The National League of Cities’ Institute for Youth, Education, & Families (NLC) supports municipal leaders and their education advisors in building capacity to address educational issues, including through sharing of best practices and direct technical assistance around alternative high school pathways.

Originally co-convener of AHSI, along with Big Picture Learning, NLC facilitated efforts around policy and policy development, particularly by shaping and disseminating the AHSI Policy Framework. This framework provided the basis for NLC’s work to help create and support three Place-Based Partnership pilot sites in Indianapolis, Nashville, and Newark.

NLC continues to champion AHSI’s work through its role as a liaison to municipal leaders by helping to build linkages and relationships between the AHSI organizations and their local elected officials and municipal agencies. Additionally, NLC provides guidance in the development of city-level strategies and policies to improve high school education for all students.

For more information and access to relevant tools and resources about High School Reform please click here.

For more information, or access to tools and resources in connection with NLC’s complementary expertise in municipal leadership for afterschool programming, K-12 school improvement, and postsecondary attainment, please click here.

Tools & Resources

AHSI Policy Database
NLC has launched a searchable online database containing examples of policies that can facilitate the growth of high-quality alternatives for high school. The database houses materials such as pieces of legislation, fact sheets, research studies, and other helpful documents that will help city leaders make the case for local, state and federal policy and funding changes to expand alternatives and options for students who struggle in traditional high school settings.

Expanding Options: City Roles in Creating High School Alternatives for Struggling Students (2010)
This report draws upon lessons learned from a project funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in which five cities - Corpus Christi, Texas; Hartford, Conn.; Phoenix, Ariz.; San Antonio, Texas; and San Jose, Calif. - increased the choices available to students who struggle in traditional high school settings or are at risk for dropping out.

Setting the Stage for New High Schools: Municipal Leadership in Supporting High School Alternatives (2007)
This report outlines seven key policy conditions that facilitate the expansion of alternatives and options for dropouts and other students who struggle in traditional high school settings, as well as promising collaborations among mayors, school district officials, and alternative high schools program innovators.

Contact Information

Marjorie Cohen, Senior Associate, Education
cohen@nlc.org
202.626.3052