Title: Building Effective Smaller Learning Communities Across Disciplines
1Building Effective Smaller Learning Communities
Across Disciplines
- April 29, 2009
- New Performing Arts High School
- Tips for Building A Master Schedule to Meet the
Needs of Small Learning Communities - Presenter Shelley Loftus
- School Improvement
Facilitator, District 2 - sloftus_at_lausd.net
2Todays Objectives
- Determine needs of small schools and prioritize
goals / actions. - Identify issues impacting the building of a
master schedule for small schools / SLC/s and
discuss strategies for addressing concerns. - Discuss tasks and timelines associated with
building the master schedule.
3SLC/ Small School Dreams and Nightmares
- Reflecting on todays objectives, take a few
moments to write down your - Small School master nightmare
- Dream come true master schedule success
4Smallness and Beyond
- How do we maintain smallness while adhering to
the District Guidelines and requirements? - How do you balance personalization, academic
rigor and pragmatism? - How and where do we compromise
5SLC Attributes Summer 2004
- LAUSD has a history of SLCs
- School Within a School programs Humanitas,
Perkins Programs, Magnets, Academies, and others - Goal for these programs was and is rigorous,
personalized, thematic and interdisciplinary
instruction
6Bulletin 1600 and The 8
- October 2004 LAUSD Board of Education approved
Bulletin 1600 to address the size and
constraints of large high school campus life. - All High Schools were to create SLCs.
- Eight attributes were guidelines
- Unifying Vision
- SLC Identity
- Rigorous, Standards-Based Curriculum, Instruction
and Assessment - Professional Development
- Equity and Access
- Personalization
- Accountability Distributed Leadership
- Collaboration, Parent Community Engagement
7What do we need to know to create a master?
- Who are our students and what are their needs?
- What classes must / can we offer?
- What are our staffing and credential needs?
- What are the issues at our school?
8Who are your students?
- Use of data will help identify and analyze needs.
- SLC Identification
- Special Education
- EL Learners
- ESL
- Intervention Needs
- Honors AP
9What classes are needed?
- SLC Vision
- Personalization (9th grade house, advisories)
- A G ( Default Curriculum)
- Career Pathways CTE
- Electives
- Who determines what classes electives will be
offered?
10A-G Curriculum
- History 2 years
- English 4 years
- Mathematics 3 yrs required, 4 recommended
- Laboratory Science 2 yrs req., 3 recommended
- Foreign Language 2 yrs req., 3 recommended
- Visual Performing Arts 1 year required
- College Prep Elective 1 year required
11A - G LAUSD Board Resolution June 2005
- Adopted June 2005
- 2006 2007 - access
- Fall 2008 - must enroll
- Fall 2012 - Entering 9th graders must
complete to graduate in June
2016
12Staffing Small Schools
- What credentials are needed?
- English Foreign Language
- Math Health
- Social Studies P.E.
- Science Visual and Performing Arts
- Technical/Business
- Issues PE requires 400 minutes every 10 days
- Fitnessgram required
13NCLB
- Federal legislation requires all teachers to be
highly qualified in core subjects - Core subjects are
- English
- Reading/ Language Arts
- Mathematics
- Science
- Foreign Languages
- Arts (includes dance, music, art)
- Social Sciences (includes economics, history,
geography, and civic/ government)
14- How do you staff small schools to assure equity
and meet the diverse student needs?
15Staffing ConfigurationsMiddle Schools PLEs
- Cores For Multiple Subj. Teachers
(6th) - Teams Teachers w/secondary
credentials - teaching
students in their PLE - Help! Middle School
Authorizations - Prob or
Permanent teachers may - apply to
teach a designated subject - gr. 9 or
below must verify 12 units in the - subject good
for 1 year is renewable - (see
www.teachinla.com) -
16Staffing Configurations High School SLCs
- Subject Area Credentials
- Help! Board Permits- allow prob. and
perm. - teachers to teach a
designated subject - must verify 18
semester units valid for 1 - year no cost.
- Committee on
Assignments for - elective courses
verify special skills valid 1
year no cost. ( 2 per. prob, any perm) - One Period Coach
to coach one period of a - competitive sport
-
-
17Demands on the Master Program
- Equal access to all graduation requirements
- Students with special needs, including gifted,
have additional instructional needs. - Class size - balance A-G with electives
- Common Conferences
- Teacher Preferences / Strengths
18Other Requirements
- Intervention classes
- Teacher credentials
- Double block English Math support
- Support for English Learners
- Multiple Pathways for technical arts
19What to do?!
- Remember...the jobs our students will have in the
future dont even exist yet! - Goal College and Career ready
- Requires thoughtful discussion planning
20Compromise Solutions
- Passport classes
- Partner with local community colleges to provide
high level academic classes - Differentiate instruction using SDAIE
- Explore 7-period day, 4x4, zero periods
- Analyze data to build programs (ex honors)
- Encourage multiple credentials
21Additional Scheduling Options
- Regional Occupational Program (ROP)
- Community College and University Partnerships
- Adult School
- LAUSD Virtual Academy (LAVA)
- Independent Study
- Skills Centers
22The Balancing ActPrioritizing small school
benefits
- What compromises are acceptable?
- What are you not willing to give up?
- How do you ensure academic rigor?
23Middle School Sample Schedule
- Personalized Learning Environments
- Cores and Teams
24High School Sample Schedule
- Small Schools, Magnets,
- Small Learning Communities (SLCs)
25Tasks and Timelines
- Determine needs and priorities
- Determine participants to build the master
- Agree on timeline and publicize
26The dream revisited
- What have your heard today that will help you to
build a master schedule for small schools?
27Additional Questions
- What questions, clarifications or concerns do you
have?