The services for school design from Mass IDEAS modeled the kind of learning we want for children—personalized, equitable, and learner-driven with high expectations.
Explore the supports and grants provided to Massachusetts teams through Mass IDEAS:
Mass IDEAS also connected participants to content workshops, learning excursions, and other partner resources available across Massachusetts as a way to build collective knowledge.
School Design Institutes
Nearly 30 school teams participated in Mass IDEAS School Design Institutes. These weekend institutes were for school teams who were ready to roll up their sleeves and rethink schools. During each institute, teams created innovative solutions to problems affecting student learning. Teams learned school design skills and received coaching, feedback, and support to continue next steps in their home community. After participating, teams were eligible to apply for grants to support their work to implement solutions they developed during the Institute. Participant feedback:
“Having [the facilitators] introduce us as a team to the design process, then train us and pace us as we practiced, ensures that we… now share ownership of this method and have the confidence to put it to use on a regular basis.”
“Specifically, I appreciated the opportunity to work with my team on getting clarity around the problem we were trying to solve…The work on clarifying our goal was super helpful and I move forward with the confidence that we are clear on our problem of practice and committed to next steps.”
“My most significant takeaway was witnessing how empowered my teachers felt by the end of the weekend. They walked away viewing themselves as capable school designers and agents of change. My personal learning is around the fact that I can apply tools to create this experience for all our teachers. After two days of Mass IDEAS, my teachers who attended have a spring in their step that’s still present after a week of school.”
School Model Design Studio
This three-day, hands-on working session was for teams that wanted help to create innovative school models (whole-school redesign or new school design). The design experience supported teams to articulate the problem to solve; understand the learners to be served; apply key levers for high-quality, innovative learning design; and develop action plans for their continued work following the event. The School Model Design Studio also helped to prepare teams to apply for a Mass IDEAS planning grant.
Massachusetts-based teams of 3-5 members that participated wanted to design or redesign whole schools. They weren't interested in “nibbling around the edges;” they wanted help boldly thinking outside the box in order to provide high-quality, innovative education for all students. Team members included school faculty, families, students, central office staff, community members, partner organizations, and/or local industry and business community. They knew their school models would be made stronger by incorporating others’ perspectives and input, and they were actively seeking critical friends to provide this feedback.
Planning Grants
The Request for Learning and application for planning grants was released on September 17, 2018, and applications were due on November 5, 2018. These grants supported Massachusetts teams with either new school designs or whole-school redesigns so that students across Massachusetts can attend high-quality, innovative public schools focused on the knowledge and capabilities learners need to thrive in the 21st century. Five teams received up to $150,000 accompanied by 15 months (Jan 2019–March 2020) of supports like coaching and professional learning to help them plan new school models or redesign existing schools:
- Barnstable Intermediate School (Hyannis)
- Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School (Hathorne)
- Mohawk Trail Regional School (Shelburne Falls)
- Monument Mountain Regional High School (Great Barrington)
- Salem High School (Salem)
Implementation Grants
This grant opportunity was one component of Mass IDEAS’ broader strategy to catalyze high-quality, innovative learning experiences that all of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ students need to thrive in the 21st century. On May 18, 2020, Mass IDEAS announced our first implementation grantees, teams that are redesigning public schools across Massachusetts. Mass IDEAS believes strongly that it is the combination of collaborative teams, community engagement, grant funding, and support that allows for the effective implementation of redesigned public schools. The implementation grants of up to $375,000 per team, combined with professional learning and coaching from Mass IDEAS, worked in tandem to promote effective school model implementation. Grants were awarded to three teams:
- Barnstable Intermediate School (Hyannis)
- Mohawk Trail Regional School (Shelburne Falls)
- Monument Mountain Regional High School (Great Barrington)
The grantees were selected from teams seeking support to implement whole-school redesigns that they developed as part of Mass IDEAS’ first planning grant cohort. Their selection was the culmination of a competitive Request for Learning process that included a three-part application and a team interview.
Photo at top courtesy of NGLC.