Leander High School Smaller Learning Communities

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Leander High SchoolSmaller Learning Communities
What are SLC?
Why SLC?
Click here for LHS structures
LHS SLC History
Smaller Learning Communities
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No Child Left Behind Act Outlines the Purpose of
Smaller Learning Communities

• On January 8, 2002, President George W. Bush
  signed into law the No Child Left Behind Act of
  2001, which outlined the important purpose of
  Smaller Learning Communities. The new law gives
  defined structure to the discretionary grant
  status of the Smaller Learning Communities grant
  competition and ensures that Smaller Learning
  Communities will continue to assist large public
  high schools
• Grantees are authorized to use their funds to,
  among other things (1) study the feasibility of
  creating smaller learning communities (2)
  research, develop, and implement strategies for
  creating smaller learning communities (3)
  provide professional development for school staff
  in the teaching methods that would be used in the
  smaller learning community and (4) develop and
  implement strategies to include parents, business
  representatives, community-based organizations,
  and other community members in the activities of
  the smaller learning communities.

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Leander High School

• Smaller Learning Communities
• Purpose of grants
• Provide funds to plan, implement or expand
  smaller learning communities in large high
  schools of 1,000 students or more (the goal is no
  more than 600 students in a learning community).
• Strategies may include creating schools within
  schools, career academies, restructuring the
  school day, instituting personal adult advocates,
  developing teacher advisory systems and other
  innovations designed to create a more
  personalized high school experience for students
  and improve student achievement and performance.

SLC intro
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Research supporting SLC

• Approximately 70 of American high school
  students attend schools enrolling more than 1,000
  or more students nearly 50 of high school
  students attend schools enrolling more than 1,500
  students.
• Research suggests that
• Smaller learning environments are a condition for
  boosting student achievement (Williams, 1990)
• School size has positive effects on student
  outcomes as evidenced by students' attendance
  rates, frequency of disciplinary actions, school
  loyalty, use of alcohol or drugs, satisfaction
  with school and self-esteem (Raywid (1995) and
  Klonsky (1995).

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Research supporting SLC

• An effective size for secondary schools is in the
  range of 400-800 students (Williams, 1990).
• Enrollment size has a stronger effect on learning
  in schools with large concentrations of poor and
  minority children (Cotton, 1996).
• Research ultimately confirms what parents
  intuitively believe that smaller schools are
  safer and more productive because students feel
  less alienated, more nurtured and more connected
  to caring adults, and teachers feel that they
  have more opportunity to get to know and support
  their students (Fowler Walberg, 1991 Gregory,
  1992 Stockard Mayberry, 1992).

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Why SLC at LHS?
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• Creating a common vision
• Addressing student motivational issues
• Reducing student failure rates
• Meeting individual student needs
• Improving student discipline
• Fostering student connections at school
• Aligning current practices

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History of Smaller Learning Communities at LHS

• In the school year2004-05 LHS received a 50,000
  planning grant to explore Smaller Learning
  Communities
• In the Spring of 2005 LHS submitted a grant
  proposal for 879,459 to implement SLC
• In August of 2005, LHS was awarded the grant and
  became part of Cohort 5 for SLC.
• LHS was one of only 52 schools/districts that
  were awarded grants across the nation
• In the school year of the 2005-06 LHS began
  implementing their 5 year plan to develop Smaller
  Learning Communities

SLC intro
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Leander High SchoolSmaller Learning Communities
SLC Introduction
SLC Model
SLC Focus
SLC Structures / Strategies
Smaller Learning Communities        
SLC Components
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Why SLC?
Leander High School SLC Model
Advisory
9th Grade
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Academic Team
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Human Services, Health AgriScience
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Business Computer Technology
Engineering Industrial Technology
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Arts Communication
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• SLC Components
• Academic Teaming
• Advisories
• Academies

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LHS SLC Overview
LHS SLC Focus on the 3 Rs Rigor Relationships Re
levancy
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SLC Structures/Strategies
Smaller Learning Communities

• Structures
• Academic Teams
• Academies
• Advisories
• Click on structures above for their definitions

• Strategies
• Freshman Transition Activities
• Multi-year Groups
• Alternative Scheduling
• Adult Advocate Systems
• Personalization

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SLC Structures

• Smaller
• Learning
• Communities
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• Academic Teaming - a group of core area
  teachers (English,Math Science and Social
  Studies) that share the same students working
  together to meet the needs of students. Teachers
  focus on building relationships, communication,
  intervention and interdisciplinary planning

SLC Structure
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SLC Structures

• Smaller
• Learning
• Communities
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• Academies - are sub-groups within schools,
  organized around particular themes to create a
  personalized, focused learning environment.
  Academies focus on ways to enhance real-world
  relevance and maintain high academic standards.
  They are aligned with our LISDs Pathways and
  Passport system.

SLC Structure
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SLC Structures

• Smaller
• Learning
• Communities
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•  
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• Advisories - are grade level support classes
  that meet once per month to personalize the high
  school experience and support academic
  achievement, working with small groups of
  students. Advisory activities may include helping
  students develop personal learning plans,
  building relationships, introducing students to
  educational opportunities, and working with
  students on postsecondary plans.

SLC Structure
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• Smaller
• Learning Communities 

Academic Teaming Purpose Scope Logistics Inter
ventions Positive Recognitions

• Smaller
• Learning Communities 

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Academic Teaming
9th Grade
9th Grade
9th Grade
9th Grade
Academic Team
Academic Team
Academic Team
Academic Team
10th Grade
10th Grade
10th Grade
10th Grade
Academic Team
Academic Team
Academic Team

• Purpose
• Build relationships
• Create a support system for students
• Identify and provide at-risk students with
  support and intervention strategies
• Collaboration of High Academic Standards
  assignments within academic teams
• Increase communication between school and home
• Ease the Transition from middle school to
• high school

Academic Team
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Academic Teaming
9th Grade
9th Grade
9th Grade
9th Grade
Academic Team
Academic Team
Academic Team
Academic Team
10th Grade
10th Grade
10th Grade
10th Grade
Academic Team
Academic Team
Academic Team

• Scope
• 9th and 10th grade level
• Team Members Math, English, Science, and Social
  Studies and an inclusion teacher
• Elective and foreign language teachers invited to
  attend team meetings/conferences with parents and
  students as needed

Academic Team
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Academic Teaming
9th Grade
9th Grade
9th Grade
9th Grade
Academic Team
Academic Team
Academic Team
Academic Team
10th Grade
10th Grade
10th Grade
10th Grade
Academic Team
Academic Team
Academic Team

• Facilitation
• Team leader coordinate team meetings
• 9th Grade Common Team Planning Period
• 10th Grade Common Team Planning Period
• Frequency
• 9th Grade Academic Team Meeting Schedule
• 10th Grade Academic Team Meeting Schedule
• Meet once a week as a TEAM
• Bi monthly meeting with Assistant Principal and
  Counselor

Academic Team
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Academic Teaming
9th Grade
9th Grade
9th Grade
9th Grade
Academic Team
Academic Team
Academic Team
Academic Team
10th Grade
10th Grade
10th Grade
10th Grade
Academic Team
Academic Team
Academic Team
Academic Team

• Common Team Planning Period
• Team 9 L Master Schedule
• Team 9 I Master Schedule
• Team 9 O Master Schedule
• Team 9 N Master Schedule

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Academic Teaming
9th Grade
9th Grade
9th Grade
9th Grade
Academic Team
Academic Team
Academic Team
Academic Team
10th Grade
10th Grade
10th Grade
10th Grade
Academic Team
Academic Team
Academic Team
Academic Team

• Common Team Planning Period
• Team 10 L Master Schedule
• Team 10 I Master Schedule
• Team 10 O Master Schedule
• Team 10 N Master Schedule

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Team 9L Master Schedule
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Team 9I Master Schedule
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Team 9O Master Schedule
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Team 9N Master Schedule
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10th Grade Team L Schedule
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10th Grade Team I Schedule
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10th Grade Team O Schedule
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10th Grade Team N Schedule
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Academic Teaming
9th Grade
9th Grade
9th Grade
9th Grade
Academic Team
Academic Team
Academic Team
Academic Team
10th Grade
10th Grade
10th Grade
10th Grade
Academic Team
Academic Team
Academic Team

• Interventions
• Tutorials
• Individual Teacher
• Department
• 9th grade Intervention Pyramid
• 9th Grade Initiative
• Intervention Strategies
• Academic Team Student/Parent Conference
• Adopt a student
• Positive recognitions

Academic Team
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Academic Teaming
9th Grade
9th Grade
9th Grade
9th Grade
Academic Team
Academic Team
Academic Team
Academic Team
10th Grade
10th Grade
10th Grade
10th Grade
Academic Team
Academic Team
Academic Team
Academic Team

• Positive Recognitions
• Student Fish Philosophy
• Bulletin Board
• Positive Parent Phone Call
• Academic Team Delivery

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Leander High School

Pyramid for Intervention


Level 4

Campus

Referral

CAC

Core Acceleration Class

12 weeks

Level 3


Students are removed from an elective course

Students are placed into a core acceleration
class for six weeks


6 weeks

Level 2

Saturday for S
uccess Initiative

Parent/Student Conference

Teacher/Student Learning Contract



Level 1

Student Conference/ Tutorials

3 weeks

Teacher/Student Conference

Teacher Parent Contact

Before/After School Tutorials

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• Smaller
• Learning Communities 

Advisories Purpose Scope Logistics

• Smaller
• Learning Communities 

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Advisories

• Purpose
• All Faculty and Staff involved in building
  relationships (connecting) with students
• Utilization of Advisories for grade level
  information dissemination
• Build relationship with students over 4 years
• Maximize/Protection of instructional time

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Advisories

• Scope
• 10-15 students per advisory
• Grade Level Advisory 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th
• Unique curriculum per grade level, progression
  from study skills freshman year to career/college
  focus in junior and senior years
• Two per month and as needed (for example, more
  often the first week of school for procedural
  matters)

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Advisories

• Logistical
• Accountability for attendance
• Alternate A and B days
• No advisories during Pep Rally weeks
• Teacher training on mentoring

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Academies

• Purpose
• Align Current Pathways with Academies
• Create Heterogeneous Academies that focus on the
  3Rs Rigor, Relationships and Relevancy
• Development of relationships within academies
  between faculty and students (sense of identity
  with lanyards, pins, t-shirts, etc.)
• Develop Community/ Business Relationships for
  potential partnerships/internships

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• Smaller
• Learning Communities 

Academies Purpose Scope Academy
Development (based on Career Passports)
Current Academy Alignment
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Academies

• Purpose
• Align Current Pathways with Academies
• Create Heterogeneous Academies that focus on the
  3Rs Rigor, Relationships and Relevancy
• Create Academy identity between faculty and
  students (promotion)
• Provide an area of focus and exploration
• Giving students a place to belong beyond academic
  teaming

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Academies

• Scope
• 11th and 12th grade students would select an
  academy
• Connection between core academic areas and the
  academies
• Develop Community/ Business relationships for
  potential partnerships/internships
• Build in flexibility, allowing for changes at
  specific times of the year
• Student portfolios

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Academy info
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Academy Alignment
Blue Academy Title Red Federal Career
Cluster Black Career Passport Title
Arts Communication
Business Computer Technology
Communications
Finance, Business Management
Journalism/Publications
Administration
Languages Other Than English
Business Accounting
Photojournalism
Business Finance Management
Speech Communication
Business General
Visual Communication
Hospitality Tourism
Humanities
Culinary Arts Restaurant Management
Advanced Humanities
Hospitality Hotel Management
General Fine Arts
Information Technology
Performing Arts
Business Software Applications
Band
Computer Technology
Choral Music
Electronics
Dance
Internetworking Technology
Technical Theatre
Marketing, Sales and Services
Theatre Arts
Marketing and Management
Visual Arts
Public Relations
Interior Design Architecture
Photography
Visual Arts
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Academy Alignment
Blue Academy Title Red Federal Career
Cluster Black Career Passport Title
Engineering Industrial Technology
Human Services, Health AgriScience
Architecture Construction
Agriculture, Food Natural Resources
Architectural Design Graphics
Animal Science
Construction Electricity
Horticulture Landscape
Construction Systems
Veterinary Science Technology
General Technology
Education Training
Manufacturing
Early Childhood Education
Agricultural Mechanics
Education
Engineering Design Graphics
Health Science
General Agriculture
Biotechnology
Machining
Fitness Wellness
Science, Technology, Engineering Math
Health Science Technology
Advanced Math Science
Medical Sciences
Computer Science
Sports Medicine
Engineering Sciences
Human Services
Project Lead The Way Engineering
Cosmetology
Transportation
Human Relations
Automotive Technology
Law, Public Safety Security
Criminal Justice Technology
Military Service
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Thank you for exploring the Leander High School
Smaller Learning Communities website!
SLC Introduction
Return to LHS SLC page
http//lhs.leanderisd.org/