College of Education and Human Development
CEHD Receives Planning Grant to Create College Lab School
December 9, 1999
Mason's College of Education & Human Development, in partnership with Fairfax County Public Schools, is the recipient of a planning grant to create an innovative college laboratory school for 7th and 8th graders.
The text of the press release announcing the award is below.
Fairfax, Va. — George Mason University, in partnership with Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS), has been named the recipient of a 2012 Virginia College/University Partnership Laboratory School Planning Grant by Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell.
The grant, worth $145,500, will fund planning for Project SPARK, an initiative that will prepare FCPS students to be exemplary global citizens, strong creative thinkers, and problem-solvers under the guidance of highly-qualified educators.
The program is designed to serve as an incubator for high-yield pedagogy rooted in an interdisciplinary curriculum that will be integrated with creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, and communication and, ultimately, serve as a model for the Commonwealth of Virginia. The target population for the lab school is a heterogeneous group of seventh and eighth grade students who will be identified via lottery; should the plan be accepted, the target date to begin instruction is September 2013.
"This partnership between FCPS and Mason is an exciting, innovative model that will engage students in an integrated and cross-curricular program of studies, incorporate a strong second language program, create a digitally-rich learning environment, and allow for alternative scheduling throughout the day and year," says FCPS Superintendent Jack D. Dale. "The program will promote effective pre-service and in-service teacher development through the use of embedded field experiences with expert mentors, and encourage innovation in instruction."
"An important responsibility of Mason's College of Education & Human Development (CEHD) is to develop exemplary practices that can become common practices in our schools across the nation," says Mark Ginsberg, CEHD dean. "This collaboration on the development of a college laboratory school will allow us to do that, while elevating our long partnership with Fairfax County Public Schools to a new level."
One feature of Project SPARK will be research on the effect of alternative scheduling structures; grouping by interest, readiness, and learning profile; and self-directed learning opportunities, including independent studies and online or virtual learning. A critical component of the program is the involvement of the community through mentoring, sharing professional expertise, and contributions of resources. Multiple forms of assessment will be used and may include teacher-student surveys, teacher-peer observations, teacher and/or student portfolios, focus groups, and performance-based assessments.
The plan for Project SPARK must be submitted to the state by Sept. 15, 2012.
About George Mason University
George Mason University is an innovative, entrepreneurial institution with global distinction in a range of academic fields. Located in Northern Virginia near Washington, DC, Mason provides students access to diverse cultural experiences and the most sought-after internships and employers in the country. Mason offers strong undergraduate and graduate degree programs in education, engineering, and information technology, organizational psychology, health care, and visual and performing arts. With Mason professors conducting groundbreaking research in areas such as climate change, public policy, and the biosciences, George Mason University is a leading example of the modern, public university. George Mason University—Where Innovation Is Tradition.
For additional information:
- Media contact: Catherine Probst Ferraro, cferraro@gmu.edu
- College of Education & Human Development: cehd.gmu.edu