The School LIFE approach is comprehensive, evidence-based, and sustainable.
School-wide growth and improvement involves all members of a school, where individuals with different roles, expertise and knowledge all work toward a common goal. As part of the School L.I.F.E. approach, school leaders, teachers (in-service and pre-service), and families/caregivers receive systematic synchronized, and content-aligned professional development on improving the schooling experience of MLEs through workshops, tools, podcasts and coaching.
The School L.I.F.E. approach draws on successful models of professional development implementation and provides training on practices grounded in research findings endorsed by the Institute of Education Sciences (IES). In particular, the professional development model used has educators work on a set of ideas, practices, and behaviors over extended time, and receive feedback and coaching on those practices in their school context. All groups receive training on evidence-based strategies that can be implemented across different curricula, grade levels, content areas, and which align with teacher education and preparation standards for high-utility practices for classroom instruction.
- The project works with school leaders to design plans, procedures and processes to support MLEs in the long term.
- The project establishes a dual-pathway model in which pre-service and in-service teachers are paired up in teams. They receive aligned professional development and build a long-term mentoring relationship.
- The project builds virtual and in-person spaces for families to collaborate on supporting biliteracy in their household and beyond, forging linguistic communities across local schools.