Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the Champions of Active Learning Program?
The Champions of Active Learning (C.A.L.) Program, funded by The JPMorgan Chase Foundation, is an outcomes-based initiative designed to encourage and support innovative instructional programs. C.A.L. projects are aligned with and advance middle grades reform, with the goal of improved student academic achievement.
Started in 1990, the C.A.L. Program has been a successful part of middle grades reform in the New York City Schools. The program has enabled hundreds of educators in approximately 100 middle schools to implement effective instructional strategies, learn from other innovative programs, exchange ideas, and share promising practices.
In 1997, JPMorgan Chase, with the assistance of Public Education Network (PEN), expanded the program nationwide to 11 additional school districts across the country: Dade County, Florida; Paterson, New Jersey; Tempe, Arizona; Houston, Texas; Wilmington, Delaware; Los Angeles, California; Newark, New Jersey; Columbus, Ohio; Monroe, Louisiana; Bridgeport, Connecticut and Rochester, New York.
Based on the success of the national expansion, Yonkers, New York joined the C.A.L. Program as its twelfth site during the 2000-2001 grant competition, and San Francisco was added for the 2001-02 competition. Tampa, Fla. and Dallas were added in 2004-2005. Up to five programs from middle grade classrooms (grades 5 - 8) of schools in each of these 15 districts will be selected and will receive $5,000 to implement their respective C.A.L. projects.
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2. What is “active learning?”
Active Learning involves a variety of hands-on student activities and instructional strategies that support improved academic performance. The following activities are examples of“Active Learning” strategies used in winning C.A.L. proposals:
· Discovery learning (e.g., dissecting, dismantling, constructing objects; conducting experiments; measuring and recording)
· Experiential learning (e.g., service activities, group and individual projects, role-playing)
· Use of students’ personal, cultural and community life experiences as original source material for instruction
· Creative and critical thinking and problem-solving activities
· Use of physical movement and artistic expression
· Use of interactive and computer-based technology
· Use of peer-assisted learning (e.g., cooperative learning, peer tutoring, etc.)
· Use of inquiry-based learning and individual research
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3. What is Public Education Network and what is its role in C.A.L.?
The mission of Public Education Network (PEN) is to create systems of public education that result in high achievement for every child. PEN works to educate the nation about the relationship between school quality and the quality of community and public life. PEN is the nation’s largest network of independent, community-based school reform organizations. Through its members in 27 states and the District of Columbia, PEN serves nearly 6 million children in nearly 300 school districts. Based in Washington, D.C., PEN is dedicated to assisting local communities in the creation of schools that provide the highest quality of teaching and learning for all children.
PEN serves as the national program administrator for the Champions of Active Learning Program. PEN provides common orientation and training opportunities for all C.A.L. grantees, facilitates the C.A.L. national conference in New York City, gathers and shares pertinent information about effective instructional strategies, offers technical assistance for C.A.L. teachers in program development and implementation, and evaluates the progress of the program.
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4. What is The Houston A+ Challenge role?
Houston A+ is the local education fund for the Public Education Network. Houston A+ will administer the grant locally.
5. Which schools are eligible to participate in the C.A.L. program?
Public middle schools teachers in the 13 participating cities that teach one or more middle-level grades (grades 5-8) are eligible to receive C.A.L. grants. Teachers with special education populations between the ages of 10 and 15 years old also may apply. Recipients must be teaching in schools that contain a 7th grade. Teachers may only receive one grant per school year, but a school can receive more than one grant.
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6. How may C.A.L. grant funds be used?
Grant funds may be used for all activities directly related to active learning instruction, including for example, staff development, instructional materials and supplies, C.A.L. on-site and off-site projects, and workshops and seminars. The project must be related to core curriculum and aligned with state and local standards. Activities must also be linked to stated goals and objectives of the project and closely tied to improving student academic achievement.
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7. How will the schools selected to participate in C.A.L. be chosen?
Local selection teams composed of representatives from JPMorgan Chase, Houston A+ Challenge and Houston ISD will carefully review all applications. This team will select up to 10 schools and forward these applications to Public Education Network. A national selection committee will review the applications and select up to five schools in each of the 13 cities to receive a C.A.L. grant.
8. What responsibilities do C.A.L. teachers have?
C.A.L. schools must submit a mid-term progress report and end-of-year report. C.A.L. teachers must continuously monitor their progress, collecting both qualitative and quantitative data. In addition, the C.A.L. teachers will participate in a national conference held in New York City during the winter of 2003 (travel and lodging expenses will be covered by PEN).
9. What assistance is offered during the application process?
PEN, in partnership with local education funds and school districts, provides a wide range of pre-application technical assistance to support teachers during the application process, such as on-site technical assistance workshops, site visits, and consultation via telephone and electronic mail.
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