Welcome!
High Schools That Work (HSTW)
HSTW is an effort-based school improvement initiative founded on the conviction that most students can master rigorous academic and career/technical studies if school leaders and teachers create an environment that motivates students to make the effort to succeed. HSTW is the nation's first large-scale effort to engage state, district and school leaders in partnerships with teachers, students, parents and the community to raise student achievement in high school and the middle grades. It is based on the simple belief that most students become "smarter" through effort and hard work. The HSTW brochure, High Schools that Work: An Enhanced Design to Get All Students to Standards, details the essential elements and other components of the framework.
Making Middle Grades Work (MMGW)
MMGW is a network of schools, districts and states committed to improving school and classroom practices in the middle grades by implementing a framework of Key Practices and conditions for continuous improvement. The MMGW brochure, Making Middle Grades Work: An Enhanced Design to Prepare All Middle Grades Students for Success in High School, details the essential elements and other components of the framework.
The Best Practices Newsletters
High Schools That Work has developed a series of on-line newsletters describing the best practices presented at the annual Summer Staff Development Conference attended by more than 8,000 educators each year. These newsletters contain information about successful actions schools across the nation are taking to implement the Key Practices of High Schools That Work, Making Middle Grades Work, and Technology Centers That Work.
Access Online Best Practices Newsletters.
HSTW Potential Funding
Schools/districts support the implementation of the High Schools That Work framework through a variety of sources. Potential funding sources are highlighted in the information download Potential Funding Sources to Become a HSTW School Site (Word).
Schools can also learn of federal funding opportunities by tracking current grants at ED.gov.
HSTW Information Downloads
- Orientation to HSTW (PDF of the PowerPoint)
- Instructional Review Directions (PDF)
- Developing a School Improvement Plan (PDF of the PowerPoint)
- New HSTW Site-Planning Workbook (PDF)