At the Feb. 19 meeting, the APS Board of Education voted unanimously to accept William Smith High School as the district’s first autonomous Pilot School. Although other school districts in the state may be providing autonomy to some schools, APS developed its Pilot School program through a unique joint partnership between the board and the teachers association.

State Senator Suzanne Williams attended the board meeting and commended APS for Pilot Schools. “Congratulations to this district! Leaders in our own state and the nation need to look at APS as a model for creating innovative and collaborative schools.”

Pilot Schools are unique because the APS Board of Education and the Aurora Education Association have agreed to provide autonomy to Pilot Schools in exchange for increased accountability, including higher attendance rates, graduation rates and CSAP scores.

Before William Smith staff members could apply for a Pilot School conversion, they had to secure support from at least two-thirds of licensed teaching staff as well as support from parents, classified staff, studens and community members. All of William Smith staff members supported the conversion application.

“The Pilot School project has given us an opportunity to be innovative and creative and to do this collaboratively. I applaud the William Smith staff for taking the opportunity to be our first Pilot School.”
- Brenna Issacs
Aurora Education Association President

Beginning fall 2008, the school will be governed by a committee that includes teachers, parents, community members and students. William Smith’s governing board will have the ability to control budget, calendar and curriculum materials.

As a Pilot School, William Smith will continue as a small high school and will expand its focus on expeditionary learning. The integrated instructional program will include internships, language immersion, fieldwork, travel and community partnerships.

“We are honored to lead this new, innovative phase in APS’ history. We’re committed to keeping the strong community that has always been a part of William Smith.”
- Jane Shirley
William Smith High School Principal

This innovative tool for school reform in APS has received a lot of public attention, more than a dozen news stories. You can view the stories at the following links:

Feb. 21, 2008
http://denver.yourhub.com/AuroraSouth/Stories/Education/School-News/Story~431581.aspx

Feb. 21, 2008
http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_8318656 

Feb. 19, 2008
http://aurorasentinel.com/main.asp?SectionID=10&
SubSectionID=10&ArticleID=18424  

Feb. 19, 2008
http://www.9news.com/news/top-article.aspx?storyid=86714

Feb. 19, 2008
http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/15348157/detail.html

Feb. 18, 2008
http://www.denverpost.com/education/ci_8291055

Feb, 18, 2009
http://www.aurorasentinel.com/main.asp?SectionID=10&SubSectionID=10&ArticleID=18411

Feb. 13, 2008
http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_8252958

Feb. 10, 2008
http://blogs.denverpost.com/eletters/2008/02/10/union-vs-dps-over-bruce-randolph-2-letters/

Feb. 7, 2008
http://www.aurorasentinel.com/main.asp?SectionID=10&SubSectionID=10&ArticleID=18339

Dec. 18, 2007
http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_7746966

Nov. 27, 2007
http://www.aurorasentinel.com/main.asp?SectionID=10&SubSectionID=10&ArticleID=17764

Nov. 12, 2007
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2007/nov/12/auroras-bold-plan/

Nov. 5, 2007
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/education/article/
0,1299,DRMN_957_5739527,00.html

Sept. 26, 2007
http://www.aurorasentinel.com/main.asp?SectionID=10&SubSectionID=10&ArticleID=17229

Sept. 18, 2007
http://www.aurorasentinel.com/main.asp?SectionID=10&SubSectionID=10&ArticleID=17143

Read more about APS Pilot Schools at www.aps.k12.co.us/schools/pilot.