American Indian Model Schools
Under the leadership of Ben Chavis (Lumbee), a Native American professor, AIPCS students made considerable progress in academic scores from 2000 to 2007, and enrollment increased at the school. The first middle school, AIPCS, received national recognition in 2007. Some of Chavis's disciplinary methods and his treatment of students and teachers generated controversy, and he resigned as principal in 2007. But the board voted to maintain him in an influential executive role at the school and with the model school system. In 2012 Chavis ended his ties with the charter system (although his children remained as students) and returned to his home state of North Carolina.
Institute for Student Achievement
The Institute for Student Achievement (ISA) is a "high school turnaround partner" for public school districts attempting to improve high school education, particularly for at-risk students. ISA, which became part of Educational Testing Service (ETS) in 2013, offers both a comprehensive model and, for those schools and districts whose needs are less profound, ISA offers targeted services. Founded in 1990 by philanthropists Gerard and Lilo Leeds, at present ISA partners with 80 schools serving over 40,000 students in New York City, Michigan, Minnesota, Texas and Georgia school districts.
Since 2000, the organization has been headed by Gerry House, formerly school superintendent of the Memphis, Tennessee school system. Institute for Student Achievement website, accessed October 6, 2010. House helped redesign ISA with a focus on 'whole school' reform that would greatly increase the number of high school graduates prepared for college-level academic work.