Generation Schools is dedicated to whole-school and systemic innovation in urban education with the goal of ensuring that all students -- regardless of life circumstances -- have access to a great education.
Generation Schools opened its first school, Brooklyn Generation, in 2007. Brooklyn Generation is a high school within New York City's Department of Education and operates under a contract approved by the United Federation of Teachers.
What Generation Schools does
- Unique calendar. Generation Schools' calendar extends the school year by a month for all students without increasing the work year for any teacher by staggering teachers' "summer" vacation throughout the year; all teachers still work the same number of days as in any public school, just not all at the same time.
- Small group instruction. Core subjects are team taught with ratios of just 10-12 students per certified teacher. Each daily session can include skills practice, whole-class lecture or presentation, break-out sessions, technology-aided study and independent work.
- Studio courses. Every student participates in a wide variety of academic, fine arts and youth development programs every day, enabling them to pursue personal interests and explore new experiences.
- College and Career Counseling. By a school's third year, a full team of guidance, social work, career and classroom teachers works intensively for a month at a time with each grade level. The comprehensive program, including individualized internships, service learning projects and mentoring experiences, connects a student's school experiences to opportunities later in life.
Why Blue Ridge Supports Generation Schools
Through its creative innovations to traditional school operating practices, Generation Schools has the possibility:
- To model how changes in school staffing and scheduling patterns can enrich curricula offerings and improve student performance.
