Smaller Learning Communities

Establishing Research

This funding has been established to respond to the needs of approximately 70% of American high school students who attend schools enrolling more than 1,000 or more students.

Research ultimately confirms what parents intuitively believe: that smaller schools are safer and more productive because students feel less alienated, more nurtured and more connected to caring adults, and teachers feel that they have more opportunity to get to know and support their students (Fowler & Walberg, 1991; Gregory, 1992; Stockard & Mayberry, 1992).

	Smaller learning environments are a condition for boosting student achievement (Williams, 1990)
	School size has positive effects on student outcomes as evidenced by students' attendance rates, frequency of disciplinary actions, school loyalty, use of alcohol or drugs, satisfaction with school and self-esteem (Raywid (1995) and Klonsky (1995).
	An effective size for secondary schools is in the range of 400-800 students (Williams, 1990).
	Enrollment size has a stronger effect on learning in schools with large concentrations of poor and minority children (Cotton, 1996).

What will it fund?

Costs to reorganize schools

Provide extended learning time

Professional development

Support services for students

Community partnerships and collaboration

Data collection and evaluation activities

Who is eligible?

Local educational agencies (LEAs) are eligible to apply on behalf of a large high school or a group of large high schools. The new law gives defined structure to the discretionary grant status of the Smaller Learning Communities grant competition and ensures that Smaller Learning Communities will continue to assist large public high schools, which are defined as schools that include grades 11 and 12 and enroll at least 1,000 students in grades 9 and above.

 

Funding Level:

The Smaller Learning Communities competitive federal grant program will be funded at approximately $175 million in FY 2005 to plan, implement or expand smaller learning communities in large high schools. Approximately $135 million will be available for new grants.

Planning grants are funded for one year and provide up to $25,000-$50,000 per project.  Implementation grants are funded for up to three years and provide $250,000-$500,000 per project.