Why are our educational institutions and practices such a poor fit for so many students? A Prison Called School addresses the complex issues that place many students at a disadvantage as they try to survive yet another hurdle in life-school. Although some students are able to navigate and succeed in the current system, other students struggle to survive a system that is unable to meet their needs. For those students, school can feel like a twelve-year prison sentence.Students who cannot fit the outdated, one-size-fits-all model, are further penalized by a system that blames the struggling student rather than holding the institution accountable. For students to thrive in school, the system, not the students, must change in deep and substantial ways. A Prison Called School is a powerful catalyst for creating the empowering, engaging, and effective learning environments that all students need to succeed in school and life.

AcknowledgementsIntroductionPart One1                    Life on the Inside2                    From Idealism to Institutionalism3                    The Prisoners4                    Disempowered to DisengagedPart Two5                    New Form, Not Reform6                    Valuing Our Youth, Valuing Our Future7                    The Power of Empowerment8                    Real Learning for Real Life9                    Engaged for Learning10                  Partnerships that TransformConclusionNotesBibliographyResources