Small School Learning Communities SSLCs Local District B April 2004

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Small School Learning Communities(SSLCs)Local
District BApril 2004
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Current Situation

• Our secondary schools are too large and
  impersonal
• Too many students feel disconnected and are
  either failing or dropping out

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LAUSD Goals

• Within the next few years, all of LAUSDs
  secondary schools will be reorganized into small
  school learning communities (SSLCs)
• Every Local District will have a five year plan
  for implementing small school learning
  communities.

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SSLC Characteristics

• Unifying Vision/Identity
• Rigorous Standards-based instruction
• Equity and Access
• Personalization
• Accountability Distributed Leadership
• Collaboration/Community Engagement
• Professional Development

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Why Implement SSLCs?

• Decrease the drop out rate
• Improve the quality of teaching and learning
• Improve academic achievement of all secondary
  students
• Increase the number of students who attend and
  successfully complete post secondary studies

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Benefits of Being in a SSLC

• Enjoy the personalized relationships with
  teachers
• Students can share common interests and goals
• Sense of community among the students teachers
• New students can fit in and arent overwhelmed by
  large schools
• Students are recognized by name from the first
  day
• Students are made to understand the relevance
  between the subjects
• Six academy students were interviewed on 3/31/04.
  Two of the students are in the Multi-media
  Academy and the other four are in the Teachers
  Academy at Sylmar HS.

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Whats the Best Thing about Academy Life?

• I have the opportunity to work with younger kids
  and tutor them.
• Academy life pushes you towards a future.
• I understand that, by tutoring younger kids, I
  can make a difference.
• I have learned to appreciate the different
  aspects of the art world.
• I have learned that children watch and learn.
  We all have influence on them and I have not only
  tutored them, but, they are teaching me lessons
  everyday.
• Six academy students were interviewed on 3/31/04.
  Two of the students are in the Multi-media
  Academy and the other four are in the Teachers
  Academy at Sylmar HS.

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Current Status

• 5 high schools, 5 continuation schools, 8 middle
  schools
• All District B secondary schools have begun
  implementation
• There are plans for expansion in 2004-05
• Grants are available to support planning and
  implementation of SSLCs
• There are multi-year school implementation plans

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Sylmar High School Building on Excellence
Small Learning Communities
SLC Overview Chris Perdigao, SLC Coordinator
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Building Small Learning Communities
Sylmar High School Building on Excellence
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(No Transcript)
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SSLC Challenges

• Challenging instructional programs
• Research of successful SSLCs
• Professional Development
• Common Planning Time
• Identification of Community Partners
• Modification of existing physical structures to
  facilitate implementation of SSLCs

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Vision

• Through the SSLCs, Local District B students will
  graduate from high school with the skills and the
  knowledge needed to be successful life-long
  learners and productive, responsible citizens.