Aiming High: High Schools for the 21st Century is
built on the legacy of Second to None, California's visionary
guideline for high school reform. Aiming High is a how-to
document for implementing a standards-based educational system.
The document helps to place standards-based education in the context
of California's accountability system that includes state
standards and local outcomes. The document's focus is to guide
schools in "doing the right things" and in "doing things right."
Elementary and middle
grades publications are also available.
Districts and schools moving towards a standards-based educational
system will find Aiming High a resource for: 1) defining
standards and outcomes and how schools and individual students
are assessed for them; 2) delineating how to identify, teach,
and assess academic standards and local outcomes successfully;
3) providing supports to enable students to meet high standards
and outcomes; and 4) using data for continual improvement of the
system.
California public high schools have received copies of Aiming
High and an introductory video.
Message from State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Superintendent's
Message (PDF; 206KB; 2pp.)
Jack O'Connell highlights the key concepts embedded in Aiming
High: High Schools for the 21st Century.
Table of Contents
Aiming High contains an Executive Summary (PDF; 230KB; 7pp.), a Reflection Tool (PDF; 233KB; 5pp.) to determine a school's progress in implementing a standards-based educational system, and a Glossary of Terms (PDF; 232KB; 6pp.). Chapters one through three and the table of contents are available online in the table below. The ten chapters are:
Chapter |
Title |
|---|---|
| TOC | Table of Contents |
| 1 | Using
Standards-Based Education to Raise the Bar |
| 2 | Understanding
Standards, Assessment, and Accountability (PDF; 307KB; 17pp.) |
| 3 | Creating
the Context for Standards-Based Education (PDF; 237KB; 12pp.) |
| 4 | Implementing Standards-Based Instruction and Assessment |
| 5 | Initiating Instruction and Assessment of Local Outcomes |
| 6 | Supporting Student Academic Success |
| 7 | Creating Structural Supports for Student Success |
| 8 | Promoting Family and Community Supports for Student Success |
| 9 | Developing Academic Literacy for Student Success |
| 10 | Using Data for Continual Improvement |
Reflection Tool
Reflection Tool (PDF;
233KB; 5pp.)
The Reflection Tool is directly related to the chapters and intended
as one source of data for districts and schools to use in identifying
areas of need for implementing a standards-based educational system.
The Reflection Tool is divided into two columns. In column 1 are
the elements of a standards-based educational system found in
effective high schools. The elements are clustered under each
of the chapters of Aiming High for referring to the chapter
for more information. Column 2 is a 1 through 4 rating scale.
In using the Reflection Tool, you would circle the rating that
best describes the extent to which you believe each of these elements
is currently in place at your high school.
ToolKit
Aiming
High Toolkit (DOC; 3.5MB; 215pp.)
The purpose of the ToolKit is to introduce research-based resources
of high school reform; offer concrete how-to processes for instituting
strategies that will increase student achievement: and provide
tools, guides, and models to accompany the California Department
of Education's publication, Aiming High. If the large
file size prevents downloading, please contact the High School Initiatives/Career Education Office at 916-319-0893.
Ordering the Publication
Aiming High is available for $13.25 from:
California Department of Education
CDE Press Sales Office
1430 N Street, Suite 3410
Sacramento, CA 95814-5901
800-995-4099
Fax: 916-323-0823
Contacts
Aiming High: High Schools for the 21st Century
is administered by:
California Department of Education
Secondary, Postsecondary,
and Adult Leadership Division
High School Initiatives/Career Education Office
1430 N Street, Suite 4503
Sacramento, CA 95814
Patrick Ainsworth, Director
916-445-2652
painswor@cde.ca.gov
Jim Greco , Education Program Consultant
916-323-4747
jgreco@cde.ca.gov
