Governor’s Schools Models of Excellence

1. Governor’s Schools Models of Excellence National Conference of Governor’s Schools“devoted… to educational, research, and charitable purposes that promote, aid, and advance education, particularly as related to Governor's School” www.ncogs.org

2. What are Governor’s Schools? • Residential • Most frequently on a college campus • State-affiliated • Often through department of education • Seasonal enrichment • At least one week in length • Sponsored/sanctioned by governor • Often includes "governor" in the title • For selected students with academic, creative, artistic, and/or leadership talents • Normally for secondary students National Conference of Governor's Schools

3. Alabama Arkansas Delaware Georgia Iowa Kentucky Louisiana Mississippi Missouri New Jersey New York North Carolina North Dakota Pennsylvania South Carolina Tennessee Texas Vermont Virginia West Virginia Wyoming Where are Governor’s Schools? National Conference of Governor's Schools

4. Types of Governor’s Schools: General Studies • Broadly liberal arts, fine arts and sciences in a single school • All provide and encourage multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary curricula and learning • 13 states (62%) offer comprehensive or general studies governor’s school programs National Conference of Governor's Schools

5. Types of Governor’s Schools: Creative/Performing Arts • Meet unique learning & performance needs of arts students • Require auditions, normally in person • Two basic program models • Conservatory models focused on performance, or; • Multi-disciplinary models focused on group process • Frequently separated from “academic” (liberal arts and sciences) programs • 9 states (43%) offer a separate arts program • Offered in addition to other programs, or; • Offered as state’s only Governor’s School program National Conference of Governor's Schools

6. Types of Governor’s Schools: Integrated Multi-Disciplinary • School offers multiple curricular foci in the same program • Science, Math, Business, Arts (ND) • General Studies or Humanities, Arts (VA) • Students primarily study within specific focus but are encouraged (or required) to study outside focus as well • Some programs may not offer an integrated multi-disciplinary experience • Different classes cover different disciplines • Limited classes offer cross-disciplinary study • 4 states (19%) offer integrated multi-disciplinary programs National Conference of Governor's Schools

7. Types of Governor’s Schools: Multi-Site, Separate Disciplines • Single state offers multiple programs • Separate programs located at different sites • Separate programs often have separate application processes • Individual programs are locally managed with statewide authority and support • Individual programs are narrowly focused • 9 states (43%) offer multi-site programs with separate disciplines at each site (examples follow) National Conference of Governor's Schools

8. Kentucky Liberal Arts & Sciences Arts Missouri Liberal Arts & Sciences Arts New York Ballet Choral Dance Jazz Media Orchestral Theatre Visual Arts South Carolina Liberal Arts/Global Issues Arts & Humanities Pennsylvania Agricultural Science Int’l Business & Entrepreneurship Health Care IT Int’l Studies Education Arts Science & Math Vermont Arts Current Events & Youth Activism Asian Studies Engineering & Comp. Science IT Math Science & Technology Types of Governor’s Schools: Multi-Site Programs • Tennessee • Arts • Humanities • Int’l Studies • IT/Leadership • TN Heritage • Manufacturing • Sciences • Agriculture • Virginia • Humanities • Arts • Math, Science & Technology • Agriculture • Life Sciences • Marine Science • Engineering • West Virginia • Liberal Arts • Arts • Math & Science National Conference of Governor's Schools

9. Funding Governor’s Schools:Many Models Exist • State legislature covers entire cost • Oversight through state office or appointed board • State & localities/divisions contribute in combined formula • Oversight remains in state office or appointed board • State contributes majority of cost to quasi-independent organization, foundation, or council • Oversight may be split between state office/board and foundation/organization board • State contributes portion of cost; foundation raises funds • State retains some oversight, but foundation/council board takes most • State contributes portion of cost; foundation/council raises funds; students pay tuition • State and foundation/council split oversight • State contributes portion of cost; foundation/council raises funds; students pay tuition; private industry underwrites portion of cost • Private industry represented on oversight board or boards National Conference of Governor's Schools

10. Establishing Governor’s Schools:What Is Required? • Requires Legislative Interest and Impetus • Conduct feasibility study and research programs • Conduct cost/benefit analysis • Legislate founding and funding • Requires Grass-Roots Effort • Parents of gifted students seek enrichment • Teachers who want to participate • College(s) & universities(s) that want to host • Cooperate to identify sympathetic legislators • Requires Considerable Political Will • Needs executive approval, if not outright support • Requires funds for gifted (often interpreted “unnecessary”) enrichment National Conference of Governor's Schools

11. Governor’s Schools as Models of Excellence: Flexibility Able to Adjust to/from Political Realities • Program Length (school, program schedules, cost) • Vermont: 1 and 2 week programs • Missouri & Mississippi: 3 week programs • Virginia: 4 week programs • Arkansas & Louisiana: 6 week programs • Funding: Legislative, School Division, External, Tuition, Hybrids • Location: Public and/or Private Colleges & Universities • Topic: General, Specific and/or Current • International Relations • Current Affairs • Youth Activism National Conference of Governor's Schools

12. Governor’s Schools as Models of Excellence: Flexibility Able to Adjust to National and State Trends • Standards-Based Assessment • Use local/national standards as minimal baseline • Meet, surpass, exceed all existing standards • Develop “off the scale” program standards • Student-Centered Instruction • Individualized learning • Customized instruction for current level • Students to take instruction beyond curriculum • No Child Left Behind • Gifted population as “the left behind” • Economical, effective addition to state’s gifted program National Conference of Governor's Schools

13. Governor’s Schools as Models of Excellence: Valuable Investment Investment in Future • Students and alumni as agents of future change • Training next generation leaders • Prevent/discourage “brain drain” Investment in Gifted Programming • Single program available to statewide population • Encourages local gifted programs to improve programs to compete for slots • Improves local identification efforts • Involves parents in educational and political process National Conference of Governor's Schools

14. Governor’s Schools as Models of Excellence: Valuable Investment Investment in Students • Remarkable progress in social and emotional development • Bringing out the hidden “E” from the gifted “I” • Self-discovery of leadership talent, ability, self-assurance • Gaining sense of self at a time when “self” is difficult to identify • Students as agents of change – spreading the word, involvement in political process National Conference of Governor's Schools

15. Governor’s Schools as Models of Excellence: Valuable Investment Investment in Education • In-state College/University • Retain academic & artistic talent in-state • Offer in-state school as pleasant, challenging learning environment • Plant seeds for future generations of leaders to attend in-state school • Curriculum Models • Share curriculum development and content with local schools and educators • Initiate mentoring programs for in-state educators • Involve teacher education in implementation National Conference of Governor's Schools

16. Governor’s Schools as Models of Excellence: Curriculum Continually Updated • Gifted students & parents demand it • Updated/cutting edge teaching methods • Up-to-date research and technology • Resources of high-end academic libraries, arts facilities, and learning environments • Faculty & Staff Want It • Teaching laboratory for future curriculum development • Intellectual/artistic curiosity of students requires deep research, broad knowledge • Teaching regains its “fun” aspects National Conference of Governor's Schools

17. Governor’s Schools as Models of Excellence: Curriculum Residential Program Affects Social & Emotional Development • Co-curricular and extra-curricular programs complement the curriculum • Social activities incorporated throughout the program: “mandatory fun” benefits gifted population • Reaches beyond the intellect into affective domain, encouraging open dialogue and honest interaction • Develops a unique, diverse community of learners among similarly high-ability students • First time with others “like themselves” • Diverse ethnically, racially, ethically, socio-economically, politically, developmentally, etc. • Changes lives and hearts, not just minds National Conference of Governor's Schools

18. Governor’s School Testimonials:What the Students Say • “I would most definitely recommend the program to anyone with an open mind who is willing to challenge and defend their pre-conceived notions on the world. It was the best thing that could have happened this summer.” -2002 VA Student • “When people tell you it is ‘life changing’ you’ll smile kindly and nod and have little faith they are undoubtedly right for you specifically. I cannot tell you why it will be life changing for each and every one of you and yet I feel assured that it will be - for a different reason for every person. It is something that you should do if the opportunity arises.” -1997 VA Student National Conference of Governor's Schools

19. National Conference of Governor’s Schools: Contact Information • Web: www.ncogs.org • Email: info@ncogs.org • NCoGS ListServ: Free MembershipContact info@ncogs.org with email address National Conference of Governor's Schools

20. Alabamawww.samford.edu/groups/ags Arkansaswww.hendrix.edu/AGS Delawarewww.udel.edu/govschool Georgiaservices.valdosta.edu/ghp/ghp.html Iowawww.education.uiowa.edu/belinblank/programs/igi Kentuckywww.kygsp.org & www.kentuckygsa.org Louisianawww.gpgc.org Mississippiwww.muw.edu/govschool Missouriwww.smsu.edu/mfaa & www.moscholars.org New Jerseywww.govschool.org New Yorkwww.emsc.nysed.gov/nysssa North Carolinawww.ncgovschool.org North Dakotawww.ndsu.nodak.edu/govschool Pennsylvaniawww.pgse.org South Carolinawww.guvie.cofc.edu & www.scgsah.state.sc.us Tennesseewww.tennessee.gov/education/govschools Texasdept.lamar.edu/connchair/THLP/Main.htm Vermontwww.giv.org Virginiawww.pen.k12.va.us/VDOE/Instruction/Govschools West Virginiawvgovschools.org Wyomingwww.uwyo.edu/provost/hsi Visit Governor’s Schools around the Country National Conference of Governor's Schools