Expeditionary Learning has designed and refined an approach that engages and energizes students, teachers, and district and school leaders.

Student benefits

• Energizes student motivation and engagement through high-level tasks and active roles in the classroom
• Uses case studies and projects to connect students to real-world audiences and compel them to care and contribute
• Sets clear expectations and tight follow-through for respect and responsibility, teamwork and contribution, and commitment to high-quality work
• Builds a school culture where students feel safe, respected, and pushed to be their best selves
• Trusts students with deep cognitive challenges and important responsibilities and prepares them to be leaders
• Develops the critical thinking and problem-solving skills needed to succeed in college and beyond

Teacher benefits

• Employs professional development that is active and immediately useful in instruction
• Respects teachers as professionals and develops their growth as leaders
• Catalyzes improvement in new and veteran teachers
• Addresses standards with structures that recognize and use teacher judgment and creativity
• Understands that the most important assessment practices occur daily in the classroom
• Provides concrete models of strong student work and teacher work to guide practice
• Builds a collaborative community of practice within the school, in the EL network, and beyond

District and school leader benefits

• Builds capacity across the full range of existing teaching staff
• Integrates structures for assessment and data-informed practice that teachers and students understand and embrace
• Utilizes carefully articulated data analysis to guide priorities for improvement
• Maps state standards to an engaging curriculum and active classroom instruction
• Provides working models of effective schools and leaders as well as a network of professional support
• Renews job satisfaction and job commitment for strong teachers
• Engages parents, community leaders, and experts in support of student learning
• Connects schools to community issues through project-based learning and service