The Echo

Small Learning Academies are receiving much attention these days, as states work to address failing high schools and high drop-out rates.  At C&E 1st, we'll be devoting some posts to this instructional model as Christina's own Glasgow High transitions into the Partnership Zone and our design team works to create and implement a reform plan that includes such academies.   If Glasgow's PZ plan is approved by the State BOE (and is currently a work in progress not yet due to DOE nor ready for approval by the CSD BOE), Christina will likely need to explore the availability of supporting funding.  They could join the ranks of NJ, CA, FL, AK and more in receiving substantial support for the initiative (HERE for RECIPIENTS).  While PZ schools and their districts (and there will be more added to the four announced this year - DOE promised 10 schools in total) plan to implement new instructional models, we must be cognizant that RTTT funding will go away and as such, consider the long-term survivability of these plans.

Program Office: Academic Improvement and Teacher Quality Programs

CFDA Number: 84.215L
Program Type: Discretionary/Competitive Grants

Program Description

The Smaller Learning Communities (SLC) program awards discretionary grants to local educational agencies (LEAs) to support the implementation of SLCs and activities to improve student academic achievement in large public high schools with enrollments of 1,000 or more students. SLCs include structures such as freshman academies, multi-grade academies organized around career interests or other themes, "houses" in which small groups of students remain together throughout high school, and autonomous schools-within-a-school, as well as personalization strategies, such as student advisories, family advocate systems, and mentoring programs.

TYPES OF PROJECTS

Grants are awarded for up to 60 months to LEAs that apply on behalf of large public high schools. Projects integrate the implementation or expansion of SLCs with improvements in curriculum and instruction, and other activities to raise student academic achievement.

Additional Information

The SLC program is authorized under Title V, Part D, Subpart 4 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) (20 U.S.C. 7249), as amended by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001.