Publications
Creative Learning Initiative: Impact of Creative Teaching on Academic Growth
This report examines the impact of Creative Teaching techniques on students’ academic growth on the State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness (STAAR) reading and math tests from 2016–2017 to 2017–2018. Statistically significant growth on STAAR reading was found for students who had teachers who were moderately competent at Creative Teaching techniques and used these techniques at least two times per week in their classrooms.
Creative Learning Initiative: Implementation Summary, 2018-2019
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 Austin Independent School District (AISD), CLI designs systematic and sustainable programs that integrate creativity, creative teaching strategies, and the arts with classroom teaching, campus programming, and campus improvement. Overall, CLI implementation in 2018–2019 was comparable to prior years and continues to have a positive impact on students. This report summarizes the CLI implementation activities.
Seed Model Campus Cohort Program Evaluation: Early signs of campus improvement in social and emotional learning
This report looks at the impact of the Seed Model Campus Cohort Program in its first 3 years of implementation. Evidence put forth in the report suggests that by deliberately focusing on inclusive program design and peer-to-peer sharing with a focus on growth, the program already positively contributes to SEL implementation, particularly through increased coordination of SEL leadership efforts and through increased adult SEL skills.
New Discoveries in High School Arts Participation and the Implications for Equity
In this report, we grouped students into three distinct categories, based on patterns that emerged in arts participation during high school, which we named spartans, explorers, and deep divers. The patterns in arts participation represent not just the students, but also the opportunities and barriers they encountered. We found that these patterns are strongly associated with student characteristics and postsecondary outcomes. Our hope is that understanding these patterns in arts participation will inform how we strategize for more equitable access to the arts during high school.
Student Data Dig 2018: Bowie High School
This report summarizes AISD Bowie High School students' experiences with the first social and emotional learning (SEL) student data dig in 2018.
School Grief Support Network Initiative: Survey Results, 2018
This report summarizes data gathered from pre- and post-intervention surveys conducted with parents/guardians and teachers of AISD students who were offered free grief support counseling services during 2017-2018 through a grant funded by The Christi Center.
ACCESS Initiative 2009-2010 Summary: Dropout Prevention at Mendez Middle School
The ACCESS grant provided funding for a dropout specialist at Mendez Middle School to work with students and their families on identifying and overcoming barriers to attendance and to decrease the likelihood that students would drop out.
ACCESS Initiative 2009-2010 Summary: Conflict Resolution and Violence Prevention at Garcia Middle School
This report summarizes the 2009-2010 evaluation results of AISD's ACCESS initiative conflict resolution and violence prevention program at Garcia Middle School.
Program Summary and Second-Year Outcomes For The ACCESS Initiative, 2008-2009
The Austin Community Collaboration to Enhance Student Success (ACCESS) is a community collaboration between the Austin Independent School District (AISD) and public and nonprofit agencies. By implementing a number of innovative prevention and treatment programs to address the emotional, behavioral, and social needs of students, the ACCESS initiative seeks to promote and encourage safe and positive learning environments. Additionally, ACCESS aims to enhance the way social services are delivered on campuses by creating a youth mapping program with geographic information to locate, target, and…
Creative Teaching in 2017-2018
Creative instruction across the curriculum is a critical pillar of the Creative Learning Initiative (CLI). This report, the second in a series of three on CLI, shares teacher’s reactions to training in Creative Teaching, how and why they use it in the classroom, and how that usage relates to student outcomes. To view the interactive report, click on the link below, then use the green drop down menu in the upper left corner to select “Creative Teaching.”