The president of a nonprofit company that provides education reform models for schools came to Cincinnati on Tuesday to tell Board of Education members how America's Choice can help redesign the district's high schools.

        Only one board member met with John Porter, who said Cincinnati's plans are among the best he has seen. There are 240 schools using the America's Choice curriculum and materials; 30 are high schools.

        “Cincinnati has put more structure into what schools can work around,” said Mr. Porter, a former principal and superintendent. “There is a fine line between being too prescriptive and too generic.”

HOW IT WORKS

How America's Choice will work with Cincinnati high schools.     At Aiken and Taft:     • This summer: Three-day leadership academy to start training, with a two-day follow-up in the spring.     • In fall and spring: Seven sessions for principals to discuss planning issues, implementation and professional development; five days of literacy training; a one-day math institute, and on-site technical assistance days to focus on using standards and how to increase the focus on reading.     At Withrow and Western Hills:     • This summer: Three-day leadership academy, with a two-day follow-up in the spring.     • In the fall: Four principals meetings; four days of literacy training; four days of on-site technical assistance.     • In the spring: three principal network meetings; a one-day literacy institute; a one-day math institute, and three days of on-site technical assistance.

        America's Choice started in 1989 as part of the National Center on Education and the Economy. It recently was awarded $13 million in a contract with the U.S. Department of Education to continue research and development of its high school programs.

        Cincinnati Public Schools wants to hire the Washington, D.C. company to work with teachers and staff at Aiken, Taft, Western Hills and Withrow high schools.

        A $340,000 deal would provide curriculum, materials and teacher training, as well as planning sessions to help schools design new classes and new methods.

        Board members did not approve the deal at its March 12 meeting because members wanted more details about the services Mr. Porter and his staff would provide.

        Board member John Gilligan said Tuesday's meeting answered a lot of his questions.

        “It's clear that the administration doesn't have the technical people and the resources to do this job within the kind of time frame they've been handed,” Mr. Gilligan said.

        The board is scheduled to vote on the contracts again at its March 26 meeting.

        America's Choice standards and curriculum fit Ohio's state standards, which were created using the America's Choice model.

        The model focuses on teaching students to reach certain educational expectations or standards. Teachers must determine what a student's academic training should look like at the end of high school, Mr. Porter said.

        Students would leave these new high schools having met certain academic requirements, some with advanced placement credits, others with internship experience in a career.

        All students from America's Choice schools are guaranteed not to need remedial work in English and math.

        The America's Choice structure fits well with Cincinnati's plans to redesign its five neighborhood high schools into “preparatory academies,” where ninth- and 10th-graders will focus on the basics of reading, writing, math and science.

        Students then will be promoted to the “senior institute” of their choice for 11th and 12th grades. The institutes specialize in such subjects as information technology, university preparation and vocational education.

        The district wants to open redesigned high schools at Aiken and Taft in August. Taft would offer a senior institute in information technology.

        Western Hills and Withrow will spend next year planning.

        America's Choice has offered high school programs for two years and is about 50-50 in its overall success, Mr. Porter said.

        He said schools need three to five years before extensive positive results are seen. But changes in attendance, training and the quality of student work are apparent within six months.
       

Fastest-growing areas are far from Tristate's center
Boone leads N.Ky. population surge
Northern Kentucky racial breakdown
Burned firefighter dies after two-week struggle
Kroger clerk seriously hurt aiding co-worker
Mercy Hospital closing in Hamilton in June
Mercy closure extends trend to consolidate
Appeal ordered, date set for death
Election board member ousted in fund scandal
SAMPLES: Pure Kentucky
RADEL: Profiling suit
Diners could feel pinch of outbreak in Europe
Schools remove fund issue
America's Choice may be 1st choice for CPS redesign
Change aids opponents of rich
Cincinnatian said to be envoy choice
City may seek legal help in police discipline cases
Crawfish herald Spiral week
Kentucky number rises 10% in census
Kings fund drive progresses
Lawmakers ponder law to address profiling
Lights at Reds' new stadium to cost $1 million less
Metro unveils expansion plan
Outside lawyers in police discipline cases proposed
Postal worker fired in alleged theft case
Program cuts asthma visits
Redistricting may be war
St. Bernard to appeal loss of city status
State gives grants for DARE programs
Students can learn of Africa, museums
Tristate A.M. Report