Publications
From Gateway to Project Lead the Way: Tracking Middle School Engineering Participants into High School
The Career and Technical Education (CTE) Department in the Austin Independent School District (AISD) administers a national engineering program in middle schools, called Gateway, and in high schools, called Project Lead the Way (PLTW). In this summary, the PLTW courses taken during high school were examined for two cohorts of students who participated in the Gateway program at some point in their middle school years (eighth graders in 2011–2012 and 2012–2013). Overall, more than half of Gateway 8th grade students in 2011–2012 (57%) and 2012–2013 (56%) attended a PLTW high school. Of…
The Creative Learning Initiative Innovates Teaching and Learning: Impact Highlights of the 2014–2015 School Year
The Creative Learning Initiative (CLI), a collective impact partnership among the Austin Independent School District (AISD), the city of Austin, and MINDPOP (an arts partnership dedicated to expanding creative learning in Austin and representing over 50 arts and cultural agencies), created arts-rich schools at a rate that exceeded the benchmark goal. The CLI had a positive impact on both teachers and students, as well as on the district. Teachers reported positive experiences with the program activities and positive changes in student engagement, behavior, and student achievement. Students…
Creative Learning Initiative: Summary Findings of Elementary School Arts Inventory, 2013–2014
This report describes the implementation of arts-based instruction during in-school and out-of-school times. Specifically, it summarizes the results of four components of the inventory: (a) sequential fine arts instruction during school, (b) community arts experiences during school, (c) out-of-school time arts opportunities on campus, and (d) opportunities for students to publicly perform or exhibit in each art form.
Career and Technical Education 2017 Student Survey Results Summary
The Career and Technical Education (CTE) Student Survey, administered in Spring 2017, was designed to gather students’ feedback about their experiences taking the advanced CTE courses offered in their specific career pathway. Students who participated in the Austin Independent School District’s (AISD) CTE Student Survey highly rated the courses they had taken in their career pathway and the opportunities to gain hands-on experiences ready for their life, college, and career.
Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) Austin: Annual Evaluation Report 2017-2018
This evaluation report presents a baseline description of outcomes for the 2017-2018 school year, the first year of GEAR UP Austin implementation in AISD. Specifically, the report describes program implementation, students' participation in GEAR UP Austin, and baseline student academic and college preparation outcomes.
Creative Campus Profiles, 2016-2017
Research on creative learning shows that students attending arts-rich schools have higher levels of motivation and better academic and social success. Arts richness is measured in the Creative Campus profile reports according to nine diverse components and is based on information gathered in the 2016-2017 Arts Inventory and school records. This is an annual report used to track the progress of our district's investment in the whole child through the arts and creative teaching. By systematically investing in understanding the arts-richness of our schools district and campus leaders can…
2015-2016 Creative Learning Initiative Annual Report
The Creative Learning Initiative (CLI) is a community-wide effort to bring creative learning and the arts to each and every student in Austin. Lead by MINDPOP, the City of Austin, and the Austin Independent School District (AISD), CLI designs systemic and sustainable programs that integrate creativity, creative teaching strategies, and the arts with classroom teaching, campus programming, and campus improvement. Evaluation findings suggest CLI implementation had a positive impact on the district, its teachers and the students it serves.
The Creative Learning Initiative (CLI) Annual Evaluation Report 2014–2015
This report presents findings from the 2014–2015 school year, the second year of comprehensive data collection of the Creative Learning Initiative (CLI) in the Austin Independent School District (AISD). Data suggest participating in the CLI had a positive impact on both teachers and students, as well as on the district. Teachers reported positive experience with the program activities and positive changes in student engagement, behavior, and student achievement. Student outcomes included increased student access to arts opportunities, improved student attendance, decreased discipline…
Creative Learning Initiative 2016–2017 Annual Report
Report of program evaluation activities for the 2016-2017 school year.
Creative Campus Profiles, 2015-2016
Research on creative learning shows that students attending arts-rich schools have higher levels of motivation and better academic and social success. Arts richness is measured in the Creative Campus profile reports, based on information gathered in the 2015-2016 Arts Inventory. The profile was developed and piloted in the Creative Learning Initiative (CLI) campuses over two years, but is relevant and now available for all AISD campuses. This will be an annual report, and will be used to track the progress of our district's investment in the whole child through the arts and creative…