FAQ'S About Smaller Learning Communities
and Career Academies
What is a Smaller Learning Community (SLC)?A smaller learning community is an individualized learning unit within a larger school setting. It involves teachers from different subjects working together as a team. Ideally, teams will participate in professional development, particularly in implementing the key features of the Smaller Learning Communities. Team members have shared planning time, usually a daily, common planning period, and often release time for professional development. The joining of a group of students for several periods each day with teachers whom they come to know well provides a family-like atmosphere and nurtures close student-teacher ties. An SLC functions within the larger high school and requires administrator and counselor support.
What are the benefits of SLC’s?
- Personalization of a student’s education
- Closer relationships between teachers and students
- Relevancy – linking of academic coursework to careers and everyday living in a global society
- Awareness of post-secondary opportunities
- Teachers grouped as interdisciplinary teams
- Improved student learning and achievement
- Increased academic rigor
- Business partnerships
There is a growing body of evidence (John Hopkins Study and others) that suggests that smaller schools may have advantages over larger schools. Research suggests that the positive outcomes associated with smaller schools’ ability to create close, personal environments in which teachers can work collaboratively with each other and with a small set of students challenges students and enhances learning.
YPS offer the best of both worlds with all that a large, comprehensive high school offers plus the personalization of a small school.
Why is there such an emphasis on building relationships between teachers and students?
Research points to the need of knowing our students better. The better we know our students, the more they will engage in their own education.
Will SLC’s result in curricular change?
Curriculum will become more rigorous. YPS believes that all YHS graduates should be exposed to courses that allow them to successfully attend college or engage in other post secondary opportunities. All core classes, math, English, science, and history, will still be governed by the state’s mandated curriculum called PASS.
What is the Freshman Academy?
Beginning 2004/05, freshmen were grouped with a team of core teachers: math, English, science and history (MESH). The students take a high school orientation course called Keystone which incorporates “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Teens” and “Career Choices.” This course serves as a bridge connecting middle school to high school. During this semester course, students are involved in career exploration, learning interpersonal skills, study skills, note-taking skills, and test taking skills, as well as learning the history of the school and how it relates to school spirit. Students participate in character education and service learning. Advisement, mentoring and tutorial services will also be available. This academy provides a solid footing for high school success.
Why do they need to be grouped?
Research strongly supports the grouping of students into smaller teams. Grouping eliminates anonymity among students, develops multi-year relationships, teams teachers and develops relevance for students. These are powerful tools used to increase student success during high school, along with providing post-secondary opportunities.
What is an interdisciplinary unit?
It is the purposeful overlap of curriculum between subject areas. Many people have been successfully integrating their curriculum for a long time. Certain subjects are naturally aligned at certain times in the year. English and history, algebra and physics, drafting and trigonometry, communication and business are all natural integration partners. Teaming provides a common forum for development of these units, as well as some common planning time for teachers.
Will teachers be expected to develop interdisciplinary lessons all of the time?
No. High school curriculum is often specific to the discipline. Integration should be natural and meaningful. The driving force in any high school class is the curriculum guideline established by the state and district. Integration occurs when the curriculum guidelines in two classes align or overlap.
Will our students be prepared for college?
Yes. College bound students will have the same opportunities as they currently have and more. The district has several articulation agreements that allow high school students to earn college credits. College bound students benefit from a curriculum that supports integrated activities and applied academics. Each SLC will focus on the needs of all students.
What about special needs students?
Each SLC will have special education support.
Will there still be content-based departments?
Yes. No one knows the math curriculum better than a math teacher does. Department functions will still be necessary to develop sound educational practices.
What community partnerships have been developed to provide collaboration expertise and workplace experience for SLC’s?
Partnerships have been developed with Integris Canadian Valley Regional Hospital, Oklahoma Restaurant Association, Oklahoma Hotel and Lodging Association, Redlands Community College, Canadian Valley Technology Center, State Regents for Higher Education, and the Oklahoma State Department of Career and Technical Education. Plans call for more to be established.
What is an Academy?
An academy is made up of a group of students and teachers who have a special interest in a particular career field. These students are in the same SLC and often have many academic classes together as well as certain electives. YHS currently has two academies in the fields of Medical Professions and Hospitality and has plans to develop others in the near future.
Does YHS already have an Academy?
Yes, a Medical Professions Academy (MPA) has been developed and in operation since 2002-03. The Hospitality Pathway was implemented in 2004-05. Students who are enrolled in the medical and hospitality pathways are required to take specific electives.
What benefits have MPA and Hospitality students gained?
- To date, students have participated in internships in veterinary medicine, physical therapy, radiology, surgery, ER medicine, OBGYN and pediatrics, radiology, dentistry, hotel front desk, and restaurant management.
- Upon graduating a student could be certified as a First Responder (which is similar to an EMT).
- Students can earn college credit much like they can with concurrent enrollment. Students in the MPA receive college credit for medical terminology provided they follow procedures through Redlands Community College.
- Teachers collaboratively plan lessons.
Yukon High School has a traditional six period day; however, with the flex seven, students can choose a one through six schedule or a two through seven schedule. Tenth through twelfth grade students can opt to enroll in seven classes. Freshmen may only take six.
What is Advisory?
YHS is now in the third year of Advisory. Each advisory has a group of 25-30 students who meet with adult mentors who are staff members at Yukon High School or YPS Central Office. Each advisory section has at least 2 advisors. During Advisory, students receive information and guidance regarding academic success and post-secondary opportunities. A cross-section of students, from the same grade level, is assigned to the same advisory team throughout their high school years.
What does YPS hope to accomplish with the implementation of SLC’s?
YPS want to create appropriate structures and guidance plans for students in cooperation with their families. Such a learning plan would be a flexible outline of what the student hopes to accomplish in young adulthood. It would then identify the educational skills the student should pursue to be successful. Students should not have to wait until they have a high school diploma in hand to learn that they are unqualified for college or for work. In other words, YPS want to make students aware of the knowledge and skills required to succeed in post-secondary pursuits.
YPS want to establish reliable lines of communication with parents, community, education and the world of work.
YPS want to personalize a student’s education, increase academic rigor, and provide relevance.
