Resources

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Smaller Learning Communities

An analysis of types of smaller learning communities and the effects for SLCs on student experiences and outcomes
http://www.ncsl.org/programs/employ/slc.htm

Small school structures, implemented along with other complementary strategies that enhance student learning, are most likely to yield beneficial impacts. Examples of smaller school structures include academies, house plans, schools-within-schools, and magnet schools.
http://www.ed.gov/programs/slcp/strategies.html

Southridge High School.  Comprehensive high school that has successfully implemented smaller learning communities.
http://www.beavton.k12.or.us/southridge

Interdisciplinary Teaching 

This study, conducted by Dartmouth College, provided an assessment of interdisciplinary instruction. Results demonstrated that in considering the intersection between two subjects, students developed stronger analytic abilities and achieved a broader perspective in addition to the essential skills and knowledge of the individual disciplines. The Dartmouth Project’s goal was to make mathematics accessible, interesting and relevant to students in all disciplines.
http://www.math.uoc.gr/~ictm2/Proceedings/pap123.pdf (40kb PDF)

Three Basic Strategies for Interdisciplinary Teaching.  Project Zero, Harvard Graduate School of Education
http://www.pz.harvard.edu/interdisciplinary/pdf/SvetlanaStrategies.pdf (360kb PDF)

This site summarizes several studies, including the Nation Assessment of Educational Progress, that highlight elements of interdisciplinary instruction that support students’ development of more powerful thinking and learning skills.  Many of the important concepts, strategies, and skills taught in the language arts are portable and readily transferable to other classes.
http://www.eduplace.com/rdg/res/literacy/interd1.html

The purpose of interdisciplinary teaching is to dissolve the boundaries of areas of study and encourage learning across the curriculum. The interdisciplinary approach enables teachers to teach the whole student and make links between disciplines, thereby giving students a more relevant, less fragmented, and stimulating experience.
http://olc.spsd.sk.ca/DE/PD/instr/strats/interdis/index.html

High School Reform Research

Data-Driven High School Reform: The Breaking Ranks Model describes how schools can develop the capacity to analyze and use data as a core component of improving secondary schools.

The article Correlates of Effective Schools: First and Second Generation , examines next steps for schools that have successfully met the criteria described in the research on the correlates for effective schools. 

This document contains a series of reports discussing three comprehensive high school reform initiatives.  Outlines structural changes to improve personalization and instructional improvements as the twin pillars of high school reform.
http://www.mdrc.org/publications/428/full.pdf (1.7mb PDF)

2004 Outstanding Practices
 Using Rigor, Relevance and Relationships to Improve Student Achievement: How Some Schools Do It.  This research and practice overview outlines the strategies implemented by the Southern Regional Education Board to improve learning for all students.
http://www.sreb.org/programs/hstw/Outstanding/op2004.asp

Website that was created as a one-stop clearinghouse for information on high schools as part of the U.S. Department of Education’s Preparing America's Future - High School Initiative. The Preparing America's Future High School Initiative is designed to support educators, policymakers, and leaders in the development of innovative, effective methods for transforming high schools into top-quality learning institutions.
http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ovae/pi/hs/index.html

Rigor, Relevance, and Relationships. This site provides schools with access to best practices, training opportunities and networking opportunities with model schools and the International Center.
http://www.daggett.com/hsresources.shtml

Magnet Programs

U.S. Department of Education, Office of Innovation and Improvement, Innovations in Education:  Creating Successful Magnet School Programs, Washington, D.C., 2004
http://ww.ed.gov/admins/commcoice/magnet/

C.A.R.T. Center for Advanced Research and Technology.  Secondary reform effort that combines rigorous academics with technical, design, process, entrepreneurial, and critical think skills.
http://www.cart.lorg/about/whatis.php

Magnet Schools of America
http://www.magnet.edu/

Clark High School Magnet Programs
http://ccsd.net/schools/clark/

Wake County Schools
http://www.wcpss.net/magnet/

Partnership Academies

The California Partnership Academies are focused on development through smaller learning communities. Academy components include rigorous academics with a career focus, a team of teachers, and active business involvement. Extensive evaluations on the academies indicate a positive impact on school performance.

These academies are like the Skyline magnets in general form and process.  They are somewhat more career focused than is the plan for Skyline but have rich resources and practical implementation background.

California Career Academies
http://www.cde.ca.gov/ci/gs/hs/cpagen.asp

Career Academy Support Network
http://casn.berkeley.edu/