EL Education

EL stands for Expeditionary Learning.  EL Education is a national nonprofit partnering with K-12 educators to transform public schools and districts into hubs of opportunity for all students to achieve excellent equitable outcomes and release their unique genius. EL Education is guided by a vision of education equity and student potential, by a reimagined definition of student achievement, and offers research-proven resources and practices, including:

• The acclaimed EL Education K-8 Language Arts curriculum
• Core Practices driving continuous improvement for equity
• Highly-rated professional learning
• Best-selling educator books, videos, and media.

The EL Education model is built upon two traditions: Outward Bound’s focus on challenge, teamwork, service, and compassion, and the Harvard Graduate School of Education’s focus on active inquiry-based learning. Since its inception at the Harvard Outward Bound Center twenty years ago, they have placed student character at the center of our work in schools. EL Education Students Outperform Peers (Need info Graphic Here) Top-Rated Curriculum EMSA is the only student-led, experiencial learning K – 8 public school in the U-46 area. Our curriculum provides depth to learning, critical thinking and real-world problem solving. EMSA’s EL Education English Language Arts Curriculum received the highest score for a K-5 curriculum from leading independent reviewer, EdReports.

This innovative school model is proven to close achievement gaps. Students have agency in their own learning because it is meaningfully tied to improving their communities and their learning is active — which improves engagement for all demographics. After three years of attending an EL Education school, students GAIN an average of: TEN months in MATH achievement SEVEN months in READING achievement. 

At EMSA, students engage in “Crew” for a minimum of 30-minutes every day. All students are greeted and acknowledged then participate readings and initiatives that correlate with learning about our Habits of Scholarship. Students are able to address problem-solving issues in the classroom, school, and world. Three Dimensions of Student Achievement When students enter adult life, they will be celebrated not for their performance on basic skills tests, but rather for the quality of their work and their character. That’s why EL Education builds students’ capacity for three dimensions of high achievement:

1. Mastery of Knowledge & Skills
2. Character
3. High-Quality Student Work

Our approach connects learning to real-world issues and needs. Project-based fieldwork and service learning projects inspire students to think and work as professionals contributing high-quality work to authentic audiences beyond the classroom. Invigorating Instruction Our classrooms are alive with discovery, inquiry, critical thinking, problem solving, and collaboration. Teachers talk less. Students talk more. Lessons have purpose, guided by learning targets for which students take ownership and responsibility.

Our community embraces the concept of student-engaged assessment in education. It builds student ownership of learning, drives achievement, and focuses students on reaching standards-based learning targets. Students continually conduct learning assessments and improve the quality of their work through models, reflection, critique, rubrics, and expert assistance.

EMSA builds a culture of respect, responsibility, courage, and creativity where students and staff are committed to quality work and citizenship. School structures and traditions—such as crew, community meetings, exhibitions of student work, and service learning—ensure that every student is known and cared for, student leadership is nurtured, and contributions to the school and world are celebrated.

Our school leaders build a cohesive school vision focused on student achievement and continuous improvement. Leaders use data wisely, boldly shape school structures to best meet student needs, celebrate joy in learning, and build a school-wide culture of trust and collaboration.

Demonstrate proficiency and deeper understanding: show mastery in a body of knowledge and skills within each discipline. Apply their learning: transfer knowledge and skills to novel, meaningful tasks. Think critically: analyze, evaluate, and synthesize complex ideas and consider multiple perspectives. Communicate clearly: write, speak, and present ideas effectively in a variety of media within and across disciplines

Work to become effective learners: develop the mindsets and skills for success in college, career, and life (e.g., initiative, responsibility, perseverance, collaboration). Work to become ethical people: treat others well and stand up for what is right (e.g., empathy, integrity, respect, compassion). Contribute to a better world: put their learning to use to improve communities (e.g., citizenship, service)

Create complex work: demonstrate higher-order thinking, multiple perspectives and transfer of understanding. Demonstrate craftsmanship: create work that is accurate and beautiful in conception and execution. Create authentic work: demonstrate original thinking and voice, connect to real-world issues and formats, and when possible, create work that is meaningful to the community beyond the school