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Education policy talk these days has centered on the education stimulus, but important high school redesign legislation was introduced by U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and Representative Dave Loebsack (D-IA) earlier this month. The Secondary School Innovation Fund Act, formerly known as the GRADUATES Act, would provide critical resources for innovative secondary school redesign to dramatically raise high school graduation rates and stem the flow of high school dropouts.

Specifically, the legislation would

·         Expand on the success of emerging models like multiple pathways to graduation, early college high schools and dual enrollment, and early warning intervention systems.

·         Support a variety of secondary school redesign strategies such as personalization, improved transitions into and out of high school, expanded learning time, postsecondary and work-based learning opportunities, and a rigorous curriculum aligned across grades and with postsecondary education and the workforce.

·         Provide resources for high-quality research and evaluation to ensure funding goes to programs with a proven track record in raising student achievement.

ASCD will work with Senator Reid and Representative Loebsack to garner support for the Secondary School Innovation Fund Act on Capitol Hill, solicit additional sponsors, and advocate for its enactment. We invite you to advocate with us. Use ASCD’s sample messages to either thank your senators and representative for cosponsoring the bill or encourage them to support it. Read ASCD Executive Director Gene Carter’s column about the legislation and the need for high-school redesign and share your thoughts on the ASCD Inservice blog.