Students learn about and practice social justice. Teachers design instruction and curriculum to support students who have been marginalized by using culturally relevant materials and developing students’ independence as learners.

Students participate in career- related learning, such as internships or apprenticeships, and the school encourages and guides them through career exploration. Students can often begin earning college credit in high school through early-college models, and can receive credit for learning experiences outside traditional classrooms.

Students show their skills and knowledge through performance assessments rather than traditional tests. Instead of earning credit for learning by finishing a time-based course and getting a passing grade, they earn credit by demonstrating that they’ve mastered specific skills or content.

Students move through learning activities at their own pace, advance when they’re ready, and follow an individual learning path rather than progressing at the same pace as the entire class. Many pursue their studies partly through online learning and partly in-person.