North Scott High SchoolSmaller Learning Communities

CFDA # 84.215LU.S. Department of Education

Office of Vocational and Adult Education

Purpose

Support the creation or expansion of small, safe, and successful learning environments in large public high schools.

Absolute Priority

Helping All Students to Succeed in Rigorous Academic Courses (by implementing strategies and interventions to ensure that all students who enter HS with reading/language arts and/or mathematics skills significantly below grade level achieve proficiency by the end of 10th grade.)

Project Goals

Goal One: Improve academic achievement and social outcomes for all students through the use of research-based strategies and interventions.

Goal Two: Prepare all students for a successful transition to high school and from high school to post-secondary education, training or the workforce

Goal Three: Provide staff with ongoing professional development aligned with research-based instructional strategies and SLC best practices

Successes Building Leadership Team Advisory Student Assistance Team Career Awareness Learning Supports Credit Recovery Professional Development Freshman Houses

Building Leadership Team

Purpose: Lead faculty, students, parents, and the community to improve student achievement.- Started as building business committee

progressed to a committee that looks at data to help determine professional development

Advisory

19 minutes per day Staff assigned to specific grade level

advisory Student Advocate Activities – grade level specific, team

building activities, academic and career conferencing

Student Assistance Teams

Members – administrators, guidance counselors, juvenile court liaison, AEA special education staff, police liaison officer

Meet weekly Monitor academic performance,

behavior and attendance

Career Awareness

Facilitated by Mary Anne Braden, School-to-Work Coordinator• Business Internships (seniors)

• Elementary Teacher Helpers (seniors)• High School Teacher Helpers (juniors & seniors)

• Job Shadows (juniors & seniors)

• Sophomore Career Fair (hosted at NSHS)

• College Career Days & Workshops

Healthcare Academy Stage 1 – Health Occupation class [2007-08]

Stage 2 – Additional classes (e.g. Anatomy & Physiology) [2008-09]

Stage 3 – Practicum for hands-on experience [2009-2010]

Industrial Technology Strands

Home Building Drafting Manufacturing/Welding

Family & Consumer Science

Early Childhood Human Services Fashion & Design Culinary Arts

Learning Supports

Research based and age appropriate ALEKS APEX Second Chance Reading Program Criterion Writing

Credit Recovery Spring 2007 – Summer 2010

- 421 students recovered credit in 489 courses

- Reflects 77% of students enrolled successfully recovered credit in one or more courses.

Professional Development

Academic Teaming – Collaboration Time Common Planning Time Training Collaborating on Line for Rigor &

Relevance

Freshmen Transition Activities

Spring of 8th grade year- Counselors meet with parents & students to develop 4-year high school plan and course selection for 9th grade.- High school students visit 8th grade advisories

Freshmen Tours

Freshman Houses

All Freshmen in Red or Silver House

Core Course Offerings

45 minute classes

Common Planning Time (cross curricular & by department)

9th Grade Students Failing 1st Semester

9th Grade Students Failing 2nd Semester

NSHS Students Failing Core Class at Semester

Critical Questions

How do we decrease the number of sophomore and juniors failing a core class?

How do we decrease the number of students requiring credit recovery?

How do maximize collaboration time? How do we continue high school

reform?