Capstone projects are months-long in-depth projects that enable students to prove that they have developed the skills contained in their graduate profiles—while applying that learning in the community. Students engage in active, self-directed, and community-based learning experiences to produce a body of work that teachers periodically assess for evidence of competence.

Capstones result in public exhibitions of learning to school, family, and community. Capstone projects prioritize student passions and measure academic competency and transferable skills that tomorrow’s economy demands—including teamwork, effective communication, problem-solving, and critical thinking. Capstone projects can look different for every school and every student.

Work-based learning provides students with opportunities to gain real-world work experience while still in school. WBL programs typically involve internships, apprenticeships, or other forms of on-the-job training at local businesses that provide concurrent school credit. 

These pathways connect young people to employers and the caring adults who work there, giving students the experience of being treated as assets in their professional setting and in the larger community.

Career and technical education focuses on providing students with the technical and vocational skills they need to succeed in specific careers. CTE programs are most often inside the school classroom, but some include hands-on training, apprenticeships, and certification programs off campus. The goal of CTE is to prepare students for careers in fields such as healthcare, engineering, or information technology.

Data shows that when we connect young people to paid internships and/or meaningful work-based learning and CTE programs with local employers, they have more access to important career connections and professional networks, as well as more engagement and higher attendance at school.

Social and emotional learning is the process through which all young people and adults acquire and apply the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to develop healthy identities, manage emotions and achieve personal and collective goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain supportive relationships, and make responsible and caring decisions.

SEL advances educational equity and excellence through authentic school-family-community partnerships to establish learning environments and experiences that feature trusting and collaborative relationships, rigorous and meaningful curriculum and instruction, and ongoing evaluation. (source: CASEL)

Social and emotional learning is incorporated in every step of Innovation Zone practices, and is an essential first step in cultivating the school culture and community engagement needed to create a solid foundation for innovation.