About Us
- Our Philosophy
- Coalition of Essential Schools
- Program Overview
- Licensing and Membership
- Faculty and Staff
- School Info and Directions
- Contact Us
Crefeld is guided by the principles of the Coalition of Essential Schools and research on multiple intelligences and learning styles. The Coalition is a school reform movement with over 1000 affiliated schools around the country, and many of its principles are being adopted wholesale by state departments of education as part of a project called Re:Learning. The Coalition's philosophy is outlined in Theodore Sizer's books Horace's Compromise, Horace's School, and Horace's Hope.
More information about the Coalition's work is available at the Crefeld School or directly from The Coalition of Essential Schools:
CES National
1814 Franklin St., Suite 700
Oakland, CA 94612
510-433-1451
A few of the significant Coalition ideas we have adopted are graduation-by-exhibition, student-as-worker/teacher-as-coach pedagogy, personalization of curriculum, and a conscious school tone which reflects trust, decency, and unanxious expectation. Crefeld also participates in the National School Reform Project funded by The Annenberg Institute for School Reform.
Ten Common PrinciplesIn order to be a part of the Coalition of Essential Schools, a school must follow these Ten Common Principles:
Principle One:
Helping students learn to use their minds well
Principle Two:
Less is more: Essential skills and areas of knowledge
Principle Three:
Goals apply to all students
Principle Four:
Personalized teaching and learning
Principle Five:
Student-as-worker, teacher as coach
Principle Six:
Graduation by exhibition
Principle Seven:
Tone of decency
Principle Eight:
Teacher-as-generalist
Principle Nine:
Administrative and budget targets
Principle Ten:
Non-discriminatory and inclusive policies