Communities of Excellence

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Communities of Excellence
Living the 8 Keys
Changing the lives of students everywhere
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Program

• Communities of Excellence Living the 8 Keys
• is a yearlong comprehensive character-development
  program
• for students and educators
• that focuses on principles that support
  excellence
• in individuals and in the community.

The 8 Keys of Excellence Integrity, Failure
Leads to Success, Speak with Good Purpose, This
Is It!, Commitment, Ownership, Flexibility,
Balance
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Program Highlights

• Engaging yearlong curriculum that connects to
  students
• (Elementary/Junior and Senior versions)
• Website with valuable information and guidelines
  including video training, scripted lessons that
  feature Quantum Learning delivery strategies,
  learning activities, daily quotes, student
  journals, 8 Keys Growth Gauge, message board for
  teachers to share ideas, and much more
• Key ring and 8 KeyCards for every student
• 8 Keys poster and The 8 Keys of Excellence book
  for each classroom
• How to Create Meaningful 8 Keys Personal
  Stories for teachers and invited community
  leaders

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8 KeyCards and Poster
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Program Website
Home Page Program Overview, PowerPoints 8 Keys of
Excellence How to Get Involved News,
Videos Teacher (password protected) How-to
support, Videos, Online training Introductory
Lesson, 8 Keys Lessons All About (each
Key) Quotes of the day Journals, 8 Keys Growth
Gauge Message Board for sharing ideas Student
(teacher/CoE managed) Blog, Videos, Photos News,
Stories Key of the Month Partners (password
protected) News, ebooks, Defining
Excellence www.CommunitiesOfExcellence.org
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Program Timeline

• August / September Start of program
• Three-hour online workshop to educate teachers on
  the impact of the 8 Keys of Excellence and to
  provide guidelines for implementation of the
  program in their classrooms (video from training
  by a lead Quantum Learning facilitator at the QLN
  Conference Center in Oceanside, California)
• Introductory lesson for teachers use in launching
  the program with their students. Includes an
  overview of the Communities of Excellence program
  and value of the 8 Keys of Excellence.

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Program Timeline (continued)

• September to April Teachers focus on one Key
  per month
• Initial Key Lesson includes a Key Story,
  definition/description, activity, journal page, 8
  Keys Growth Gauge, and giving students KeyCards.
• Teachers integrate the Key into their curriculum
  and reinforce the principle throughout the month.
  
• A host of additional suggestions are included
  such as 8 Keys announcements, skits in
  assemblies, 8 Keys awards, and inviting community
  leaders to share Personal Key Stories with
  students.
• May Reinforcement and celebration event

(CoE School Surveys are completed at start of
program, mid-year and end of year)
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Goals and Outcomes

• Create a socially aware, capable, responsible,
  and caring community of young people
• Inspire and empower students to make positive
  choices and become productive members of society
• Unite educators, local businesses, organizations,
  government officials, and parents in support of
  our students

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Long-lasting Impact
On the 26-hour flight over my train of thought
took me to thoughts about responsibility and
the 8 Keys.
1st Lt. Brian J. Seidl, from Iraq (learned 8 Keys
at SuperCamp when in high school)
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Implementation in Schools

• Thousands of schools are using the 8 Keys of
  Excellence with remarkable results through
  Quantum Learning programs.
• The 8 Keys of Excellence are licensed to
  Learning Forum International by Quantum Learning
  Network for use in the Communities of Excellence
  Living the 8 Keys program.

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Documented Results

• Alamo Heights Independent School District
• San Antonio, Texas
• I would say unequivocally, teachers, community
  members, and students are very excited about the
  implementation of the 8 Keys of Excellence. The
  effort has had a very positive impact on morale,
  behavior and character education efforts at the
  elementary schools. Many teachers and parents
  continue to let me know how the language of the
  Keys is evident, not only throughout the school,
  but throughout the community as well."
• Dan St. Romain, teacher and
  consultant

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Documented Results

• OPlaine Intermediate School (grades 3-5)
• Gurnee, Illinois
• Results tracked continuing drops in
  zero-tolerance behavior
• 6 first year, 12 second year, and 19 third
  year.
• (Note zero-tolerance behaviors are severe types
  of negative behavior that warrant a trip to the
  Principals office.)
• Statistically significant common language
  affected the entire process of school behaviors
• 8 Keys of Excellence
  implemented by co-principals
• Doug Schultze and Dr. Jenny Severson
• over a three-year period

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Documented Results

• Thornton Township High School District
• South Holland, Illinois
• Following a 22-day summer school program focused
  on the 8 Keys of Excellence, a 1998 study of
  ninth graders performing below grade level showed
  a 37 reduction in absenteeism, 66 reported
  better behavior, and 60 followed class rules
  more often.

Note Student population 2,047 37 low income,
83 African-American, 13 Caucasian, 4 other
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Possible Funding Sources

• CoE is easy to fund
• The Communities of Excellence program is easily
  scalable and
• replicable with an affordable cost of 10 per
  student per year.
• Your school can secure funding from several
  sources
• Individual donations
• School budget
• PTA fund-raising
• Parents pay
• Corporate Adopt a School donations
• (download donation form at website)
• Foundation grants
• (download Grant Request template at website)

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Communities of ExcellenceLiving the 8 Keys

• Learning Forum International (LFI) is a 501(c)
  (3) non-profit educational corporation, based in
  Oceanside, California, since 1989.
• LFIs mission is Making Great Kids Greater. We
  achieve this by supporting student and educator
  programs that contribute to the mastery of
  learning and life skills by todays youth,
  leading to their academic and personal success.
• Learning Forum International
• 760-305-7317
• Bobbi DePorter, President
  www.learningforum.org
• www.communitiesofexcellence.org

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Board of DirectorsLearning Forum International

• Bobbi DePorter
• Quantum Learning Network, President
• Joe Chapon
• Quantum Learning Network, Vice President
  Secretary/Treasurer
• Denise DeMan-Williams
• Chairman Chief Executive Officer Bench
  International
• Steve Curtis
•  Insight Consulting, Partner
• Steven Snyder
• BestQuest Teaching Systems, Partner
• Tom Holmquist
• BAE Systems, Director of Accounting