Pacesetting high schools, middle grades schools and technology centers have changed classroom and other practices to prepare students to meet postsecondary requirements and rising workplace needs. The strategies include raising expectations, project-based learning, guidance and advisement, improving students' reading and writing skills, standards-based teaching and learning, and many other successful approaches. Each of these strategies is described herein. This newsletter describes best practices in implementing the High Schools that Work (HSTW), Making Middle Grades Work (MMGW) and Technology Centers That Work (TCTW) school improvement models based on presentations at the 27th Annual HSTW Staff Development Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina in the summer of 2013.