This document summarizes an exploratory session and roundtable discussion between the Arizona Department of Education and several high school administrators. Three main topics were discussed: examining the development of a grassroots support and advocacy network for SLC; understanding the respective needs/challenges/successes among the participants; and generating innovative ideas for sharing best practices. During the discussion, participants were asked to plot their school’s current status of reform on a reform scale, and it was determined that funding is the number one issue across the board for schools undertaking reform. This document would be very useful for states who are seeking to engage administrators around the issues of small learning communities, and provides a framework for leading those discussions.
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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.
