Prospect Center

What is Prospect?

PROSPECT ARCHIVES AND CENTER FOR EDUCATION AND RESEARCH is a wide-ranging network of people interested in schools, learning, and works. We are committed to observation and description as the ground for teaching and inquiry. Prospect began as a school for children in 1965 and continued until 1991. Prospect's philosophy and descriptive processes were created at the school and continue to be used in schools and inquiry groups across the country. Attention to student work was central to the school and philosophy and in 2005, Prospect's Archives, comprising longitudinal collections of the art, writing, and other works by individual children, totaling about 300,000 pieces, were donated to the University of Vermont Special Collections. Portions have been published as The Reference Edition of the Prospect Archives. The Archives have informed Prospect's view of children's growth over time.

Valuing the ways children spontaneously inquire and make meaning, and starting fom children's strengths and capacities, Prospect's descriptive processes allow the respectful study of children's learning, activities, and works. The processes most often focus on a child or a child's work, but are also used to review a teacher's or administrator's practice, a school, or an issue such as curriculum. They enable groups of educators and parents to create a continuing conversation in which to explore and rethink their work and the aims and art of teaching. They are the basis for consultations and workshops, institutes and conferences, conducted by members. From Another Angle illustrates and explains how to do a Descriptive Review of the Child, and Starting Strong introduces the Prospect philosophy through a series of essays by Patricia F. Carini, one of the founders of the Prospect School.

Prospect's top priority is to present and publish the ideas and processes central to its philosophy. We would like to see more educators and parents speaking out for democratic values and for schools responsive to all children.

Diversity of all kinds immeasurably adds to and strengthens that message.
The Prospect Center does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, national or ethnic origin in the administration of its education, admissions, or employment policies or practices.

Who is Prospect?

Prospect is a network of preschool through university educators, parents, researchers, and others, from all over the country. We depend on donations by those interested in learning more about Prospect and in supporting its work.