1. Smaller Learning Communities Rigor Relevance Relationships Leander High School SLC

2.  Purpose: ◦ Supports development of Small, Safe, and Successful learning environments in large high schools.  Goal: ◦ Ensure all students graduate with knowledge & skills for successful transition to college and careers. Leander High School SLC

3.  US Department of Education Expectations & Strategies: ◦ Improve student achievement ◦ Increase the number of students mastering State content and performance standards ◦ Improve student attendance rates, graduation rates, and college enrollment rates ◦ Reduce the frequency of disciplinary actions ◦ Create a safe, drug-free learning environment ◦ http://www.ncsl.org/programs/employ/slc.htm http://www.ncsl.org/programs/employ/slc.htm Leander High School SLC

4.  We want to encourage students at LHS to: ◦ Complete Rigorous Coursework  (LHS Performance Goal: Increase the percent of students enrolling in AP/IB classes by 10% over the next three years, while increasing the percent of students taking AP/IB exams by 75%.) ◦ Gain Relevant Skills to compete in a global workforce ◦ Be prepared for college, and careers to come, while establishing positive Relationships.  (LHS Challenges Goal: Create an atmosphere of college and career readiness within LHS) Leander High School SLC

5.  Goal 1: School Climate ◦ Through the development of a smaller, more personalized and safer high school learning community where teachers, staff, students, parents, and community work collaboratively to challenge students and support learning.  How will we achieve this? ◦ Through Academic Teams in 9 th & 10 th Grades ◦ Through Advisory Classes Leander High School SLC

6.  Description :  Organizes groups of teachers across departments, so that teachers share the same students rather than the same subject.  Links teachers, who teach different subjects, in a team that shares responsibility for the curriculum, instruction, and evaluation.  Teams share the same planning time for both Academic Teams and Collaborative Teams.  More common in middle schools, but now showing up in high schools as a way to personalize the environment.  Provides an integrated view of students' progress and creates a group of teachers who can focus on the whole student. ◦ Advantages:  Student / student / teacher relationships will improve.  Academic rigor will be increased.  School experience for transitioning learners will be more individually sensitive.  Connections between subject area content and real life experiences through interdisciplinary/thematic lessons.  Teachers utilize High Yield Strategies (HYS) in the classroom environment to increase and improve student success.  http://www.nwrel.org/scpd/sslc/descriptions/academic_teaming.asp http://www.nwrel.org/scpd/sslc/descriptions/academic_teaming.asp Leander High School SLC

7.  Academic Teaming ◦ 9 th Grade 9 th Grade ◦ 10 th Grade 10 th Grade  Advisory Classes ◦ 9 th Grade 9 th Grade ◦ 10 th Grade 10 th Grade ◦ 11 th Grade 11 th Grade ◦ 12 th Grade 12 th Grade ◦ http://www.smallschoolsproject.org/PDFS/Planning_Resources/spring2003/spring2003-advisories.pdf http://www.smallschoolsproject.org/PDFS/Planning_Resources/spring2003/spring2003-advisories.pdf Leander High School SLC

8.  Goal 2: Student Achievement ◦ To help all LHS students maximize their academic potential as demonstrated by the successful completion of TAKS.  How will we achieve this? ◦ Establishing 9 th Grade Tutorials ◦ Establishing 10 th Grade Tutorials ◦ Establishing Goals for Passing Math & Science TAKS Leander High School SLC

9.  Student achievement will be measured through the TAKS exams given in the Spring semester.  Student achievement and recovery will be provided through tutorials in all courses offered at Leander High School  Specific Tutorial Schedule geared for the 9 th & 10 th Grade core classes. Leander High School SLC

10.  Grade Level Tutorials ◦ 9 th Grade 9 th Grade ◦ 10 th Grade 10 th Grade  Collaborative Team Tutorials – for all students ◦ English English ◦ Math Math ◦ Science Science ◦ Social Studies Social Studies Leander High School SLC

11.  LHS Performance Goals: ◦ Increase the passing rate by 10% for all students taking the 2009 Math and Science TAKS test; ◦ Increase percentage of students receiving a commended score on all subject areas on the 2009 TAKS by 10%; and, ◦ Eliminate the standardized test performance gap between student groups. Leander High School SLC

12.  Goal 3: Academic Rigor & Student Retention ◦ To help insure that all students not only graduate, but do so equipped with the knowledge and skills needed for a successful transition into post- secondary education, training, or workforce.  Career Academies ◦ Career Clusters ◦ Achieve Texas  Advanced Courses, Tech Prep & Dual Credit Leander High School SLC

13.  Purpose ◦ The purpose of Academies is for our students to gain academic personalization by selecting relevant and rigorous courses that will give them an edge in both the workforce and in the college admissions process. (LHS Counseling Dept 2007-08) ◦ This will allow Leander High School graduates to be set apart form others by demonstrating marketable skills, competencies and attributes meaningful to potential employers/colleges/universities. (LHS Counseling Dept 2007-08). ◦ http://casn.berkeley.edu/definition.html http://casn.berkeley.edu/definition.html ◦ http://casn.berkeley.edu/resources/solid_evidence.html http://casn.berkeley.edu/resources/solid_evidence.html Leander High School SLC

14.  What are they? ◦ Each academy is built around a career theme. ◦ Focus is on career areas that will offer academic & occupation-related courses. ◦ Students will complete state required courses, and elective/advanced courses will drive the academies. ◦ The Career Academies at LHS will be on a choice basis, the student has the opportunity to choose which academy they wish to belong to. ◦ http://casn.berkeley.edu/resources/learning_by_doing.html#2 http://casn.berkeley.edu/resources/learning_by_doing.html#2 ◦ http://www.principalspartnership.com/smalllearning.pdf http://www.principalspartnership.com/smalllearning.pdf Leander High School SLC

15.  Four Career Academies have been established at Leander High School and are aligned with the Career Pathways put in place by the Texas Education Agency in its Achieve Texas Program.Achieve Texas  Art & Communication Art & Communication  Business & Computer Technology Business & Computer Technology  Engineering & Industrial Technology Engineering & Industrial Technology  Human Services, Health & AgriScience Human Services, Health & AgriScience Leander High School SLC

16.  Career Clusters Career Clusters ◦ Directly related to and supported by Career Academies / Career Pathways ◦ Courses chosen during high school become the foundation for the future; therefore, careful selection of courses will form a Career Passport to a chosen career. Leander High School SLC

17.  Advanced Courses, Tech Prep & Dual Credit Advanced Courses, Tech Prep & Dual Credit  LHS Performance Goals: ◦ Increase the percent of students enrolling in AP/IB classes by 10% over the next three years while increasing the percent of students taking AP/IB exams by 75%; and, ◦ Increase the completion rate of all students attending LHS to 85 – 90% for the 2008-2009 school year. Leander High School SLC

18. Contact: Brad Mansfield Melissa Wood Principal, Leander High School SLC Coordinator, Leander High School Leander ISD Brad.mansfield@leanderisd.orgBrad.mansfield@leanderisd.org Melissa.wood@leanderisd.orgMelissa.wood@leanderisd.org (512) 435-8000 ext. 88022 (512) 435-8000 ext. 81200