One of the biggest obstacles to opening a new school is establishing an effective support network. The Innovative School Model Alliance is a cost-free membership that provides resources, advocacy and networking for schools that implement a new school design.  Learn more, click here.

Do you have specific questions about replicating a new school model?

Check out our list of Frequently Asked Questions. If you don't see your question on the list, or would like to discuss a model further, email or call us! Dawn Downes, Director of Innovative School Models, 302-656-4737 or ddownes@innovativeschools.org.

Model School Tours

 

Nominate a School For a Tour   |   Request a Tour

No one school model is a perfect fit for every community. Multiple stakeholders will need to agree on the model that fits best. There is no better way to learn about a model than to visit schools where the model has been replicated. When you see a model firsthand, you can visualize the possibilities for your school.

To facilitate such visits, Innovative Schools offers Model School Tours paid for through philanthropic funding. The tours enable Delaware school representatives to explore outstanding school models being implemented outside this state and judge for themselves whether a model is a good fit for replication here. 

Model School Tours feature a full-day tour at a school site that matches the demographics of Delaware's schools, and includes interviews with students, teachers, and administrators as well as classroom observation.  In planning a tour, Innovative Schools works closely with your group to ensure that all critical stakeholders take part and that the schools we visit match the student demographics in your school community. 

Who Should Attend a Model School Tour?

Model School Tours are designed to engage a variety of stakeholders - Board members, district office staff, principals, teachers, and parent representatives from your school.  These multiple perspectives help create a rich conversation about the best potential fit for your community and helps to lay the groundwork for successful implementation.

If you are a district staff member and match the description above, click here to request a tour for your district.  Innovative Schools believes it is important to reserve at least two seats for parent representatives.  To nominate yourself, or another parent representative, click here.