This report documents eight phases of the Austin Independent School District’s (AISD) High School Redesign Initiative, conducted in partnership with the School Redesign Network (SRN) at Stanford University. The goal of AISD's initiative is to transform its high schools into more personalized and high performing smaller learning communities for all students and teachers. The report highlights the redesign process through the completion of the AISD/SRN planning phase and shares lessons learned. It also includes discussion of the theory of change underlying the redesign, as well as the process followed across the district. States can gain a deep understanding of how establishing smaller learning communities can be a foundation of redesign.
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Background and Context
One key approach to improving instruction for high school students is redesigning the environment and structure in which they learn. Creating smaller learning communities is one way schools are fundamentally reshaping that environment. Guided by a belief that student achievement will improve in a more personalized environment, advocates of smaller learning communities hope that smaller class sizes, increased teacher collaboration, comprehensive advisory systems, and a more relevant and rigorous curriculum will reap substantial gains in academic achievement.
