Big Buildings, Small Schools: Using a Small Schools Strategy for High School Reform
Author: Allen, L., Steinberg, A.
Publisher: Jobs for the Future
Publication Date: 2004, December
Full text available online at: http://www.jff.org/download.php/smallschools.pdf?file=smallschools.pdf&KC_PubID=30
Abstract (written by WestEd)
This report looks at school districts such as Boston, Oakland, New York City, and Sacramento that are overhauling large, comprehensive high schools into "education complexes" made up of several autonomous small schools under one roof. As a central school improvement strategy, the conversion to small schools enables the high schools to fundamentally rethink critical components such as administrative structures, staff roles, student/teacher relationships, course sequences, subject matter, the use of time, community partnerships, labor agreements, equity, and parent engagement.
The report specifically addresses key decisions points such as the pace of change (incremental versus big bang), the locus of control (internal, external, or partnership strategy), and the trade-offs. In addition, the report explores emerging issues such as school-level autonomies, governance, and leadership of high school reform integration at the district level.
An executive summary is also available as a free download on the Jobs for the Future Web site, once you complete free registration.
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From WestEd.org
Closing the Gap: Meeting the Achievement Challenge in California
Show 5: Vanguard Learning Center
Through this six-part video series, visit six different California schools that are making strides toward closing the achievement gap. Listen in to panel discussions as researchers and school staff members explore what each school is discovering.
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