Navigating the Small Learning Community Grants: From Application to Implementation  

To hear this webinar you will need to choose your audio mode.

Go to the control panel in the upper right corner of your screen and click the button of how you will be listening. Your choices:

Use telephone Use mic & speakers

If using mic & speakers make sure your volume is turned up so you can hear

If using the telephone

Dial:  916-233-3088

Access Code: 369-761-210 Audio PIN: unique PIN shown in audio control panel on screen

Technical difficulties? Contact (518) 399-2776.

www.LeaderEd.com

All participants are on mute.

Webinar Guidelines

• All participants are on mute during the entire webinar.

• Presentation portion will be 45 minutes

• Questions and Answers portion will be 15 minutes

• To ask a question type it in the question control panel in the upper right corner of your screen. Content questions will be answered in the order they were received at the end

of the webinar presentation.

We will send you a follow up email with the PowerPoint presentation and helpful resources

Bill Daggett, CEOInternational Center for Leadership in

Education

Hans Meeder, SLC AdvisorExecutive Director,

Institute for 21st Century Leadership

Agenda

The Education LandscapeWhy Small Learning Communities? The SLC grantsSmall Learning Communities – what, how, benefits, obstaclesImplementing SLCsQ&A

For more information www.LeaderEd.com

The Small Learning Community The Small Learning Community Approach to Meeting Today’s Approach to Meeting Today’s

Education ChallengesEducation Challenges

Dr. Willard Daggett and Hans MeederDr. Willard Daggett and Hans Meeder

• Standards• Data Systems• Effective Teaching• Turnaround Schools

Today’s Education Challenges

• Deepen learning through rigor and relevance in each classroom and throughout the school

• Engage students through themed-programs and personalized learning environments

• Create well-planned and aligned strategies for whole school improvement

Today’s Education Solution

Small Learning

Communities

Today’s Ideal Platform

J. “Moms” Mabley

If you always do what you always did, you will always get what you always got.

• Purpose: “to support the restructuring of large public high schools (/i.e. schools with enrollments of 1,000 or more students) into smaller units for the purpose of improving academic achievement in large public high schools.”

• Priorities: “close integration of SLC implementation with systematic efforts to improve curriculum and instruction.”

• Proposed Priority 1: Common Planning time for Teachers

• Proposed Priority 2: Persistently Lowest-Achieving Schools-Secondary Schools

Federal Funding Opportunity

Small Learning Communities

• FY 2009 Appropriation: $88.0 million, 9% increase from FY 2008

• Notice of proposed priorities: published March 2010• Notice of final priorities and request for applications:

expected June 2010• Grant preparation timeframe: expected 45-60 days• Awards: expected Fall 2010• Length of awards: Initial award of 24 months (includes

one planning year anticipate. Continuation awards up to 60 months.

Federal Funding Opportunity

Small Learning Communities

• Previous grantees: Previous recipients can apply for new SLC schools and for SLC schools that are not currently spending SLC funds.

• Funding range: 5 schools maximum per district– 1,000-2,000 students - $1.75-$2.0 million/school– 2,001-3,000 students - $1.75-$2.25 million/school– 3,001 and up students - $1.75-$2.5 million/school

Federal Funding Opportunity

Small Learning Communities

Components of Successful School Reform

1. Create a culture that embraces a rigorous and relevant curriculum

2. Use data to provide clear unwavering focus

3. Set high expectations that are monitored for student’s continuous improvement

4. Create a framework to organize curriculum that drives instruction

5. Provide students real-world applications

Components of Successful School Reform

6. Create multiple pathways to rigor and relevance

7. Provide sustained professional development that is focused

8. Obtain and leverage parent and community involvement

9. Maintain safe and orderly schools.

10. Offer effective leadership development.

• Personalized School• Clusters of Students • Organized around

Areas of Interest• Students with Same

Group of Teachers

Why

Small Learning Communities

Small Learning Communities

• School-within-Schools• House Plans• Freshman Academy• Magnet Schools• Academies

Types

• School-Within-A School Small, Autonomous Program Groups Students & Teachers Increases Student Support

Structure

Small Learning Communities

• Freshman Academy Eases transition Own academy/house setting Extra support services Mentoring Career exploration

Structure

Small Learning Communities

• Magnet School School choice Separate location Transition activities Additional requirements Usually career theme

Structure

Small Learning Communities

• Career Academies Broadly Defined Career Themes Integrated Learning Work-based Learning Real-world Applications High Academic Standards with Career

Applications Business Partnerships

Structure

Small Learning Communities

CAREER ACADEMIES

• Business & Finance• Information

Technology• Health Services• Construction,

Engineering & Design• Environmental

Technology• Arts & Communication

Typical Themes

• Law, Government and Public Service

• Media, Design and Production

• Travel, Tourism and Hospitality

• Human Services• Math, Science,

Technology

Small Learning Communities

• Academic • Social • Attendance and Graduation• Safety and Discipline• Preparation for Higher Education• Extracurricular Participation• Financial

BENEFITS

Small Learning Communities

• Increased attendance• Increased student achievement• Increased student participation• Increased student and parent

satisfaction• Increased positive student behavior• Greater focus on student interests

and aptitudes• Relevancy leads to high achievement

Research

Small Learning Communities

• Lack of specific goals• Too much emphasis on belonging• Staffing concerns• Student assignment• Timing• Focusing on teachers

Obstacles

Small Learning Communities

• People• Teaching and Learning

• Campus-Wide

Issues

• Alternative Scheduling• Freshman Transition Activities• Student/Teacher Advisory System• Adult Advocacy System• Parent Outreach• Academic Teaming

Common Strategies

Small Learning Communities

• Goal Setting• Parent/ Community Discussion• Selection of Structure• Staffing • Facility Changes• Curriculum• Schedule• Budgeting• Implementation Timeline • Implementation Teams

Development Steps

Small Learning Communities

• Small Learning Communities Resource Kit • In-depth webinar when final guidance is

issued• Personalized coaching for preparation of a

district’s SLC application• Ongoing consulting and technical

assistance services to assist with SLC implementation if SLC grant is secured

How the International Center Can Help

Small Learning Communities

To set up an SLC consultation contact the International Center.

Todd Daggett, Todd@LeaderEd.com

Phone (518) 399-2776

Fax (518) 399-7607

1587 Route 146

Rexford, NY 12148

www.LeaderEd.com

Questions and Answers with Bill and Hans

• This is the end of the presentation portion.

• Submit questions at this time and stay on to hear the answers.

• If you are logging off, thank you for attending and we will email you with follow-up information.

For more information www.LeaderEd.com

Resources

To set up an SLC consultation contact the

International Center.

Todd Daggett, Todd@LeaderEd.com

Phone (518) 399-2776

Fax (518) 399-7607

1587 Route 146

Rexford, NY 12148

www.LeaderEd.com

18th Annual Model Schools Conference

Monday, June 14 - Thursday, June 17Orlando

www.ModelSchoolsConference.com

• Autonomy Space…Separateness Schedule…Flexible Budget Curriculum/Instruction Partnerships Personnel

Key Elements

Small Learning Communities

• Identity Vision/Mission Thematic Focus Self-selection of Teachers &

Students

Key Elements

Small Learning Communities

• Personalization Student Involvement--Opportunity for

All Teacher Involvement Parent and Community Involvement

Key Elements

Small Learning Communities

• Instructional Focus Focus on Student Learning Heterogeneous Grouping Professional Development & Collaboration Integrated Curriculum/Teaching Teams

• No Subject Area Boundaries, Thematic Focus, Aligned across Grade Levels,

Large Repertoire of Instructional Strategies

Key Elements

Small Learning Communities

• Accountability Detailed Planning Multiple Forms of Assessment Total Implementation of Key Small Learning

Community Elements Networking with Other Small Learning

Communities

Key Elements

Small Learning Communities