1. What are the common elements of high performing CHSRI classroom environments?
2. How do high performing CHSRI schools organize instructional leadership and improvement activities?
3. What are the general lessons that other schools may draw upon to create productive teaching and learning environments?
In this research brief, we take a detailed look at high performing Chicago High School Redesign Initiative (CHSRI) schools. Drawing on three case studies, we describe practices and characteristics that high performing CHSRI schools share. First, we describe common elements of their classroom environments. We also detail similarities in how they organize instructional leadership and improvement activities. By highlighting shared practices across these schools, we hope to identify general lessons that other schools may draw upon in their own work to create productive teaching and learning environments.
For nearly a decade, the CHSRI has worked to improve educational opportunities for Chicago adolescents by opening and supporting small high schools across the city. While the overall results of the initiative have been mixed, several CHSRI schools have successfully improved students’ outcomes.
This latest research brief in the CHSRI series describes both the practices and characteristics that such high performing CHSRI schools share.
Drawing on qualitative data, the report discusses common elements of their classroom environments and reveal similarities in how they organize instructional leadership and improvement activities. By highlighting shared practices across these schools, the UChicago Consortium hopes to identify general lessons that other schools may use to create productive teaching and learning environments.
