Citizen Schools :: Theory of Change

Our Model

Overview

Theory of Change

Apprenticeships

Academic Support

Explorations

Culture of Achievement

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National Leadership Partners

These organizations have provided essential support for Citizen Schools programs nationwide.

Theory of Student Impact

We believe that there are specific things that all children need in middle school to get on a trajectory of success for the rest of their lives. And we believe that to provide those things to the kids in a community—and to make the systemic change needed to ensure that all kids get them—there are specific things Citizen Schools must do and measure.

We aim to adjust the long-term trajectory of students, so that each of them graduates from high school prepared for college and career. We use short-term indicators to see if kids are on the right track—are they doing well in school now? Are they going to a high school with rigorous academics?

Research suggests that middle-school students need three things in addition to quality school instruction to achieve these outcomes:

Skills (how to do things)
Resources (relationships and connections)
Belief (assumptions about themselves and their future)

As we change students' trajectories, we also inspire thousands of adults. Not just Citizen Teachers, but also the school staff, the parents, visitors, funders and policymakers. What we do with these adults to keep them engaged and turn them into champions for kids and Citizen Schools determines how successful we are in creating a country in which every student has the skills, resources, and beliefs that put them on a track to success.