Talbot Hill Elementary School in Renton, Washington, uses the MicroSociety model to make learning relevant and engaging for its diverse student population. Three afternoons each week, every student participates in a for-profit business, a governmental agency, or a nonprofit organization. Teachers prepare students to participate in the school's complex economy and society at the beginning of each year, teaching them such basic concepts as citizenship responsibilities, economics, and governmental processes. An elected student government (a president, vice president, House of Representatives, and Senate) passes laws guiding the society's functioning; student judges and lawyers deal with violations of the law at the student Hall of Justice. Although this whole-school reform model demands increased commitment from teachers as well as extra financial resources, Talbot educators have found that it benefits students in terms of academic achievement and student engagement. (Contains 1 footnote.)