CCISD News

CCISD School Board Studies Small Learning Communities Workshop:
Part I.

By Marilyn Clark, League City Area News Online

Teachers, Administrators and CCISD staff presented a Workshop on Small Learning Communities at a Special CCISD School Board meeting on April 8, 2004.

Assistant Superintendent for Secondary Education Lynne Cleveland describes a small learning community as a community or team of students and teachers that work together within a large school. A thematic academy is a type of small learning community based upon a theme.

Planning for small learning communities is being funded by a $150,000 grant from the United States Department of Education, DOE. CCISD was one of three school districts in Texas to received a DOE planning grant. CCISD is now applying for a $1.6 Million grant to help fund staff development and training for the implementation of small learning communities.

For, research shows that a number of students at huge high schools feel lost. These students feel disconnected from the crowd and that they don’t fit in. This may cause them to let their studies slide, skip school and/or misbehave. (Also see info available in the small learning communities section of the CCISD website at http://ccisd.net/committees/sl_home.asp  )

So, CCISD has been looking for ways to downsize local high schools (See http://ccisd.net/committees/sl_faq.asp) to help students develop a sense of belonging.

For, CCISD high schools range in size from 2566 students at Clear Brook High School to 3368 students at Clear Lake High School. A small secondary school is defined as a school of 600 students or fewer. (See http://ccisd.net/committees/sl_media.asp/smallschools.ppt )

Mary Latulippe of Clear Creek High School reported on a way to the downsize area high schools by using small learning communities (rather than bulldozers). (Also see http://ccisd.net/committees/sl_faq.asp ) She indicated that research confirms that students in small learning communities have

1. More positive attitudes towards school
2. Better behavior (Truancy and discipline problems decrease.)
3. Increased graduation rate
4. Increased attendance rate
5. An increased sense of belonging

when compared to students in large high schools who are not divided into small learning communities (teams).

A Small Learning Communities committee was formed at the District level and at each of the three CCISD high schools: Clear Creek High School (CCHS), Clear Brook High School (CBHS) and Clear Lake High School (CLHS).

The chairwoman of the Small Learning Communities Committee at (CCHS) is Assistant Principal Kristi LaMell.

LaMell stated that the committee looked at the District Mission Statement and the CCHS Mission Statement: "A school without barriers designed with a student-future focus, crafted around student interests and dreams, in order to personalize student education."

LaMell said the committee surveyed students and teachers. The committee then used the survey results to develop the CCHS Small Learning Communities Vision Statement: "To meet the academic, social and emotional needs of students by providing a personalized experience which results in academic excellence while providing a broad range of opportunities." (Also see http://ccisd.net/committees/sl_committee/DistrictVisionCommittee.ppt  )

Next, Becky Kimmins of CCHS reported that members of their committee visited high schools throughout the nation, including Texas and the Northeast, that have successfully implemented small learning communities. In Texas, they visited Alvin High School. It is similar in size to CCHS. They also visited Northside ISD in San Antonio. Here they studied the Communication Arts School, the Science and Engineering Academy and the Health Career High School.

Clear Creek High School will implement small learning communities (teams) at the 9th Grade Level for the 2004-2005 school year. Freshmen will be split into 4 small learning teams. Students in each team will take their core classes together: English, math, science and social studies.

Clear Creek High School plans to implement thematic academies for the 2005-2006 school year. The themes will be selected from the results of student surveys. In thematic academies, students are able to explore and develop skills in different career or interest areas while taking the state required classes in English, math, science and history.

For example, 11th and 12th graders at Boston’s Charleston High School are able to select one of six Thematic Units (small learning communities): Law & Justice, Facing History, Finance & Economics, CISCO Networking, Website Design and Environmental Science.

Students in different thematic academies will be using the same curriculum and the same textbooks throughout the District. Team teaching will be used and some of the lessons and assignments will be adapted to center on the focus of the thematic academy.

Next year, freshmen at Clear Brook High School will participate in SUMMIT weekly during extended homeroom time. The SUMMIT teacher will stay with his/her students throughout high school and be both an advisor and a mentor to the students.

In the SUMMIT curriculum, students will participate in the Keystone/Capstone Program, receive TAKS help and work on a portfolio. Sandy Stevens said that freshmen will learn high school survival skills; study skills for English 1, algebra and geometry, time management and principles of character development. Upperclassmen will receive help with goal setting, career exploration, budgeting and finance, writing resumes, interviewing, preparing for the SAT and ACT exams and applying for college.

Patti Nesrsta said that CBHS is planning to implement small learning communities called colleges for the 2005-2006 school year. The themes for these colleges will be based on the results of student surveys.

Kathy Cook said that students at Clear Lake High School, primarily tenth and eleventh graders, will be able to enroll in a small learning community called CMBA, Computer, Marketing and Business Academy, for the 2004-2005 school year.

Cook said that the CMBA small learning community classes will focus on a business theme. Students will earn a certificate that will show that they have met a list of standards and are qualified. In the business world, employees often work in teams. So at times, a team of students might develop a small business plan rather than a report on the Life of Shakespeare.

Freshman at the Clear Lake 9th Grade Center will be split into small learning communities (teams) for core classes for the 2005-2006 school year.

CCISD School Board Studies Small Learning Communities: Part II. Comments by Board Members and More Information

Archived on July 16, 2004.
Online publication date is July 16, 2004.

CCISD Archive