Deeper Learning Resources

Access to deeper learning is essential in a knowledge-based economy, but most schools, especially those serving low-income students and students of color, still focus on routine lower-level skills. The inequalities are so deep-seated that clearing a path to deeper learning for marginalized young people has required—and continues to require—considerable engagement in civil rights litigation, enforcement, and advocacy, as well as education reform.

The U.S. Department of Education virtual Professional Learning Series takes an in-depth look at how community schools can transform student learning and outcomes. The series examines programs from across the country, explores ways that community school approaches can further whole child learning, and digs into the ways that pandemic federal relief funding (including American Rescue Plan funds) have been used to support community schools.

An overview of the 10 features needed to transform high school from the factory model to one supporting whole child learning, featuring examples from California schools.

Relationship-centered high school redesign fosters academic growth, emotional development, and student well-being. Experts discuss practical approaches to transform your educational setting in this insightful webinar.

Effective schools foster identity-safe environments where all students feel included. Experts discuss designing instructional strategies that celebrate diverse identities using culturally responsive practices and Universal Design for Learning as interrelated frameworks.

How high schools feature engaging, authentic curriculum and performance-based assessments can motivate and foster deeper learning. Schools that have designed curriculum and assessment connected to authentic inquiry were featured and educators discussed the structures and feedback they offer to support learners.

This series explores successful high school redesign efforts that move beyond outdated, factory-style education models. They will discuss key features of a whole child education framework that better prepare students for today's global workforce, featuring experts and practitioners leading research-based transformation efforts.

How redesigned schools strengthen participation and learning through systems and structures that center student voice and family engagement. Experts discussed their experiences in building systems, structures, and environments that nurture the inclusion of students and families in decision-making and leadership roles.

How redesigned high schools enable teachers to develop powerful, coherent practices through collaborative professional learning. Speakers discussed how redesigned high schools invest in preparing and supporting their teachers by providing opportunities for them to create a coherent set of practices and develop expertise.

In this session, community schools in neighborhoods experiencing rapid demographic changes and high concentrations of poverty will share how they redesigned the high school experience to be student-centered, asset-based, and culturally responsive.