Middle School Education News

Recommended Actions Support Successful Middle Level Schools

Prepared by National Middle School Association

COLUMBUS (OH)-Communities that want to make their middle level schools more successful can take a giant step forward by supporting the implementation of seven basic concepts, according to National Middle School Association (NMSA).

"There is a tremendous amount of attention now on young adolescents-those 10-to14-year-old students," said Sue Swaim, NMSA executive director. "People see that they are quite literally setting the direction of their futures, and that will have a major impact on the future of communities and our nation."

Not only are young adolescents developing academic skills in schools, but they are also making major decisions about their values, standards, attitudes, and personal beliefs. These decisions will follow them into their adult years.

Because the young adolescent years are such an important time in students' overall development, we need communities to come together to assure that middle level schools are academically challenging and developmentally appropriate for each and every student. Working together we can forge stronger educational partnerships among schools, parents, students, and community members so that all young adolescents have the opportunity to become all they can be.

It's time that that young adolescents and effective middle level education become a central focus of attention on federal, state and local agendas so that high-performing middle level schools become the norm. We now know what leads to such a high performing school. When middle level schools implement what our knowledge of learning and human development supports, students achieve. If communities support these concepts, they will move toward schools that serve young adolescents well.

NMSA recommends that school districts:

• Engage every middle level student in meaningful and challenging curriculum and do so in an environment that fosters respectful and supportive relationships among students, faculty, families, and the community.
• Provide teachers and administrators in middle level schools who are specifically prepared and committed to working with this age level so they understand the unique needs and opportunities of young adolescents.
• Offer ongoing professional development for all middle level faculty and staff to assure they can employ instructional strategies based on the most current research and experiences.
• Utilize accountability and evaluation strategies that promote quality student learning not simply react to a governmental mandate.
• Make learning decisions based on data that go beyond single test results.
• Emphasize the key role parents and families play in building a positive attitude toward education and in supporting the work of schools.
• Build connections between the community and school to expand and enhance the educational opportunities of all students.

These are qualities that parents and community members should look for in their middle level schools. They should work with their principals, district office administrators and school boards to provide these opportunities for students and educators.

Our common goal must be to give our students a quality education that develops their unique skills and talents to the fullest. To do less is not acceptable.