American Educational Research Association (AERA)

AERA is the most prominent professional organization concerned with improving the educational process by encouraging the dissemination and practical application of research results with the primary goal of advancing educational research and its practical application. Its more than 25,000 members are educators, administrators, directors of research, persons working with testing or evaluation in federal, state and local agencies, counselors, evaluators, graduate students and behavioral scientists.

Big Picture Learning

Big Picture Learning's mission is to lead vital changes in education by generating and sustaining innovative, personalized schools that work in tandem with the real world of the greater community. Big Picture students work in their communities with volunteer mentors and are not evaluated solely on the basis of standardized tests. Students are assessed on their performance on exhibitions and demonstrations of achievement, on motivation and on the habits of mind, hand, heart, and behavior that they display.

Challenge Success

Challenge Success is an expanded version of the Stanford University School of Education Stressed Out Students Project. The mission is to "inform, inspire, and equip youth, parents and schools to adopt practices that expand options for youth success. The founders of Challenge Success are advisors to the film.

Common Sense Media

Common Sense Media is dedicated to improving the lives of kids and families by providing the trustworthy information, education, and independent voice they need to thrive in a world of media and technology.

Edutopia

Founded by the George Lucas Educational Foundation, Edutopia is a place where kids and parents, teachers and administrators, policy makers and the people they serve are empowered to change education for the better.  Visit the site to discover the latest practical, hands-on advice and real world examples for developing lifelong learners and the skills needed to succeed in the 21st century.

Fair Test

This not for profit works to "end the misuses and flaws of standardized testing and to ensure that evaluation of students, teachers and schools is fair, open and educationally beneficial. Make sure to look at the site's list of colleges that make admissions decisions for a number of applicants without the SAT or ACT.

Inspire

The Inspire Foundation combines technology with direct involvement of young people to deliver innovative and practical online programs that prevent youth suicide and improve young people's mental health and wellbeing. The mission is to help millions of young people lead happier lives. The organization's work is backed by research and evaluation. Reach Out is their web-based initiative that offers information, support and resources to help young people improve their understanding of mental health issues, develop resilience, and increase their coping skills and help-seeking behavior. The services provided are anonymous and help is available 24 hours a day.

Kids Health

Mindfulness in Education Network

The Mindfulness in Education Network was established in 2001 by a group of educators and students of Thich Nhat Hanh, Zen Master and peace activist nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The Network sees mindfulness as an antidote to the growing stress, conflict and confusion in educational settings as well as an invaluable gift to give students. The network facilitates communication among all educators, parents, students and any others interested in promoting contemplative practice (mindfulness) in educational settings.

National Youth Violence Prevention Resource Center

The National Youth Violence Prevention Resource Center links to a fact sheet about youth suicide including risks and protective factors.

Positive Coaching Alliance

Founded by Stanford University, the mission of this organization is to "transform youth sports so sports can transform youth."

Raising Resilient Children Foundation

Disseminates information to assist adults to raise, support and develop stress-hardy children.

Resilience Research Centre

The Resilience Research Centre bring together leaders in the field of resilience research from different disciplines and cultural backgrounds. Their partners across six continents employ methodologically diverse approaches to the study of how children, youth and families cope with many different kinds of adversity.

Seeding The Future NOW

Seeding The Future NOW is a group of adult and youth visionaries seeking to work with communities to co-create unique educational models around the globe. The models we choose to create support children from the inside out in a reverent, holistic, ecological and just fashion.

Susan Ohanian

Susan Ohanian, a longtime teacher, maintains this site reflecting the leadership role she has taken in opposing NCLB, high stakes testing and the resulting take over of curriculum.

The Alternative Education Resource Organization (AERO)

AERO's goal is to advance student-driven, learner-centered approaches to education. AERO makes connections with international educational alternatives including Montessori, Waldorf (Steiner), Public Choice and At-Risk, Democratic, Homeschool, Open, Charter, Free, Sudbury, Holistic, Virtual, Magnet, Early Childhood, Reggio Emilia, Indigo, Krishnamurti, Quaker, Libertarian, Independent, Progressive, Community, Cooperative, and Unschooling. One of AERO's areas of expertise is democratic process and democratic education.

The Coalition of Essential Schools (CES)

The CES network includes hundreds of schools and more than two-dozen Affiliate Centers. Diverse in size, population and programmatic emphasis, Essential Schools serve students from pre-kindergarten through high school in urban, suburban and rural communities, and they are characterized by personalization, democracy and equity, and intellectual vitality and excellence.

The Independent Curriculum Group

The Independent Curriculum Group is part of a growing movement of leading college preparatory schools that have de-emphasized curriculum driven by standardized testing.

The Jed Foundation

The Jed Foundation works nationally to reduce the rate of suicide and the prevalence of emotional distress among college and university students. To achieve this end, the organization collaborates with the public and leaders in higher education, mental health, and research to produce and advance initiatives.

The Public Conversations Project

The Public Conversation Project is an organization whose mission is to guide, train and inspire individuals, organizations and communities to constructively address conflicts relating to values and worldviews.

Whole Child Education

Working to bring parents, educators, policy makers and communities together to ensure children are prepared for adulthood, this group is advocating for development of children who are healthy, safe, engaged, supported and challenged. A wonderful resource for those interested in advocating for change in education that emphasizes the whole child.