AHSI History
Launched in 2003 with support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, AHSI was designed to respond to the nation’s growing trend of diminishing high school graduation rates. By increasing the number of alternative schools and improving programming of alternative schools while aligning policy and systems issues, AHSI has expedited the scaling-up of high quality school alternatives.
The original six AHSI member organizations began with a total of 29 existing schools in the first year of this initiative. Six years later, as of September 2009, AHSI comprises twelve organizations and has expanded tenfold, operating a total of 291 schools and programs in 35 states and 171 cities in the United States. Today, AHSI schools and programs are reaching nearly 41,000 students nationwide.
AHSI has achieved several important milestones since its inception, inspiring network members to seek a strategy for future sustainability. Network members have:
- cultivated a community of practice among organizations with highly regarded school models;
- identified and defined key characteristics which distinguish these practitioners from others;
- developed a cadre of municipal officials who are champions for AHSI;
- developed a list of policy conditions for attaining large-scale success;
- conducted annual performance reviews with members of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) and site visits during AHSI conferences as an accountability strategy for assessing outcomes;
- convened at least twice yearly for professional development activities;
- formed AHSI Place-based Partnerships with cities, school districts, colleges, and other local partners in Indianapolis, IN, Nashville, TN, and Newark, NJ;
- hosted workgroups featuring effective practices for high school to career and college transition, among others;
- developed “hybrid” school models by working together in some places; and
- generated a number of collective products, tools, and informational resources that have the potential to benefit wider audiences.
- Review and revise the draft AHSI Network 2 + 2 report
- Discuss dissemination of the 2 + 2 report within the Network and externally
- Address questions regarding the 2009 Gates Data Collection initiative
- Share processes and structures for using data internally for the Annual Review and within each organization’s network of schools
- Share processes and structures for reporting data externally to each organization’s audiences
- Prepare a report of the work group’s work and accomplishments with the convening participants
- Building a Culture of Numeracy/Combating Innumeracy
- Creating a Math/Quantitative Reasoning Resource Library
As of February 2010, the Association for High School Innovation was adopted as a new name when AHSI launched its new enterprise. Our timeline below highlights important events and milestones over the years.
June 2009
AHSI-CCSR Longitudinal Design Session
Chicago, IL
Attendees met to share designs, identify challenges they face with respect to conducting longitudinal work, and consider creating a collaborative design. Christopher Mazzeo, Associate Director for Policy and Outreach at the Consortium on Chicago School Research (CCSR) at University of Chicago presented the CCSR design and provided great questions and insights on the current designs at each organization. This session provided lots of ideas for next steps and future collaboration among all attendees.
May 2009
AHSI QR/Math – MINT Visit #2
Hosted in New York, NY. The second of two Mixed Intermediary Numeracy Team (MINT) visits took place at Harlem Renaissance, a Diploma Plus school in New York. This visit was part of the School Numeracy Enhancement Initiative (SNEI) and was in lieu of a Math/QR mini-convening.
The primary purpose of developing and utilizing mixed-intermediary numeracy teams is to improve numeracy in the lives of our students. By providing a personal opportunity for observation and conversations with specific focus around the guiding principles during these site visits, AHSI intermediary representatives were be able to give critical friends feedback to our hosts and help determine, by listening to the collective conversations, areas of support most needed in their school.
This visit was done in two steps, the first a MINT Support Team site visit on March 25th and the second a full MINT visit on May 27th. Documentation from both visits has been provided to easily reference similarities, differences, and cite evidence of intentional steps taken to demonstrate growth.
April 2009
AHSI Semi-Annual Convening
Gateway to College hosted in San Antonio, TX. The energizing staff of San Antonio College provided attendees with a thorough and well organized site visit. Time spent with students proved to be a highlight for many as they explored the Gateway to College model. The AHSI High School to Career & College Workgroup led a session called Cultivating a Culture of Student Readiness, Access and Transition Support Services. During this session attendees were able to gain a deeper understanding about the products and deliverables the workgroup has produced and learn more about future initiatives. View the related Resource Portfolio. The convening was brought to a close with updates from The AHSI Place Based Partnerships in Indianapolis, Nashville, and Newark, as well as a closing celebration with our partners and friends.
March 2009
AHSI Data Mini Convening
Hosted in San Antonio, TX.
At this mini convening work group members collaborated to:
February 2009
AHSI Principal Training & Support Mini Convening
Hosted in Denver, CO. The AHSI Principal Training & Support work group gathered to explore strategies for recruiting, hiring, developing, supporting and evaluating site leaders across the national AHSI network. Among the distinguished guests joining AHSI work group participants were Michael Johnston, Author and co-founder of New Leaders for New Schools, Deborah Meier, Author and founder of the Harlem Central Park East schools, Elliot Washor, researcher and co founder of Big Picture Learning and Michael Soguero, Director of the Eagle Rock Professional Development Center.
During the 2 ½ day convening, participants were challenged by a rock wall, analyzed the leadership competencies of President Obama, shared their best resources and ideas and explored the explicit and implicit attributes that define effective leadership in today’s innovative and alternative school settings. This event allowed the AHSI leadership professional learning community some rare face-to-face time to supplement their ongoing web-based and audio conferencing engagement. Work group members will re-convene by phone to debrief the event and to explore implications and next steps for further advancing work group desired results.
These desired results include increased capacity of AHSI organizations to identify, develop and support quality leaders in campuses across the national network and to develop a sustainable professional learning community among AHSI leaders.
February 2009
AHSI QR/Math – MINT Visit #1
Hosted in Denver, CO. The Math/Quantitative Reasoning (QR) Workgroup piloted a Mixed Intermediary Numeracy Team (MINT) site visit to Mapleton Early College, a Big Picture Learning school, in Denver, CO. This site visit occurred as part of the Math/QR Workgroup’s School Numeracy Enhancement Initiative (SNEI).
The primary purpose of developing and utilizing mixed-intermediary numeracy teams is to improve numeracy in the lives of our students. By providing a personal opportunity for observation and conversations with specific focus around the guiding principles during these site visits, AHSI intermediary representatives are able to give critical friends feedback to the hosts and help determine, by listening to the collective conversations, areas of support most needed in their school.
The MINT site visit offered AHSI intermediaries the valuable opportunity to consider issues related to successfully integrating math and quantitative reasoning learning and application in alternative educational environments. It also provided a unique model of peer-led school improvement.
January 2009
AHSI High School to Careers & College Mini Convening
The 2009 AHSI High School to Career & College Mini Convening was co-convened with the Big Picture Learning College Transition Counselor Retreat in Indianapolis, Indiana. The convening was energizing and informative, and provided an opportunity to share successes, discuss career and college services and move forward with specific workgroup initiatives. Once again this group noted how valuable and enriching it is to have a network of similar organizations working together to improve practice as we provide the best possible services for students and families.
The convening included a visit to the Indianapolis Metropolitan High School (Indy Met), a Big Picture Learning school now in its fifth year, and featured an in depth overview of the school’s programs and services. Additionally we were pleased to have Claire King, Associate Director of Indiana University’s Center for Research and P-16 Collaboration, provide a keynote presentation focusing on developing and cultivating partnerships between secondary schools, community-based organizations, networks such as AHSI, and institutions of higher education.
October 2008
AHSI Semi-Annual Convening
The Association for the Advancement of Mexican Americans (AAMA) hosted in Houston, TX. Convening attendees were energized by the perspectives of our AHSI Place-based Partnership leaders from Indianapolis, Nashville, and Newark; a thought-provoking keynote address from Dr. William Sedlacek about non-cognitive variables affecting students’ successful transition to postsecondary education; and outstanding presentations of programs and resources from across the network and beyond.
Inspiration was drawn from a highly interactive and well orchestrated visit to George I. Sanchez Charter High School; a visit from Mayor Bill White who affirmed the contributions of high quality alternative schools; and a presentation from Kazi whose powerful message about Life is an inspiring tribute that affirmed why we are committed to encouraging young people to fulfill their dreams.
Work Group leaders updated attendees on capacity building efforts; responses to the AHSI Network Survey and Work Group Surveys were recapped; and the group began considering implications and next steps to continue sharing and benefiting from the wealth of expertise and experience our colleagues have to offer.
April 2008
AHSI Semi-Annual Convening
Good Shepherd Services hosted in New York, NY. The convening opened with remarks from Marc Ecko of Marc Ecko Enterprises and an overview of New York City Department of Education’s Office of Multiple Pathways presented by CEO of Partnership Support Organizations JoEllen Lynch and Youth Development Institute Director Peter Kleinbard.
Attendees enjoyed learning about the variety of services and supports that Good Shepherd Services provides to students through the site visit to South Brooklyn Community High School, and were treated to a delicious lunch prepared by the school’s Cook 4 Life program. The discussion about the Multiple Pathways to Success continued with a student panel comprised of New York based students and alum from schools in the AHSI network, moderated by Sandra Escamilla of the Youth Development Institute.
Attendees identified services and supports that their organizations currently provide to students and explored the possibility of incorporating new services from throughout the network. Roundtable discussions were led around AHSI Policy work and AHSI Data work, and updates were shared in each of the capacity building areas.
February 2008
AHSI QR/Math Mini Convening
Hosted in San Diego, CA. The AHSI Math/Quantitative Reasoning Mini Convening provided attendees a great opportunity to learn more about each respective organization and the issues and challenges they all face with respect to Math/Quantitative Reasoning. The focus, energy, and willingness to fully engage in every task enabled the group to pull together a great deal of information into two key focus areas for future work:
The attached convening summary provides a recap of key issues and strategies shared and emerging from discussions; outlines proposed desired results and strategies synthesized from information shared; and suggests next steps for continuing collaborative work around the Math/Quantitative Reasoning topic.
February 2008
AHSI High School to College Transition Mini Convening
Hosted in San Diego, CA. The High School to College Mini Convening brought together AHSI Intermediary group practitioners to learn about each others’ work, to share best practices for supporting students as they prepare and transition from high school to college/career, and to identify opportunities for advancing each others’ work individually and collectively. On this day we focused on three primary areas: defining the topic, learning about strategies of the different AHSI Intermediaries, and identifying areas of intersection. For a detailed account of these areas, including outcomes and next steps, please download the convening summary.
February 2008
AHSI Principal Mini Convening
Hosted in San Diego, CA. This one and a half day mini convening focused on gathering a collective sense of how each intermediary organization recruits, trains, and supports principals; discussing strategies to share best practices; and developing the key desired result for the Principal Training & Support work group.
Strategies for principal support and training among the attendees included summer institutes, leadership coaches, year-long principal fellowships, competency-based trainings, principal mentors, monthly conference calls, and partnerships with local school districts.
Several strategies for AHSI emerged when the group discussed its key desired result which is to enhance each intermediary’s capacity to recruit, train and support uniquely qualified leaders for successful alternative high schools. The responses can be categorized into three groups:
1. Products
a. Create a document that maps each organization’s training and support strategies, resources and strengths
b. Develop a set of competencies for principals of alternative high schools that can help guide our hiring and training practices
2. Processes
a. Schedule themed and/or regional convenings for the network. These meetings could provide more opportunities for capacity building and/or provide shared training and support opportunities for leaders from multiple networks
b. Connect principals across networks to create an AHSI professional learning community
3. Policies
a. Use our collective voice to influence how data and assessment are selected and defined for alternative schools
b. Leverage changes regarding how principals are trained at universities and credentialing programs
November 2007
AHSI Data Mini Convening
Hosted in Providence, RI. The goals of the 2007 Data Mini Convening were to: 1. Develop a common understanding of Common Core Data, data collection, evaluation and how these activities relate to one another; 2. Develop and agree to collective AHSI evaluation planning goals; 3. Review the AHSI Theory of Change and generate initial evaluation study questions; 4. Discuss matching “alternative” data resources and tools across the network.
For outcomes and results please view the Convening Summary.
October 2007
AHSI Semi-Annual Convening
Big Picture Learning hosted in Providence, RI. Provided an opportunity to celebrate the many accomplishments of the network over the course of its first five years. Network members who were involved with the start of AHSI were brought full swing as the convening was once again hosted in Providence, Rhode Island at Big Picture Learning flagship school The Metropolitan Regional Career and Technical Center.
The convening included reflections on the past and an exciting look to the future with the announcement of the new AHSI Grant Cycle from Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Program Officers Yee-Ann Cho and Anh Nguyen. A Place-Based Partnerships Roundtable featured Mayor David Cicilline, Commissioner Peter McWalters, Superintendent Donnie Evans, Annenberg Institute Executive Director Warren Simmons, and AS220 Co-Founder & Providence School Board Member Bert Crenca.
Additional convening highlights included a walking tour of The Met School’s campus with Met Students, sitting in on All School Pick Me Ups, and Capacity Development Sessions around Transition to College, Principal Training, Quantitative Reasoning, Extended Day Programs, Literacy, and Big Picture’s Longitudinal Study.
April 2007
AHSI Semi-Annual Convening
EdVisions hosted in Minneapolis, MN. Convening presentations included a discussion about Relevance, Relationships and Rigor with Big Picture Learning Co-Director Elliot Washor; an informational session about Youth Ventures by Jen Aspengren, Director of Programming & Mid West Region; and a proposal by Organized Youth for Educational Alternatives (OYEA).
Attendees were also updated on various areas of work including Policy & Partnerships work, Common Core Data California Performance Assessment, and OYEA. The convening featured a visit to EdVisions School High School for the Recording Arts where visitors toured the facility and learned about a number of exciting projects students were engaged in.
November 2006
AHSI Semi-Annual Convening
Black Alliance for Educational Options (BAEO) hosted in Philadelphia, PA. Howard Fuller, Founder of BAEO and Founder/Director of the Institute for the Transformation of Learning at Marquette University, gave the keynote address. Tony Wagner, Co-director of the Change Leadership Group at Harvard University, presented on Rigor. Roundtable discussions addressed alternative data indicators, policy initiatives and student leadership.
September 2006
AHSI Principals Convening
Alexandria, VA
Elliot Washor, Founder and Co-director of Big Picture Learning and Steven Strull, Director of the National School Reform Faculty, brought together leaders from schools throughout the AHSI network to share best practices around creating school culture, to build techniques for improving high school to college transition, and to develop a network of alternative school leaders.
April 2006
EPAN Meeting
St. Petersburg, Florida
Andrew O. Moore, Senior Consultant, for the National League of Cities moderated a conversation with Ron Newell, Evaluation and Assessment Director of EdVisions Schools; Jass Stewart, National Director of School Recruitment and Community Engagement of Big Picture Learning; and Donald Stinson, Superintendent of the Metropolitan School District of Decatur Township, Indiana. Speakers presented specific considerations and priorities that organizations within AHSI have in order to improve high schools and outcomes for youth. Policies that can help or hinder the development of alternative high schools were also highlighted.
February 2006
AHSI Semi-Annual Convening
YouthBuild USA
November 2005
AHSI Identity Tools Completed
AHSI develops group identity communication tools (logo, website, promotional video) that publicly present AHSI as a portfolio of alternative options.
October 2005
AHSI Semi-Annual Convening
Diploma Plus
August 2005
Summer Institutes
All AHSI organizations hosted summer training institutes designed to expand their scale-up efforts and increase the quality of their schools.
July 2005
EPAN Meeting
Washington, D.C.
Jim Shelton, Program Director of Education at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation presented a workshop which highlighted the Foundation’s policy and advocacy agenda to reform high schools; the pivotal role cities and states can play to improve outcomes for students; the ways in which municipal and state leadership can partner to ensure that every student graduates from high school ready for post-secondary options and a meaningful career; and the important link between high school reform and the broader economic and social goals of cities and states.
June 2005
Helping Municipal Leaders Expand Options and Alternatives for High School Cross-Site Meeting
Washington, D.C.
Kyle Miller, Senior Program Officer for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation shared the Foundation’s current priorities and learnings about how to best improve the nation’s high school systems. David Lemmel, Director of Youth Development for Big Picture Learning, shared the AHSI Distinguishers to discuss the key elements of small, effective, alternative high schools.
Other sessions included “Starting and Sustaining Effective High Schools”, led by Elliot Washor, Founder and Co-director of Big Picture Learning and David Domenici, Executive Director and Co-founder of the See Forever Foundation and “City-level Policy Barriers and Opportunities” led by Talmira Hill, Principal of T.L. Hill Group and Chris Strugis, Founder and Principal of MetisNet.
May 2005
AHSI National Map Unveiled
Due to the progress of AHSI organizations’ replication processes and the many new schools that came on line in 2003 and 2004, a need for a map of all AHSI schools emerged. The first iteration of this map was created and distributed in spring of 2005.
April 2005
AHSI Semi-Annual Convening
StreetSchool Network hosted in Denver, CO. J.D. Hoye, President of Keep the Change, Inc., and Chris Sturgis, Founder and Principal of MetisNet, gave the keynote address.
December 2004
EPAN Meeting
Indianapolis, Indiana
Mayors as a Catalyst for Change: Mayor Bart Peterson of Indianapolis, Indiana discussed his authority to issue charters for new schools within the city, including his approach to creating a city chartering authority, its role in larger education reform efforts within Indianapolis, and potential implications for other cities. Elliot Washor, Co-Director of Big Picture Learning discussed the importance of municipal leadership in the development of innovation.
November 2004
AHSI Semi-Annual Convening
See Forever Foundation hosted in Washington, DC. Bill Strickland, President and CEO of Manchester Bidwell Corporation, gave the keynote address. The AHSI organizations completed a document detailing Distinguishers of the essential design elements of AHSI schools.
June 2004
Helping Municipal Leaders Expand Options & Alternatives for High School Kick-Off Meeting
Chicago, Illinois
Kyle Miller, Senior Program Officer for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation discussed the current challenges of high schools with city government representatives. Topics included the Foundation’s strategies for transforming the structures of American high schools, including new, small schools and existing large schools.
May 2004
AHSI Semi-Annual Convening
Communities In Schools Georgia hosted in Atlanta, GA. Michelle Gambone, President of Youth Development Strategies, Inc., gave the keynote address. The process of AHSI organizations designing a universal set of distinguishers to define their schools was initiated.
February 2004
EPAN Meeting
San Jose, California
Kyle Miller, Senior Program Officer for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation facilitated reflection on a site visit to Downtown College Prep. The importance of municipal involvement in expanding options for high school and the attributes of a successful innovative high school were topics that guided the conversation.
November 2003
EPAN Meeting
Washington, DC
Elliot Washor, Founder and Co-Director of Big Picture Learning, and Audrey Hutchinson, Program Director of Education and After School Initiatives for the National League of Cities, first introduced AHSI to the National League of Cities constituencies.
September 2003
AHSI Semi-Annual Convening
Big Picture Learning hosted the first AHSI convening in Providence, RI. Attendees went on site visits to all six Met schools in Providence. The group began a conversation about establishing a list of common distinguishers for all of the organizations/schools in the network.
February 2003
Birth of the Alternative High School Initiative
Award ceremony in Boston for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation grant that made the inception of AHSI possible.
Copyright 2008 Alternative High School Initiative