Books

Are Smaller Learning Community High Schools Better?: A Comparison of Smaller Learning Community High Schools and Traditional High Schools on Academic Achievement by Jason Mixon. Smaller learning community high schools divide large high schools into smaller, more personalized learning communities and have emerged as a potential solution to the racial achievement gap in large high schools. This book compared 12 smaller learning community high schools with 12 traditional high schools on student academic achievement. While small schools generally outperform large schools on certain academic performance indicators, this study revealed that overall there is no significant difference in student performance between the schools, and the racial achievement gap persists.

Leading & Managing Extended Schools: Ensuring Every Child Matters by David Middlewood and Richard Parker. This book is designed to shows leader of all types of schools how to extend school time by building on and adapting their current practices. The authors explain the context of Extended Schools, in the UK and elsewhere, and outline the features of effective schools and leaders, while providing practical advice from case studies from a range of settings. This book is geared towards multiple audiences including: leaders beginning in extended schools, political leaders, advisers, and graduate students in Education Policy.

Online Tools

Edutopia has been exploring various after-school programs around the country and provide mini-documentaries, interviews, and other content on their website here. The site also has in-depth explanations of four programs that include sample lessons, articles, videos, contacts, and other in-depth materials, all of which are adaptable for different stakeholder groups.

National Center on Time & Learning “The National Center on Time & Learning is dedicated to expanding learning time to improve student achievement and enable a well-rounded education for all children.” The Center conducts research, acts as advisors to policy makers, and provides technical assistance to schools expanding learning time to meet their students’ needs. Check out their website to learn more about the Center, browse resources, learn about policy updates, or request TA.

Massachusetts 2020 Beginning in 2000, Massachusetts 2020 uses a combination of public policy, research and programming to expand and improve learning opportunities for children in the state. Initial efforts focused on after-school and summer learning programs. Currently, efforts are focused on the Expanded Learning Time (ELT) Initiative, which is geared toward expanded learning time and redesigning schools. They have compiled an online resource guide for ELT Planning and Redesign to for schools and districts committed to expanding learning time for their students (click here to view the guide).

Professional Learning for Equity Module
This module guides participants through an exploration of inclusive educational systems, schools, and classrooms, and through activities that allow them to construct their own. Downloadable materials include PowerPoint presentations, participant handouts, and facilitator manuals. Click here to download the module.

Equity in Action: Professional Learning for Culturally Responsive Teaching
Our newest publication, Professional Learning for Culturally Responsive Teaching includes key principles to guide development and implementation of professional learning, and also presents several research-based exemplars of practice that demonstrate educators’ engagement in PL that results in the improvement of students’ academic and social outcomes. Click here to read the publication.

Upcoming Events
August 5-7, 2009 : National Urban Service Learning Institute in Philadelphia, PA.
August 17-19, 2009 : OSEP Leadership Conference
August 20-21, 2009 : High Performing, Inclusive Secondary Schools: A Leadership Institute in Newton, MA.
February 16-17, 2010 : Leadership for Equity and Excellence Forum in Phoenix, Arizona.
November 9-14, 2009 : The Teacher Education Division of the Council for Exceptional Children annual conference in Charlotte, NC. This year’s theme is “Teacher Preparation in Changing Times: Fostering Partnerships Between Special Education and General Education”
January 29-31, 2010 : The Different From What? Film Festival, in Tempe, AZ.

We welcome you to submit your session proposal for the 2010 Leadership for Excellence and Equity Forum by September 25th, 2009. Click here to access the submission form.