The California Department of Education, in conjunction with the National Forum to Accelerate Middle Grades Reform, and in partnership with the California Middle Grades Alliance1 sponsors the California Schools to Watch™–Taking Center Stage (STW-TCS) program.
- Invitation to Participate in the 2008-09 Schools to Watch™–Taking Center Stage.
- The National Forum to Accelerate Middle Grades Reform developed criteria for high performance. A tool called the School Self-Study and Rating Rubric must be used by STW-TCS applicants and may be used by non-applicants for school improvement. The School Self-Study and Rating Rubric is fully aligned to the California Department of Education’s twelve recommendations2 to ensure success and close the achievement gap for all of California’s middle grades students. Please see the new Taking Center Stage—Act II Web portal for more information.
- School Self-Study and Rating Rubric - (Revised 21-Mar-2008: DOC; 435KB; 9pp.).
1 The California Middle Grades Alliance partners include the California Department of Education, the California League of Middle Schools (STW-TCS - lead organization), the Association of California School Administrators - Middle Grades Council, the California Middle Grades Partnership Network, the California School Boards Association, Advancement by Individual Determination (AVID), Gaining Early Awareness for Undergraduate Programs (GEARUP), and the Middle and High School Subcommittee of the Curriculum and Instruction Steering Committee of the California County Superintendents Educational Services Association.
2 California's 12 recommendations from Taking Center Stage--Act II for developing high performing middle schools are fully aligned to the School Self Study and Rating Rubric from The National Schools to Watch Program (Outside Source).