General Information

• Edith Bowen provides services for 300 students, enrolled in grades K-5, within the State of Utah. Edith Bowen has two sessions of kindergarten and four non-graded Learning Communities, (grades 1-4) four looping classrooms and four traditional classrooms (5th grade).
• Edith Bowen strongly promotes the building of self-esteem and self-concept in children, and believes that "the heart of the curriculum is love."
• Edith Bowen believes the ideal climate for an elementary school should be a cross between Harvard and Disneyland, an atmosphere that provides for educational excellence, and yet also is viewed as being "the happiest place on earth."
• Edith Bowen supports the concept of Invitational Education. The school believes that people are able, valuable, and responsible and should be treated accordingly. The school also believes that potential can best be realized when places, policies, and programs are specifically designed to invite learning.
• Edith Bowen believes in a continuous progress program for its students serving individual needs and differences.
• Edith Bowen rigorously seeks to improve the quality of elementary education through on-going research and development projects in collaboration with its partners.
• Each year, Edith Bowen, in cooperation with the Department of Elementary Education at Utah State University, trains over 200 pre-service teachers preparing to become professional educators, as well as supporting several other departments/colleges on campus, including Special Education, Physical Education, Music, Psychology, and Business.
• The school operates under the direction of the Edith Bowen Governing Board.

Overview

• The lab school concept was initially established in 1928, at what was known as the Whittier School. Over the years, the lab school concept developed and in 1958, in cooperation with the Logan City School District and Utah State University, a new building was dedicated on the university campus. That building bears the name of an influential Utah educator, Edith Bowen. A new state-of-the-art facility was dedicated in 2003.
• The Governing Board serves as a representative body to determine program interests of the Utah State Board of Education to be promoted at the school, to establish and/or approve general program and administrative guidelines and policies for the operation of the school, to promote coordination of programs of mutual interests between the State Board of Education, Utah State University, local school districts, and patrons of the school.
• Funds for the operation of the school come from three sources: (l) state public school funds allocated through the USBOE; (2) state funds allocated through Utah State University; and (3) gifts and grants from state, federal, and private sources. No tuition is charged to students.

Vision

The Edith Bowen Lab School recognizes that school improvement is a dynamic and on-going process. The school believes that it must provide the leadership necessary to keep its programs and methods in the forefront of educational practice. The school believes that its unique role enables it to serve a necessary and needed bridge between theory and practice. The school is committed to the search for strategies and methods that help students find links and connections between their lives and the world around them, and enables them to become effective, caring, contributing, and enlightened individuals in our society.

Mission Statement

Through collaborative partnerships, the Edith Bowen Laboratory School will serve the state of Utah and nation as a unique and dynamic educational institution. It will foster a diverse, interactive, and inviting school environment where the community of learners extends from kindergarten to adulthood. The school commits itself to building capable, life-long learners through developmentally appropriate education, applied research, and innovative educational practices.

Goals

1. To provide high quality educational programming for the elementary students enrolled.
2. To provide a high quality instructional and clinical lab setting for undergraduate and graduate students in Elementary Education and related fields at Utah State University.
3. To provide a laboratory setting where research in educational programs, issues, and trends in elementary education and related fields can be conducted, and validated.
4. To disseminate broadly throughout the state and nation the results of promising educational programming, research and development activities, and strategies that promote improved teaching and instruction.
5. To develop and maintain a variety of educational partnerships to ensure the programmatic and financial stability of the school.

Governing Board

Edith Bowen has a Governing Board which consists of the Dean of the College of Education, the Elementary Education Department Head, a parent representative from Logan School District, a member of the Logan School Board, the Regional Director of the Utah PTA, the Superintendent of Logan School District, and a member of the Utah State Board of Education.

Edith Bowen's PTA provides regular volunteers at the school that support school projects, activities, programs, and provide classroom assistance.

Programs and Projects

1. Preservice and Inservice Teacher Education
   • Elementary Education
   • Varied Educational Internships
   • College of Education Classes
   • Extension Courses
   • District Workshops
   • Conference and Outreach Presentations
2. School Climate and Recognition
   • Gold Medal School
   • First Amendment Citizenship
3. Whittier-Edith Bowen Endowment Fund
   • Permanent Trust Fund
   • Capital Improvement Fund
   • Program Development Fund
4. The Arts (Dance, Drama, Visual Arts, Music, and Literature)
   • In-class and Pull-out Programs
   • Orchestral Music Program
   • School Choir
5. Edith Bowen Native Plant Demonstration Garden
   • Demonstration Center for undergraduate and graduate students and for students enrolled in the local public schools
6. Gifted and Talented
   • Enrichment Sessions, Activities, and Field Trips
   • Mentor Groups and Clubs
7. S.T.A.R.S. (Successful Tutoring for At-Risk Students)
   • Individualized Instructional Programs
   • Student/Educator/Parent Meetings
   • Parental Involvement and Training

Strategic Master Plan

The Edith Bowen Laboratory School operates under guidelines established in its Strategic Master Plan. The Master Plan stresses collaborative efforts among Edith Bowen and its partners, and establishes a framework for increased research. Those efforts are currently being focused on the following:

1. A "Unified Studies" Integrated Approach to Curriculum and Instruction which includes:
   • Transdisciplinary Subject Integration
   • Brain-Based Teaching/Instruction
   • Concept Webbing and Thematic Unit Development
   • Facilitative Teaching Strategies
   • Principles of Character Development.
   • Depth Versus Breadth.
2. A Early Childhood Learning Community Concept which includes:
   • Non--graded, Looped Classrooms
   • No Fail Instructtion Strategies
   • Invididualized Instruction and Educational Plans
   • Student Portfolio Development
   • Balanced Multi-dimensional Assessment
   • Emerging Literacy Projects
   • Utilization of Teaching Assistants and Volunteers
3. A Technology Enhanced Model of Schooling which includes:
   • Technology Demonstration and Training Center
   • Edith Bowen Software Library
   • Computer Laboratory
   • Keyboard Program
   • Basic Computer Literacy
   • Word Processing and Publishing
   • Library/Media and A.V. Training
   • Teacher Technology Workstations
   • Schoolwide Management System
   • Edith Bowen Telecommunication Network - EBTV