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SMALLER LEARNING COMMUNITIES

A community is a place where people know each other and care about each other. It’s a safe place committed to learning and achievement for each student.

The Smaller Learning Communities Program (SLCs) at Jefferson High School puts students into more personalized settings to increase their performance.

Students are more likely to bond with their SLC or “house.” They are less likely to ignore their schoolwork and fall through the cracks because each individual is in the spotlight. It’s more difficult for a student to avoid attention and become “invisible.”

Classes are smaller. Teachers are assigned to work with a specific house. They get to know each student in their community. They track each person closely and intervene at the first sign of problems. They meet with each other each week to discuss how the program is progressing and how to help students who have having trouble. They talk about what’s causing the problems and what can be done to ease them. They share ideas about what works to motivate a particular student and what does not. They will work with these students exclusively for the next four years.

Parents are involved, as well. SLC staff meets with all parents to explain the SLC’s objectives to them. They contact them if their child has attendance, academic or behavioral problems. They encourage parents to participate in SLC events. Sometimes, the full house team will sit down with a parent to try to find ways to help one individual student.

CEI also uses field trips and special awards to motivate students and keep their interest high.

The program is being phased in at Jefferson High School. This year, the freshman class is divided into three different SLCs. Over the next two years, the entire school will convert to this model.

SLCs are funded by a four-year grant from the U.S. Department of Education. CEI supplements the federal monies, spending an additional $457 per student. The extra money pays for one-on-one tutoring, visits to local college campuses, guest speakers, field trips and other extra-curricular activities, such as ropes courses, and special achievement awards.

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