IDEALS
The K20 Center IDEALS Framework
The K20 Center’s IDEALS framework sets the stage for the ten research-based practices linked directly to high student achievement. IDEALS is an acronym for Inquiry, Discourse, Equity, Authenticity, Leadership, and Service.
- Practice 1: Shared Values
- Practice 2: Authenticity
- Practice 3: Shared Leadership
- Practice 4: Personalized Environments
- Practice 5: Teacher Collaboration
- Practice 6: Inquiry & Discourse
- Practice 7: Supportive Leaders
- Practice 8: Community Connections
- Practice 9: Equity Concerns
- Practice 10: External Expertise

Inquiry
INQUIRY is the cyclical process in which learning communities engage in translating data into actions that inform instruction ¹ by leveraging relevant data sources ² and new knowledge in the form of research and external expertise ³ to generate and implement an innovation ⁴ to improve learner achievement, engagement, and/or empowerment. ⁵ ⁶
Authenticity
AUTHENTICITY is a framework for meaningful, student-centered learning ²⁵ in which individuals build on what they already know to create deep knowledge ²⁴ as they engage in relevant learning tasks, problems, and challenges ²⁷ guided by focused conversations grounded in the use of essential questions. ²⁶
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