Smaller Learning Communities

On January 8, 2002, President George W. Bush signed into law the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, which outlined the important purpose of Smaller Learning Communities. Implementing or expanding a Smaller Learning Communities program is difficult and complex work that administrators, teachers, and other school personnel must carry out at the same time that they are fulfilling other demanding, day-to-day responsibilities.

IOD can help by implementing an evaluation process that provides regular feedback on the progress of implementing a Smaller Learning Communities program. This evaluation will measure the program's impact and can help the project director and school personnel identify their successes and how they may need to revise their strategies to accomplish their goals.

In addition, evaluation is more critical than ever since the Department of Education now requires that the Smaller Learning Communities grant evaluations be objective and be carried out by an independent third party who has no other role in the implementation of the project.

IOD has extensive experience in evaluating Smaller Learning Communities and IOD is a regular participant in Smaller Learning Communities evaluation workshops required by the Office of Vocational Adult Education. IOD will assist you in determining the quality of your Smaller Learning Communities program by employing evaluation methods that:

• are thorough, feasible, and appropriate to the goals, objectives, and outcomes of the Smaller learning Communities program;
• will collect and annually report accurate, valid, and reliable data for each of the required performance indicators, including student achievement data that are disaggregated for economically disadvantaged students, students from major racial and ethnic groups, students with disabilities, and students with limited English proficiency;
• will collect additional qualitative and quantitative data that will be useful in assessing the success and progress of implementation, including, at a minimum, accurate, valid, and reliable data for the additional performance indicators identified by the applicant in the application; and
• will provide timely and regular feedback on the success and progress of implementation and will identify areas for needed improvement.

The fundamental purpose of Smaller Learning Communities is to improve the academic achievement of students and prepare them to participate successfully in postsecondary education or advanced training, the workforce, our democracy, and our communities.

IOD has in-depth experience and a proven track record in evaluating Smaller Learning Communities and can help to measure your school or district's progress in improving student academic achievement and other related outcomes.

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