Updated presentation

1. HARRIET TUBMAN
DEMOCRATIC HIGH
SCHOOL
Our mission is to provide basic academic education to
students, grades seven through twelve, in a self-directed
learning community built upon principles of respect and
personal responsibility. The school offers a variety of
educational opportunities to students in an effort to
appreciate and accommodate the various ways each
individual is best able to learn. We teach youth
appreciation for peoples of diverse backgrounds and
experiences, as well as understanding of the democratic
principle of equality, with an aim towards carrying this
community consciousness beyond their participation in
our school.

2. HARRIET TUBMAN
DEMOCRATIC HIGH
SCHOOL
Short History
In 2006 we opened as the high school program of the
Albany Free School. In 2010 HTDHS was granted an
independent charter from the New York State
Department of Education and was registered with the
Board of Regents.

3. HTDHS Students
What kind of students attend HTDHS?
 Families looking for a community based school
 Holistic, student-centered environment
 Program based on a democratic philosophy
 Students who want to learn
 Of every academic level
 Seeking to pursue their own interests and directly
engage in their own learning process

4. HTDHS Students
What kind of students attend HTDHS?
 Anyone looking for a safe and respectful
community
 Children with a variety of challenges which may
have kept them from finding success in a
traditional school setting
Children who feel they do not “fit
in”
LGBT youth
Students who have experienced
bullying

5. Our Educational Philosophy
DEMOCRAT
IC
EDUCATIO
N
A school model which integrates
democratic principles and education
At HTDHS, democratic
principles are applied to
academic learning,
personal development,
problem solving,
decision making, and
community involvement

6. Our Educational Philosophy
DEMOCRAT
IC
EDUCATIO
N –
Academic
Learning
Democratic schools offer students the
opportunity to choose what, when, and
how they learn
Students have choices in setting and
reaching their academic goals:
 Classes
 Independent Study
 Internships
 Projects
 Field Trips
 Workshops
 Guest Speakers

7. Our Educational Philosophy
DEMOCRAT
IC
EDUCATIO
N –
Academic
Learning
Each person gains knowledge and skills
differently
Small Class Size
Average 3-8 students
Integrated ages, grades, and abilities
One-on-one Sessions
Available for every student

8. Our Educational Philosophy
DEMOCRAT
IC
EDUCATIO
N –
Academic
Learning
Students engage in their own learning
process
 Individualized Learning Plans
 Created by students and staff together
 Are adjusted as needed at any time
 Class Content and Activities
 Designed with student goals and
interests
 Planned with student input

9. Our Educational Philosophy
DEMOCRAT
IC
EDUCATIO
N –
Academic
Learning
Critical Thinking & Self Expression
Our staff teaches students how to think
for themselves by:
 Leading critical discussions
 Opening all topics for consideration and
debate
 Encouraging students to question anything
they do not agree with or understand
 Developing verbal and written expression
 Offering opportunities for creative problem
solving and decision making
 Respecting student input into their
educational process

10. Our Educational Philosophy
DEMOCRAT
IC
EDUCATIO
N –
Academic
Learning
Students thrive in a democratic learning
environment
 Academic Success
 Individual needs are met
 Students feel supported and respected
 Testing and learning anxiety are reduced
or alleviated

11. Our Educational Philosophy
DEMOCRAT
IC
EDUCATIO
N –
Academic
Learning
Students thrive in a democratic learning
environment
 Self-Motivation
 Students value reaching the goals they
chose
 Students remember the joy of learning
 School participation is meaningful
 Independence and self-motivation result

12. Our Educational Philosophy
DEMOCRAT
IC
EDUCATIO
N – Personal
Developmen
t
Democratic schools also give equal attention
to personal development
 Young adults face many challenges
 They need:
 Maturity, motivation, responsibility,
healthy living, and more
 Community connection and citizenship
 Graduation preparation must be more
than academic

13. Our Educational Philosophy
DEMOCRAT
IC
EDUCATIO
N – Personal
Developmen
t
Personal development is key to student
growth
 Students set personal goals each year
 Included in their learning plan
 Staff assist students in meeting these
goals
 Students plan post-graduation
goals
 College or employment
preparation
 Learning plans designed to
meet individual goals

14. Our Educational Philosophy
DEMOCRAT
IC
EDUCATIO
N – Personal
Developmen
t
 Personal development is essential to
student success
 Helps students prepare for their future
 Resolves issues that hinder their
education if left unaddressed

15. Our Educational Philosophy
DEMOCRAT
IC
EDUCATIO
N – Problem
Solving
Students and staff work together to solve
interpersonal and community problems
 Democratic problem solving
processes empower students to:
 Stand up for themselves
 Communicate effectively
 Treat each other with respect

16. Our Educational Philosophy
DEMOCRAT
IC
EDUCATIO
N – Problem
Solving
Three processes for resolving issues at
HTDHS
 Informal direct communication:
 Solves problems quickly
 Avoids misunderstandings
 Mediation
 Mimic real-world conflict resolution
processes
 Involve the parties having the dispute,
plus an impartial staff member and
student
 Council Meetings
 Formal all-school meetings
 Led by a student facilitator

17. Our Educational Philosophy
DEMOCRAT
IC
EDUCATIO
N – Decision
Making
Direct democracy in action
 Governance meetings (All School
Meetings)
 Held weekly
 Led by a student facilitator
 Utilize a formal procedural system
 Examples of topics addressed:
 Activities and scheduling
 Use of communal space
 Problem solving
 Hiring of staff
 Making or changing rules

18. Our Educational Philosophy
DEMOCRAT
IC
EDUCATIO
N – Decision
Making
Students and staff get an equal vote
 HTDHS runs on a consensus system
 Agreements and consequences are
agreed upon by the group
 Consensus:
 Ensures that minority opinions are given
equal weight
 Teaches compromise and community
consciousness
 Students rarely break rules they helped
make

19. Our Educational Philosophy
DEMOCRAT
IC
EDUCATIO
N –
Community
Involvement
Students are community members and
citizens
 Democratic principles teach:
 Respect for human rights
 Equality among individuals
 Democratic school processes teach:
 Citizenship
 Community consciousness
 Concern for others

20. Our Educational Philosophy
DEMOCRAT
IC
EDUCATIO
N –
Community
Involvement
 Diverse staff and student populations
 Our school community includes people of
various backgrounds and beliefs
 Individual differences are celebrated, not just
tolerated
 Direct contact is the best way for young
people to learn about and understand people
with experiences different from their own

21. Our Educational Philosophy
DEMOCRAT
IC
EDUCATIO
N –
Community
Involvement
Democratic ideals are promoted at HTDHS in
several ways
 Informal discussions
 All issues relating to the lives of our
students in the wider community are
open for discussion
 Staff encourage students to be aware of
current social and political issues
 Class content emphasizes:
 World-wide cultural education
 Current events
 Understanding of the US political and
judicial systems
 Social justice issues, past and present

22. Our Educational Philosophy
DEMOCRAT
IC
EDUCATIO
N –
Community
Involvement
Democratic ideals are promoted at HTDHS in
several ways
 Community Service
 We support political and societal
involvement of various forms

23. Our Educational Philosophy
DEMOCRAT
IC
EDUCATIO
N –
Community
Involvement
Democratic ideals are promoted at HTDHS in
several ways
 Student benefits include:
 Learning the value of service
 Experiencing the wonderful feelings
gained from helping others
 Demonstrating the many ways
individuals can make a big difference in
their own neighborhoods and
communities
 Alleviating discouragement that young
adults feel when faced with the many
problems in our world today

24. HTDHS Students
HTDHS Classes 2010-2014
Classes are offered 2-5 times a week for variable credit
English Literature: Classical Western, Funky Books, Mythology, Plays, Short Fiction, Urban Fiction,
Music as Poetry
English Writing: Adv Essay, Art of Writing, Creative Writing, Essays, Etymology, Journalism, Reading
Room
History: Contemporary Foreign Politics, Hist of Anarchy, Political Activism, Sociology of Mass
Movements, Americans Before Columbus, The Long War, Two American Histories, US
Government & Economics, US Hist, World Hist A, World Hist B
Math: Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry / Alg 2, Pre-Calculus
Science: Earth Science / Lab, Biology / Lab, Chemistry / Lab, General Lab, Physics Experiments,
Science Basics
Music & Art: Music Theory, Music Performance, Vocal Lessons, Intro & Adv Music, Art, Sewing,
Architectural Design
Health: Drug & Alcohol Awareness, Health, Personal Conception Workshop, Sex Education, Young
Women’s Group
Non-English Languages: American Sign Language, Italian, Japanese

25. HTDHS Students
HTDHS Extra Activities 2010-
2014Art / Music
1 special music workshop
1 music performance
5 student art exhibits at local
venues
11 museums & galleries / 21 trips
7 special art workshopsTheater Productions / Culture /
History
9 drama performances
6 lectures and workshops
1 museum
1 symposium 10 historical /
cultural sites
2 student performances
Environmental / Science / Physical
16 hiking or camping trips
8 yoga workshops
5 swimming trips
5 skateboard workshops
8 museums, planetariums, science
centersMisc
54 workshops – cooking & baking, math,
carpentry, cosmetology, art, film, drama,
college prep, politics, computers,
programming, nuclear physics, public
speaking, psychology, astrology, research,
spelling bee, yearbook

26. HTDHS Students
HTDHS Extra Activities 2010-
2014
Community Involvement
On-going battery recycling project
5 volunteer projects
5 social / environmental rallies
7 events supporting LGBT rights
2 conferences
Drug & Alcohol Awareness Day
Safe Sex Awareness Day
4 Earth Day cleanup and events
Internships
Theater Performance
Theater Production
Fashion
Cosmetology
Historical Society
Gym Teacher
Law Firm Administrative Assistant
Carpentry Apprenticeship

27. HTDHS Students
HTDHS Extra Activities 2010-
2014
Awards & Competitive Programs
Kid Wind Challenge (wind turbine contest – first place
winners)
Art Makes History: Colonie Art League (honorable mention)
Yes! Magazine (cover and article photos)
New York Capital Region GLSEN Jump Start Student
Leader
Students of Color for Change (activist training)
NYS Summer Young Writer’s Institute at Skidmore College
Marlboro College Grant
Potash Hill Award
Comptroller Achievement Awards (four students)

28. HTDHS Students
HTDHS Graduates
 College and Career Training
 79% of our graduates
 Of these, 97% are academically successful
 Colleges attended include local community colleges,
New England School of Photography, Goddard,
Marlboro, Landmark, Clarkson
 Seek Employment
 18% of our graduates

29. HTDHS Students
Student Evaluation
 Grading
 Letter and number grades are not used at our school
 Evaluation
 Evaluations are given each quarter
 They include:
*List of classes and Independent Studies
*List of extra curricular activities
*Narrative evaluation of the student’s academic
and personal development

30. HTDHS Students
Student Evaluation
 Testing Philosophy
 HTDHS approaches tests as assessment tools
 They are only one way staff determine student
progress
 Teachers help students relieve testing anxiety
 Test Preparation
 We offer students assistance in preparing for
standardized exams
 Including RCTs, Regents, SATs, and ACTs

31. HTDHS Students
Graduation
 Diplomas
 HTDHS is registered with the New York State Board
of Regents
 Students may earn local or Regents diplomas if they
fulfill state credit and test requirements

32. HTDHS Students
Tuition
 Tuition starts at $8,000 a year
 Sliding scale rates may apply
 Based on family income and financial
situation
 Payment Plans
 No extra charge
 Available to all families

33. HTDHS Students
Admission
Potential Students
 Visit for a school day
 Get to know our program, students, and
staff
 Students are admitted if the following criteria are
met:
 The student wants to enroll
 The parent(s) or guardian(s) want the student to
enroll
 There is room in the school

34. HTDHS Students
Admission
 We are committed to maintaining a diverse
learning community
 We encourage enrollment of students of a variety of
races, colors, national or ethnic origins, religions,
abilities, sexual orientations, or gender identification