Project Summary

With funding from the Carnegie Foundation to the Providence School District, The Education Alliance has worked with the Providence district administration to assist district high schools in redesigning into small learning communities. An Education Alliance facilitator/coach worked with administrators and teacher based teams at each school on developing plans for the redesign of each school into smaller learning communities (SLC).

Redesign plans traditionally incorporate common planning time, block scheduling, team teaching, advisories, project based instruction, senior projects, mentoring and service learning, among other initiatives. The facilitator conducted student focus groups and workshops throughout the year for teachers and administrators as well as observed classes and advisories, giving feedback and recommendations to both teachers and administrators. The facilitator was also a member of the District’s Central Office Redesign Team, headed by the High School Redesign Coordinator.

The Education Alliance partnered with the Center for Resource Management (CRM) to analyze student data. In addition and in conjunction with CRM, the facilitator was a member of the school based data team that met a minimum of once a month. Teachers and administrators were invited to a number of conferences such as The Education Alliance's High School Showcase, Breaking Ranks Summer Institute, and the Principals' Leadership Network. All of these professional development opportunities connected Providence educators with colleagues at similar schools from around the country.