We at Educational Design are currently pursuing a general study of several successful large comprehensive to small learning community high school conversions around the country. These conversions are neither new nor recent innovations but they are an important "road map" for others as increasingly the educational community and general public are becoming more aware of their importance for the improvement and success of student engagement within the public high school.
Some recent studies that support smaller educational models include:
Center for Collaborative Education (2002) New England small schools network: planning manual [on line] Available: http://www.nessn.org/nessn_planning_manual.pdf
Cotton, Kathleen (1996). School size, school climate and student performance [on line] NW Regional Educational Laboratory Available: http://www.nwrel.org/scpd/sirs/10/c020.html
Cotton, Kathleen (2001). New small learning communities: Findings from recent literature [on line] NW Regional Educational Laboratory Available: http://www.nwrel.org/scpd/sirs/nslc.pdf
Duke, Daniel & Trautvetter, Sara (2001). Reducing the negative effects of large schools [on line], National Clearinghouse of Educational Facilities Available: http://www.edfacilities.org/pubs/size.pdf
Wasley, P., Fine, M., Gladden, M., Holland, N., King, S., Mosak, E. & Powell, L. (2000). Small schools: Great strides [on line] Bank Street Available: http://www.bankstreet.edu/gems/publications/smallschoollow.pdf
Examples of viable small working school models in which we have been involved are available upon request.
Dr. Lang's E-mail: dalelang@vircom.net
Prof. Dowcett's E-mail: taoset@mac.com
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educational DESIGN:
"rethinking public education from the ground up"