In partnership with Employers for Education Excellence (E3) and the Educational Policy Improvement Center (EPIC) at the University of Oregon, the Coalition of Essential Schools invites you to learn about small school planning, design, and implementation at its 5th Annual Summer Institute.

The CES Small Schools Summer Institute features workshops and facilitated conversations with some of the most effective small school educators in the country, including those from CES Mentor Schools Urban Academy, Eagle Rock School, Boston Arts Academy, Quest High School, Wildwood School, and Fenway High School (view the full list of CES Mentor schools).

Participation is open to individuals and school teams who are starting new small schools, working in large schools converting to small autonomous schools or small learning communities, or who are looking to share best practices with a community of experienced practitioners. This institute will provide professional development for all who are interested in making schools powerful places of learning.

An Interactive Keynote by Linda Christensen
Linda Christensen is the Director of the Oregon Writing Project (OWP), located in the Graduate School of Education at Lewis & Clark College. The OWP is part of the National Writing Project network, the oldest and largest professional development project in the United States. Linda is the author of Reading, Writing, and Rising Up: Teaching about Social Justice and the Power of the Written Word and co-editor of Rethinking School Reform: Views from the Classroom and Rethinking Our Classrooms. Her new book Teaching for Joy and Justice will be out in the fall. She has given keynote addresses at local, national, and international conferences about her work on literacy and social justice. Her articles about literacy and social justice have appeared in numerous journals. On Monday, the opening day of the institute Ms. Christensen will share her work on literacy and social justice in an interactive keynote address.

Dr. David Conley (EPIC) Shares Research on College Readiness
Dr. Conley is Professor of Educational Policy and Leadership in the College of Education, University of Oregon. He is the founder and director of the Center for Educational Policy Research (CEPR) at the University of Oregon and founder and chief executive officer of the Educational Policy Improvement Center (EPIC). His research focuses on a variety of issues related to college readiness standards, high school-college articulation and transition, state high school exit examinations, and state adequacy funding models. His latest book, based on this research, is entitled College Knowledge: What It Takes for Students to Succeed and What We Can Do to Get Them Ready, and was released in the spring of 2005 by Jossey-Bass. His next book, College Ready, will be published in the spring of 2009. On Friday morning institute participants will have an opportunity to learn about Dr. Conley’s most recent research on college readiness. He will share his findings and address questions from the audience. After the presentation participants will work in small groups to assess the ways in which their schools are facilitating college readiness and access. They will also work with their teams to draft plans to more effectively prepare students for college

Workshops by CES Small Schools Network Members
Participants will have the opportunity to attend: one 6-hour intensive workshop and two 3-hour workshops

A Community Meeting on Equity: "Taking it up and Taking it back!"
On Friday afternoon, the closing day of the institute, we will hold a community meeting that will provide institute participants with a forum to share their renewed commitment to take up equity and the ways in which they will be taking what they have learned in the institute back to their school communities.

Critical Friends Conversations
Critical Friends Conversations (CFCs) are facilitated discussions centered on themes of equity and democracy in education. Through the use of protocols CFCs offer a safe space for us to move from awareness to understanding to taking action in our schools.

Youth Participation
We strongly encourage youth participation at Summer Institute. Youth are considered full and active participants of the Institute. There will be a Youth Summit in which students participate in team building exercises, set goals for the week, and receive training in youth advocacy strategies that will empower them to make change in their schools. In addition to the day-long session, youth have the opportunity to attend two 3-hour workshops facilitated by youth or of interest to youth. The Institute also provides formal and informal time for youth to network and develop friendships with other youth from across the country. Each school team is expected to chaperone their youth attendees.

Chapperone Guidelines
We have designed Summer Institute for students to engage in all activities in a fun and safe way. However, there are certain guidelines that they must abide by, and they are to be supervised by their chapperones. To that end, all school site staff are responsible for the youth they bring to Summer Institute, and CES does not assume any responsibility. The chapperone guidelines are as follows:

• School chaperones are responsible for the students at all times for the duration of Summer Institute.
• Students are subject to the rules of their home school.
• Students must follow all rules and regulations of the hotel.
• Students must be in pairs and their whereabouts must be known at all times and approved by their designated chaperone.
• Inappropriate behavior may be cause for exclusion from Summer Institute, and immediate return home.

*Please note, there will be a pre-conference chaperone meeting for both youth and adult participants to review and sign this agreement.

Team Coaching and Planning
One aspect of the Institute is to have teams work together to set goals and collaborate on designing classes, curriculums, and/or schools. Teams will have time to meet to plan their goals for the Institute as well as for the year ahead. CES Small Schools Network teams will include pairs of CES mentors and new school design teams or new schools. Participating teams who are not members of the Network will receive coaching from one of our partners or centers.

Symposium: Raising Our Consciousness About Race
On Wednesday evening we will hold a facilitated group conversation that uses race as a lens to explore equity and social justice in our schools. We will view video clips of the MSNBC Conversation about Race and use these as text to jump start a group discussion about the ways that we can undo the effects of institutionalized racism in education. We will also have an opportunity to explore the strategies and tools used by teachers to increase equity and student achievement. This year, the symposium is included in your registration fee.

Dinner Cruise
Thursday night, there will be a Dinner Cruise on the Columbia River. This is included in institute registration fee. Details TBA.

Networking and Relationship Building
There will be specific events that provide opportunities for team building and networking; however, the institute as a whole provides the opportunity for networking and relationship building via workshops, CFC’s, and Community meeting. In addition, there will be a welcome reception and dinner on Monday night for all Summer Institute participants, as well as a special event on Thursday evening.

Meals for the Week
During the week, breakfast, lunch, and break snacks will be provided. We provide a Monday night 'Welcome Dinner' and a dinner cruise on Thursday night. The rest of the evenings you will be free to have dinner and sightsee on your own.