Using cohorts to build a positive social-emotional foundation for learning is an integral part of the NAF student experience. 

To create small learning communities within NAF academies, students are grouped together in cohorts. This helps students have a more personalized experience where they can access any support they may need. Beyond this, cohorts give students more opportunities to engage in collaborative experiences that strengthen their professional skills and personal networks.

Teachers at NAF career academies are committed to supporting students both inside and outside of the classroom.

NAF teachers, advisory board members, mentors, and staff build relational trust with students as a foundation for the path toward graduation and postsecondary goals. NAF students report that their teachers make an effort to get to know them as a person and they feel that they are treated fairly, regardless of race or ethnicity. Students also report that most teachers teach in a way that relates to their cultures and experiences. 

Outside of the classroom, teachers work with industry professionals to develop curriculum and organize work-based learning activities, including internship opportunities.

NAF career academies are required to establish an Advisory Board to drive engagement with industry professionals that supports student development and the workforce goals of the local community. 

NAF Advisory Boards provide an essential bridge between schools and the workplace. They are the foundation of the partnerships that NAF academies use to drive work-based learning. People from business, government, and nonprofit organizations volunteer on local advisory boards to play an active role in developing their future workforce by shaping talent in high school. 

Advisory board members collaborate with educators to inform curricula and help organize work-based learning activities. They also serve as mentors who build relationships with students and serve as positive role models.

Open enrollment is a critical element for schools adopting the NAF model because improving outcomes for all students is essential to its mission.

Schools that want to become NAF academies must maintain an open enrollment admission policy. While the NAF design is effective for students of all backgrounds and capabilities when implemented with fidelity, districts and communities facing historical and systemic challenges are prioritized for partnerships. This is exemplified by the fact that NAF enrolls students of color and students in free-and-reduced-price lunch programs at a significantly higher rate than the national average.

NAF career academies must undergo an annual assessment that allows them to review their progress against NAF’s standards and engage in a systemic evaluation process to validate the quality of their program of study.

The annual academy assessment helps schools implement the NAF design with high fidelity and also determine the academy’s quality level (i.e., under review, member, certified, model, and distinguished). They also ensure that academies are engaged in high-quality personalization of learning, increased engagement with employers, and increased student exposure to work-based learning experiences. The emphasis on continuous improvement is reflected in student outcomes that are assessed annually. NAF Academy Standards