The Margaret Hudson Program

Academic Services

Core Curriculum

Students who attend the Margaret Hudson Program receive a balanced accredited curriculum consistent with local and state academic standards. There is no loss of credit for transferring to our program.  Students receive their diploma from the high school they transferred from upon graduation. Classroom ratios of 1:10 and 1:12 provide more personalized education than students would receive in a regular school environment.

Big Picture Learning
The Margaret Hudson Program through its partnership with Tulsa Public Schools has adopted the Big Picture philosophy to education and has begun the process of implementing this new approach, which is to foster individualized learning, real world experiences, project based instruction, and post-secondary planning in order to establish rigor, relevance, and relationships for all students.

 
Today’s classrooms and districts barely differ from classrooms and districts of the 1930’s. They’re stuck in the past with predictable results. For every 100 students entering regular high schools, only 70 graduate; of these 44 begin college, but only 21 earn a degree. That’s a failure rate of 79%. These numbers drop off even further with students from lower socioeconomic levels.
 
The Big Picture mission is “the education of a nation, one student at a time.”  The success of Big Picture approach is proof that all young people, including (and especially) our under-served urban students, can succeed in high school, college, or any other post-secondary learning path or career.  It works by sticking to three basic principles: 1) Learning must be based on each student’s interests and needs. 2) Curriculum must be relevant to the student and allow them to do real work in the real world. 3) Students’ growth and abilities must be measured by the quality of their work and how it changes them.
 
Big Picture schools have a powerful appeal called common sense. Students form small groups, with a teacher (called an Advisor) who guides the same group all through high school. Each student also has an adult Mentor outside of school. All students help create their own curriculum, a personal one that reflects and expands their own interests and aspirations. School days include off-campus internships generated from each student’s interest, which are real life training in real-world work. Internships could be in a law office, design studio, research lab, bank, hospital...it could be anywhere.  
 
Big Picture is a philosophy of delivering education that has been very successful across the nation. In 1995, Big Picture Learning burst upon America’s languishing public education system, and grabbed the hearts, hands and minds of young people, inspiring them to become lifelong learners, productive workers, and engaged human beings. For more information on Big Picture, visit www.bigpicture.org.

Vocational Education

In addition to core subjects, students also participate in vocational childcare, business technology, and family and consumer sciences classes. Through the Parent Education Lab, students work in our Early Childhood Education centers and learn to care for children in developmentally appropriate ways. This allows the Margaret Hudson Program staff to monitor students' parenting skills and gives the students vocational experience that can lead to employment after graduation.

Social Services & Counseling

The Margaret Hudson Program maintains a staff of skilled counseling professionals who provide individual, group, and family counseling, crisis intervention, information and referral tailored to the needs of students and their families. Each student is assigned a counselor upon entry into the Margaret Hudson Program. Counselors also conduct follow-up evaluations with students for two years after they leave the program.

"Life Skills" Classes

Counselors collaborate with nurses on our "Life Skills" classes. "Life Skills" complements the vocational classes offered in the academic component of the program. Course content focuses on peer pressure, self-esteem, and decision-making; parenting and survival skills; career exploration, job attainment, and personal presentation. Special activities include field trips to work sites, College Career Day, and a forum on women's issues.