or her own laptop computer. Members of each school community and of the entire Edison community are electronically connected via The Common, Edison’s systemwide intranet and information system. Dedicated staff supports the technology program and the advanced technological infrastructure.

A BETTER USE OF TIME

Many Edison partnership schools provide a longer school day, but all Edison partnership schools offer more time for the basics (for example, 90 minutes on reading and 60 minutes on math in K–5 schools); more time for small group and individualized instruction, more time for enrichment; more time for hands-on experiences such as science experiments; and more time for the arts, world language (which all students take beginning in kindergarten), and other “specials” that often get squeezed out of the traditional school schedule. Instructors benefit from more time for professional development and collaboration.

SCHOOLS TAILORED TO THE COMMUNITY

Edison partnership schools are truly community schools, building close and collaborative relationships with students’ families and with community organizations, groups, and institutions. As a result students regularly participate in community service programs and perform at community events.

Edison's curriculum is also sensitive to the needs of different communities, in accordance with historic, geographic, and population diversity.

THE ADVANTAGES OF SYSTEM AND SCALE

Edison partnership schools make up a national network that allows individual schools to take advantage of 10+ years of school management experience and more than $675 million spent in research and development. This combination of experience, energy, and resources have allowed Edison to produce effective school programs, professional development supports, and achievement systems, including the Benchmark Assessment System, proven to help our partner schools raise achievement.

Our regional, national, and leadership conferences, along with our electronic information network, The Common, allow administrators, teachers, families, and students to share valuable information and best practices with one other.

Edison’s systems help support every aspect of school operations, from curriculum and assessment to technology and business services. Edison provides this support efficiently, utilizing information systems, highly trained regional support staff, and economies of scale.

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