1.) Why ATLAS? What is unique about what you do?
2.) What can we expect as outcomes as a result of working with ATLAS?
3.) What major strands of research inform your approach to school improvement?
4.) How does a school know that it is implementing the design well?
5.) How do schools find the time to do this work?
6.) Is ATLAS an “add on” to what we are currently doing in our schools?
7.) Who provides services? What are their qualifications?
8.) How much do services cost?
9.) What types of options do we have in terms of contracts with ATLAS?
10.) Does ATLAS offer any national institutes?
11.) I would like to visit an ATLAS school. How do I set that up?
12.) My school is in New York City. Are you an approved vendor?

1.) Why ATLAS?  What is unique about what you do?

• Quality of consultants
• We strive to provide the best service to each and every one of our schools
• Each contract is customized to your school and its context.
• ATLAS advocates a thorough planning process.  
• ATLAS understands the importance of building relationships.  Community building is essential.
• We understand systemic change in schools.  We have 15 years of experience and are a research based model.

2.) What can we expect as outcomes as a result of working with ATLAS?

• Increased student achievement
• Changes in culture, leadership and classroom practice.
• New ideas and strategies for teaching, learning and assessment.

3.) What major strands of research inform your approach to school improvement?

• Harvard Project Zero (Teaching for Understanding, Multiple Intelligences), Coalition of Essential Schools (essential questions), Yale Child Development Center (child development, creating schools that meet the diverse needs of its community).

4.) How does a school know that it is implementing the design well?

• You will experience many positive changes, most importantly will be engaged and interested students.

5.) How do schools find the time to do this work?

• Many schools create a schedule that allows them to meet during regular school hours.  This includes common planning time, grade level meetings, department meetings.  ATLAS recommends that teachers be able to meet during the school day.
• Schools sometime use other school funds to pay teachers stipends for meeting before or after school.

6.) Is ATLAS an “add on” to what we are currently doing in our schools?

• You will quickly learn that the work you do with ATLAS will enhance your skills as an educator.  ATLAS Study Groups and Looking at Student Work processes helps you to do the work that you are already being asked to do to meet local, state and federal mandates.
• Your ATLAS Consultant works with building leadership to create a schedule that fits into your working day.

7.) Who provides services?  What are their qualifications?

• ATLAS consultants are experienced and have classroom teaching experience in elementary, middle and high school.  Most have urban, suburban or rural school experience. 
• Consultants will be in your school working directly with teachers, leadership teams and principals. 
• Regional Directors oversee all of the site work.  Each has teaching and school leadership/administration experience.

8.) How much do services cost?

• ATLAS services vary in cost due to several factors.  These factors include:
• Number of teachers
• Number of students
• Time on site (number of days per year)
• Contracts are customized to meet your budget.
• There is no “typical” contract amount.
• ATLAS will work with clusters of schools in a network or districts to create “economies of scale”.

9.) What types of options do we have in terms of contracts with ATLAS?

• ATLAS offers one day introductory seminars on:
• Looking at Student Work
• ATLAS Study Groups
• Making Thinking Visible
• Leadership Institutes
• Short term contracts (6-8 days)
• This would look like this:  Introductory seminar/workshop followed by selected days of follow on consultant/services.
• Full year contracts
• After consultation with ATLAS, a year long scope of work is designed.  You may choose from the Pathways services, or choose a combination of those services.

10.) Does ATLAS offer any national institutes?

• ATLAS National Principals’ Institute:  March of every year
• Pathways to Understanding:  Annual institute for teachers in June of every year
• These institutes are open to anyone, and you are welcome to attend!

11.) I would like to visit an ATLAS school.  How do I set that up?

• Call 888-577-8585 to speak with an ATLAS staff member.  Or, email:  info@atlascommunities.org to tell us more about your interest.

12.) My school is in New York City. Are you an approved vendor?

• Yes, we are an approved vendor. If you would like more information on our New York City Vendor and Contract numbers, please contact Christine Lund at clund@atlascommunities.org