A letter from the Director of Small Learning Communities…

MNPS comprehensive high schools have embarked on an exciting and innovative journey to redesign high schools through small learning communities (SLC). This is the biggest change in high schools in Nashville since the opening of McGavock High in the 1970’s.

Rigor, relevance and relationships are at the core of this movement. Dropout rate, attendance, discipline, academic achievement and preparing students for the 21^st Century are the heart of this movement. Too many students entering 9th grade fall between the cracks. We have begun a rollout of the different phases of the SLC initiative, which has been helped in part by a 6.65 million dollar grant from the U.S. Dept. of Education.

Last year we implemented freshman academies and advisor/advisee programs in 10 high schools. During the summer of ’08, we piloted a summer bridge program to help struggling eighth graders. Beginning in August of ’08, we will phase in career/thematic academies at seven of our comprehensive high schools. All of this is a way to divide large schools into smaller schools to enhance student learning and provide a web of support that is not currently in place. Next year we will implement career and thematic academies at five more high schools, including Overton. We are excited about the changes at our high schools, and know that our students will benefit from these academies in many meaningful ways.

Careers in the 21^st Century require different skills than have been expected of high school graduates in the past. We want to provide a structure for students to have more options while in high school and to be better prepared for post secondary education and the careers of the future.

As Director of Small Learning Communities, I work in the Office of Redesign and Innovation with Karl Lang. We work directly with principals and the site coaches in each school to provide resources needed to make this great initiative successful.

Thanks to all of the “pioneers” out there who have worked hard to provide support for this reorganization this year. Without you, students would not have the opportunities to succeed in an ever changing world.

— Starr Herrman