Philadelphia's Talent Development High Schools: Second-Year Results, 2000-01.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania's Talent Development High School comprehensive reform model addresses low student achievement and poor school climate, blending a common core academic curriculum with career themes in the upper grades. It includes a separate Ninth Grade Success Academy with interdisciplinary teacher teams, ninth and tenth grade Career Academies, special courses addressing weaknesses in ninth and tenth graders' preparation levels, block scheduling, extra help and recovery opportunities for struggling students, and intensive subject-specific teacher professional development. Research showed substantial improvements in school climate and students' academic gains in the 1999-2000 school year. In the 2000-01 academic year, first-time freshmen at Talent Development schools were more likely to have passed all required courses than control freshmen. By the end of 2001, these same students were more likely to be in school and in tenth grade if they attended Talent Development schools. The proportion of upper-grades students grew since implementation of the Talent Development program. Talent Development students showed greater gains in reading and mathematics from eighth to ninth grade than control students. Students had high levels of satisfaction with their Talent Development experience. Teachers liked being part of a team, receiving a curriculum for certain key courses, and teaching in longer class periods. (SM)