The Transformation has already donated over $40 million to the dream of providing a better future to Ohio's students, with support from our Foundation, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Ohio and U.S. Departments of Education, and the Ford Foundation, in addition to local community-based foundations.
The Transformation was designed to respond to a lack of engagement, low achievement, and low graduation rates in our state's urban high schools. The statistics reveal the problem: Only 7 in 10 Ohio high school students graduate; only 5 in 10 enroll in college or other postsecondary institutions; and less than 3 in 10 complete a bachelor's degree within 10 years.
As of 2007 KnowledgeWorks Foundation supports 44 small high schools on what were once 15 large, low-performing urban campuses. These smaller schools help struggling students by raising graduation and achievement rates, according to more than 30 years of research. Small schools in other states have successfully improved student performance, reduced violence, and increased student graduation rates.
Hear how students in Ohio have been impacted by small schools.
KnowledgeWorks Foundation believes that champions of change for school reform exist in every area of society-from policy makers to business leaders to communities. Find out how you can Become a Champion of Change for Ohio's high schools.
Imagine walking into an inner city high school classroom and watching every student's hand fly up when you ask the question, "Are you planning on attending college?"
Our Foundation imagined just this, and in 2004 our dream came true when 58 new small high schools opened as part of the Ohio High School Transformation Initiative. The Transformation is turning Ohio's large, struggling, urban high schools into smaller, successful high schools where students receive personal attention, and study academically relevant and rigorous material that inspires them to achieve.
In 2002, 55% of African American and Hispanic high school students in public schools graduated, compared to 83% of Caucasians.
Creating the Future of Learning KnowledgeWorks Foundation released the 2020 Forecast: Creating the Future of Learning, a provocative look at how education is likely to be affected and how each of us may be called on to respond. We asked one of the forecast’s creators to share a few key insights into what lies ahead.
2020 Forecast: Creating the Future of Learning As we move from a culture of participation to one of creation, students need to be able to learn to adapt quickly and frequently to be successful in tomorrow's economy. Join us as we work to transform education in the U.S. from a world of schooling to a world of learning.
How Early College changed the way I think about the world At a time when most Ohio high school seniors are receiving offers to attend colleges in the fall, Toledo high school senior Lauren Merrell is finishing up high school – and her sophomore year of college. As a reminder of what these schools are accomplishing, we asked Lauren to share her experience at an early college high school.
Interview Explaining the 2020 Forecast Chad Wick and Andrea Saveri spoke with Steve Hargadon about the new 2020 Forecast as part of the Future of Education Interview Series. A full recording and audio recording are available.
Stories from 5 Innovative High Schools The stories reveal the missteps, lessons learned and successful strategies of transforming large underperforming high schools into small personalized schools and pioneering schools that blend high school and college.
