Publications
Creative Learning in Adverse Times
This paper describes the work done to advance CLI goals despite the challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Among many successes resulting from CLI’s resourcefulness and adaptability was an increase in secondary arts enrollment for students in special groups (e.g., special education, economically disadvantaged, and emergent bilingual). In addition, CLI’s novel Season of Arts Experiences provided 28 schools who would not have otherwise participated access to 27 unique arts partners, contributing to over 107 total arts partnerships in the 2020-2021 school year.
Remote and In-Person Learning in AISD: Implementation, Context, and Outcomes
Much of the research on virtual learning during the pandemic references hastily assembled online education as a result of pandemic closures. However, in AISD, students either already had or were provided mobile devices, and students who needed WiFi access were provided hotspots. This report looks at student attendance and learning in Fall 2020, based on how students participate in school (from home, in-person, or mixed).
Creative Teaching in the Classroom: A Case Study Using the Hot Seating Strategy in English Language Arts
In this report, we give a comprehensive description of how an AISD 2nd-grade teacher, Mrs. Theresa Wood, integrated a drama-based Creative Teaching strategy into her guided reading lesson. This Creative Teaching strategy, called hot seating, involves students interviewing characters from the story they have read. This case study will provide a vivid understanding of why teachers choose hot seating to amplify their instructional goals in English language arts lessons, how a teacher facilitates the strategy in the classroom, and how it can be extended and modified to fit different needs.
Afterschool Centers on Education (ACE) Foundation Communities Cycle 9 Final Report, 2020-2021
The Texas Afterschool Centers on Education is the program administered through the Texas Education Agency (TEA) for the federally funded 21st Century Community Learning Center (CCLC) grants. The Texas ACE Foundation Communities Cycle 9 program is composed of a compilation of activities at 3 AISD campuses that provide a comprehensive range of high quality and innovative out-of-school time opportunities for students and families. This report examines outcomes of program participants for school year 2020 – 2021.
Afterschool Centers on Education (ACE) Boys and Girls Clubs of the Austin Area Cycle 10 Final Report, 2020-2021
The Texas Afterschool Centers on Education is the program administered through the Texas Education Agency (TEA) for the federally funded 21st Century Community Learning Center (CCLC) grants. The Texas ACE Boys and Girls Clubs of Austin Area Cycle 10 program is composed of a compilation of activities at 9 AISD campuses that provide a comprehensive range of high quality and innovative out-of-school time opportunities for students and families. This report examines outcomes of program participants for school year 2020 – 2021.
Afterschool Centers on Education (ACE) Austin Cycle 9 Final Report, 2020-2021
The Texas Afterschool Centers on Education is the program administered through the Texas Education Agency (TEA) for the federally funded 21st Century Community Learning Center (CCLC) grants. The Texas ACE Austin Cycle 9 program is composed of a compilation of activities at 10 AISD campuses that provide a comprehensive range of high quality and innovative out-of-school time opportunities for students and families. This report examines outcomes of program participants for school year 2020 – 2021.
Afterschool Centers on Education (ACE) Austin Cycle 10 Final Report, 2020-2021
The Texas Afterschool Centers on Education is the program administered through the Texas Education Agency (TEA) for the federally funded 21st Century Community Learning Center (CCLC) grants. The Texas ACE Austin Cycle 10 program is composed of a compilation of activities at 10 AISD campuses that provide a comprehensive range of high quality and innovative out-of-school time opportunities for students and families. This report examines outcomes of program participants for school year 2020 – 2021.
The Creative Learning Initiative Benefits AISD English Language Learners
English language learners were more likely to attend school and to meet the STAAR passing standards in reading and math when their teachers used creative teaching strategies more frequently. These findings coincide well with the research that encourages teachers of foreign languages to be creative in their teaching so that students not only benefit from language learning, but also develop broader educational objectives and learning outcomes (Maley & Peachey, 2015).
AISD Calendar Survey Results
This interactive dashboard displays results of the AISD Calendar Surveys for school year calendars since 2019-2020. Families, students, AISD staff, and community members are all invited to place their votes on their preferred calendar of those developed by the AISD Calendar Task force. (After you click on the link below, select "Calendar Survey Results" from the green drop-down menu)
Afterschool Centers on Education Austin Independent School District Cycle 10 Final Report 2019-2020
The Afterschool Centers on Education (ACE) is the program administered through the Texas Education Agency (TEA) for the federally funded 21st Century Community Learning Center (CCLC) grants. The ACE Austin Cycle 10 program provides intentional afterschool program experiences that are high quality, challenging, and inspiring. Across activities and centers, the afterschool program focuses on three primary objectives: decrease school-day absences, decrease discipline referrals, and increase academic achievement. This report examines outcomes for participants.