RSVP & School Reform

RSVP Supports School Reform Advocated by the Nation's Principals
In the widely recognized high school reform publication, Breaking Ranks II: Strategies for Leading High School Reform, six of the thirty-one recommendations relate to student voice and leadership. RSVP provides your school with a systematic and comprehensive way to begin to address each:

• Promote service programs and student activities as integral to education, providing opportunities for all students that support and extend academic learning.
• Accord meaningful roles in decision making to students…in order to promote student learning and an atmosphere of participation, responsibility and ownership (One specific strategy mentioned to accomplish this: "Provide student government…with opportunities to be included in decisions of substantive issues.")
• Advocate and model a set of core values essential in a democratic and civil society.
• Connect the curriculum to real-life applications of knowledge and skills to help students link their education to the future
• Promote policies and practices that recognize diversity in accord with the core values of a democratic and civil society
• Develop political and financial relationships with individuals, organization, and businesses to support and supplement educational programs and policies.

Challenges Addressed by RSVP

• Provides principals with a way to utilize the leadership of their student councils to engage students more and personalize their school experience.
• Involves all students and student populations-specifically giving those students who are typically not involved an opportunity to share their voices and participate in civic-based activities.
• Establishes a process and framework for developing and implementing student-directed projects.
• Brings abstract learning to life: "Students who learn about democracy in social studies courses but who fail to see it practiced in the classroom or school are given the message that democracy is a lofty ideal, but it is not for the real world. What is needed then is an approach to citizenship education that will not only prepare students for democratic participation but help them to appreciate the value of democratic institutions". (Power 1993, p190) Visit www.nasc.us to learn how RSVP can be tied to state content standards; also find on the site creative curriculum activities.

Extends opportunities for leadership and involvement to non-elected students