SMALL LEARNING COMMUNITIES

1
SMALL LEARNING COMMUNITIES

• Local District B
• October 2003

2
Local District B Secondary Schools

• Existing schools
• 5 high schools 5 continuation schools
• 8 middle schools
• Phase I new schools
• 3 high schools
• 1 middle school
• Phase II new schools
• 1 high school, 1 or 2 middle schools

3
CURRENT STATUSMIDDLE SCHOOLS

• 6th grade coring in all schools
• 7th and 8th grade coring in some schools
• Increased common conference periods
• Increased personalization activities
• Bridging programs in some schools
• Personalized small learning communities in some
  schools (universities, houses, colonies, etc.)
• Geographic separation of communities in some
  schools
• Reallocation of out-of-classroom staff assigned
  to small learning communities in some schools
• Double block of English Language Arts in most
  schools
• Homeroom content modified to include guidance
  curriculum
• Two four-track schools utilizing annual course
  system

4
CURRENT STATUS HIGH SCHOOLS
5
2002 03

• Spring 03 two-day symposium
• Leadership teams from all secondary schools
  (administrators, teachers, parents, students)
• Focus Personalization and high performance for
  all students
• Research, best practices and planning
• Professional development component of principals
  meetings focused on small learning communities
• Principals monthly evening focus group
  throughout year
• Development of 18-month plan as part of grant
  application

6
2003 04High Schools

• Gates Planning Grant (High School Pupil Success
  Act Grant)- 100,000 for 5 high schools
• High school principals and directors to 3 day
  conference and school visitation in Sacramento
• Strategic planning for 04 05 implementation
• Community partner Unite LA
• Resources to support SLC in schools
• Research, best practices
• Individual grants
• Sylmar - 450,000 multiyear federal grant in last
  year
• Added two academies
• Full time SLC Coordinator
• Verdugo - 308,000 multiyear federal grant in
  last year
• 9th grade houses
• Copernican schedule
• North Hollywood 240,000 multi-year Annenberg
  grant in last year
• Francis Polytechnic - 450,000 multiyear federal
  grant in first year
• Partnership with Annenberg Foundation
• District B Annual Symposium

7
2003 04

• SLC committees at each school
• SLC coordinators at high schools
• Survey of current status
• Analyze effectiveness of existing SLCs
• SLC timeline implementation
• Reflect on, modify and expand original 18-month
  strategic plan
• Develop timeline for strategic plan
  implementation
• Professional development and engagement to
  include all stakeholders
• Design/redesign new schools to implement SLCs

8
JULY 2004 GOALS

• Expand number of academies
• Expand number of students participating in
  existing academies
• Implement Small Learning Concepts with depth
• Maintain goal of improved student achievement
• Redesign of out-of-classroom support systems

9
CHALLENGES

• Creating the sense of urgency ? change
• Buy-in of all stakeholders
• Fiscal resources
• Design of existing facilities
• Varying levels of expertise
• Master schedule expertise
• Collective bargaining issues
• Parent and community engagement
• Sustainability