It’s 7:30 on a Wednesday morning, and all sorts of people are converging on a 5th floor room at the Port of Long Beach Administration building. By anyone’s standards, they are the “Big Guns” of the world’s third largest port, the combined Los Angeles and Long Beach harbors. No, they are the Advisory Board for the Global Safety and Security (GSS) academy at Banning High School.  These very busy people donate their time to inspire students to stay in school, raise their GPAs, increase their attendance, and academically prepare for their personal goal of the “dream job.” more Is it a meeting to talk about terrorism threats? Are they there for a Homeland Security drill? Are they discussing the latest way to scan containers to determine their contents?  Are they planning how to keep the residents of southern California safe from those who would do us harm?

Technology for Student-Centered Learning at New Tech High Schools
Participating in a study tour at Napa and Sacramento New Technology High Schools, UNITE-LA President David Rattray states, “...LAUSD leaders were impressed by the student engagement. The classes were calm, students were on task, engaged, having fun and working hard.  In fact that’s the most important thing we saw on our visit -- kids having fun.”  more

Summer Deadline Drives Hybrid SLC Conversion in North Hollywood
One of the first of many complex decisions facing SLC planners is whether to convert their schools all at once or incrementally. Passionate arguments legitimize both positions and often lead to a paralyzing stalemate.  Randy Delling, principal of North Hollywood High School adopted a unique hybrid approach to solve his school’s unusual situation.   more

Resources

“Characteristics/Attributes of SSLCs”
.In October, the LAUSD Board of education adopted a motion and policy endorsing Small Learning Communities and Small Schools reform throughout the district.  Perhaps the most significant outcome of the motion is the Board’s standardization of broad redesign guidelines. Full Report

In The News

A Dream School Becomes Reality
Efforts of ex-trustee Weintraub come to fruition as the High Tech High charter campus is dedicated.  “This is our joy, our dream” Weintraub said in an interview.  article
[Originally published Los Angeles Times, November 18, 2004 By Jean Merl, Times Staff Writer]

Calendar

UNITE-LA Announces Winter Study Tours to Boston, Massachusetts more

4th Annual Florida Small Schools Planning Institute
January 12-13, 2005 more

High School Renewal and Boston Small Schools Study Tour 2005 more

The Education Alliance at Brown University Presents the 3rd Annual High School Showcase
February 2-3, 2005   more