Schools to Watch In 1999 the National Forum to Accelerate Middle Grades Reform began a national program to identify high performing middle grades schools. The Forum [www.mgforum.org] developed criteria for identifying these schools The National Forum believes that three things are true of high-performing middle-grades schools:
They are academically excellent–these schools challenge all students to use their minds well. They are developmentally responsive – these schools are sensitive to the unique developmental challenges of early adolescence. They are socially equitable–these schools are democratic and fair, providing every student with high-quality teachers, resources, and supports.

To achieve this level of performance, high-performing schools establish norms, structures, and organizational arrangements to support and sustain their trajectory toward excellence. They have a sense of purpose that drives every facet of practice and decision-making.

Schools that make application for or obtain Schools to Watch credentials will need to be active members of VMSA. Selected schools will be featured in state and national publications, and may be visited by educators seeking role models for good middle level instruction and support for students and staff. Schools will also participate in professional development, and will serve as a standard for other schools using the Schools to Watch Criteria to guide school improvement and reform. Finally, schools selected as STW will be expected to have a representative or representatives at the National STW Conference in June in Crystal City VA to receive their National recognition and interact with other STW from around the country.

In the summer of 2003, a team of middle level education leaders was trained in the STW selection process after Virginia Middle School Association and Virginia Department of Education had their application selected. The partnership between VMSA and DOE remains strong, and both are committed to the success of the Program.

By accessing the national STW Website, you can see the expansion of the program; twenty states have been selected as Schools to Watch states. Each of the schools completed a narrative and data based application, had the application screened by trained reviewers, and were visited by a team of trained middle grades leaders to determine the extent the school met the criteria in the four areas.

We are actively encouraging schools across the Commonwealth to apply for consideration as a School To Watch. Further information can be found on this website or other links on the site. Deadlines for new Virginia Schools to Watch applications is September 15 each school year. Principals and staff should spend the previous school year studying their school, completing the application, and employ this process as part of an on going staff development program.

We invite high-performing middle-grades schools to be a part of the Schools to Watch process. Feel free to review information from the Application Materials section of the website to begin planning your application for this year.

A recently developed Schools To Watch website has more information from the National Perspective. This is a new website highlighting the National Schools to Watch initiative with valuable information on many aspects of STW.