Policies

Big Picture Learning

Context and Issue

The traditional education system in the United States faced significant challenges, with many students disengaged, struggling to find relevance in their coursework, and inadequately prepared for life beyond school. The reliance on standardized testing often failed to capture the full scope of a student's abilities and potential, disproportionately affecting students who had experienced academic setbacks, those from marginalized communities, and those with diverse learning needs. In response to these issues, Dennis Littky and Elliot Washor established Big Picture Learning in 1995, beginning with The Met School in Providence, Rhode Island. Leveraging their extensive experience as educators, they proposed a bold new school design centered on the philosophy of educating one student at a time.

Solution

The Big Picture Learning program focuses on personalized learning plans tailored to each student's interests and goals, supported by an advisory structure where students remain with the same advisor and group for multiple years, fostering close relationships. Emphasizing real-world learning, students spend significant time in the community through internships and mentorships, gaining practical experience and exploring their passions. Assessment is based on exhibitions of learning and demonstrations of achievement rather than standardized tests, allowing for individualized evaluation of student progress. This hands-on approach has led to high levels of student engagement, attendance, and graduation rates, which are close to the national average despite serving many students who have faced academic setbacks. The core elements of Big Picture Learning—personalized learning, advisory structure, real-world learning, authentic assessment, and community involvement—create a holistic and engaging educational environment that effectively prepares students for life beyond school.

Impact

As per the '2023 state of network schools' report by Big Picture Learning (BPL), BPL has significantly impacted students across its network of 111 schools in 27 states, particularly focusing on those who have faced academic setbacks. The BPL model emphasizes personalized, interest-based learning, which includes a strong advisory system and hands-on real-world experiences through internships and mentorships. Despite serving a predominantly over-aged, under-credited, and diverse student population, BPL schools achieve near national averages in key metrics: an 87% average daily attendance rate and an 82% four-year graduation rate. BPL students report high satisfaction with their educational experiences, with 95.9% of students finding that their internships positively influenced their understanding of career paths. Additionally, 88.9% felt that these experiences deepened their knowledge of job and career pathways, while 86.7% benefited from mentor guidance. This personalized and community-oriented approach helps BPL students develop essential skills and forge meaningful relationships, which are critical for their post-secondary success and career readiness.

The Big Picture Longitudinal Study (2015) demonstrates that Big Picture Learning (BPL) high schools effectively increase graduation rates to 92% and college acceptance rates to 95-100%. The advisory system and Learning Through Internships (LTIs) foster strong mentorship and real-world skills, with 79% of students feeling well-prepared to pursue their passions. Parental involvement is high, with 77% of students reporting active participation. 

Analysis

The 2015 study on Big Picture Learning (BPL) reveals barriers such as a 35% and 24% Bachelor's degree completion rate for the classes of 2006 and 2007, respectively, highlighting issues in college persistence. Additionally, a "summer melt" rate of one-third indicates challenges in maintaining student commitment to college plans. BPL's resource-intensive model, requiring substantial investment in personalized learning and real-world experiences, poses challenges for scalability, alongside the need for specialized educator training and transitioning from standardized tests to authentic assessments. Despite these barriers, BPL's core principles—personalized learning, advisory structures, and community involvement—show potential for scalability with adequate funding, policy support, strong local partnerships, and technology integration. Addressing these challenges is crucial for replicating BPL's transformative educational approach across diverse settings.