Students at schools such as Carver Early College will now attend Small Learning Community Academies. The SLC model is not only a win-win for the students, but for teachers and faculty, allowing for more collaborative opportunities.
When Atlanta Public Schools (APS) opens its doors for the 2012-13 school year, all of its high schools will be operating under one principal per campus. In August, APS plans to restructure all of its small high schools by transforming them to Small Learning Communities (SLC), a model that includes small, themed academies led by academy leaders who report to one principal.
APS currently operates five high schools under the SLC model: Douglass, Grady, Jackson, Mays, and North Atlanta. The following schools will be transformed into high schools with one principal and academy leaders for each discipline: Carver (School of Arts; Early College, Health Sciences and Research, Technology); Therrell (STEMS, Health Science, Law & Govt.); Washington (Banking-Finance-Investment, Early College, Health Science Nutrition, Senior Academy); South Atlanta (Computer Animation & Design, Health and Medical Science, Law & Govt.).
While APS is eliminating small schools, the disciplines (Arts, STEMS, Technology, Early College, etc.) will remain in the restructured school, operating as academies. Although students will continue in their selected disciplines, they will have access to broader course offerings and will be allowed to take courses in other academies on campus. In addition, each school restructured as an SLC will operate on a single schedule which will allow for better school building management.
The SLC model is not only a win-win for the students, but for teachers and faculty because it allows for more collaborative opportunities among all teachers on campus, better coordination of class schedules and common planning times. The restructuring also supports APS’ implementation of the K-12 school clusters and is anticipated to save the district $700,000.
APS would like to hear from you. Please take a moment to fill out our survey and post comments about this transition. Feedback forms are available online: http://www.atlantapublicschools.us/hsfeedback .
