Positive Outlier Schools: Illuminating Strengths of American Indian/Alaska Native, Black, Latina/o, and Students Experiencing Poverty

• In Event: School and District Reform: Examining What Works

Abstract

School administrators and educators are responsible to create conditions illuminating and building on students’ strengths. This study identified 38 Washington State schools successfully removing barriers and creating conditions allowing the strengths of Black, Latino/a, American Indian/Alaska Native, and students experiencing poverty to shine. Interviews of 238 individuals revealed practice-based evidence showing when the learning environment is set up for success, students make steep, continuous academic gains.
Positive outlier schools:
• create trust and family-like atmosphere;
• embrace strengths of diverse students’ cultures and ethnicities;
• integrate relevant and family-engaged education into K–12 schooling;
• repurpose building leadership teams to equity leadership teams;
• empower diverse students to teach others about racism based on lived experiences; and
• eliminate deficit-based vocabulary.

Authors

• John Steach, The Center for Educational Effectiveness

• Greg E. Lobdell, Center for Educational Effectiveness

• Janet Gordon, The Gordon Group

• Gene Sharratt, The Center for Educational Effectiveness

• Ceni M Myles, University of Washington - Seattle

• Erich Bolz, The Center for Educational Effectiveness

• Roni Rumsey