An Update on Madison's Small Learning Community / High School "Redesign" Plans

The Madison School Board recently received a presentation (25mb mp3 file) from the Administration on its plans for High School "redesign" and the use of the $5,500,000 Small Learning Community grant funded by our federal tax dollars. Assistant Superintendent Pam Nash along with representatives from the four large high schools participated in the discussion. The Board asked some interesting questions. President Arlene Silveira asked how this initiative relates to the District's "Strategic Planning Process"? Vice President Lucy Mathiak asked about opportunities for advanced students.

Related:

• More Than English 10: Let's REALLY Talk About Our High Schools
• Madison Schools Superintendent Art Rainwater Halts East High School "Redesign"
• Madison School District Small Learning Community Grant Application
• Examining the Data from Earlier Grants, Part 1 Part 2 Part 3
• US Department of Education Response to Madison's 2007 Small Learning Community Grant Application
• Where Does the MMSD Get its Numbers From?
• More Than English 10: Let's REALLY Talk About Our High Schools
• Evaluation of the Small Learning Community Project at Madison West High School
• Links on West High School's English 10
• High School "Redesign" notes and links

The interesting question in all of this is: does the money drive strategy or is it the other way around? In addition, what is the budget impact after 5 years? A friend mentioned several years ago, during the proposed East High School curriculum change controversy, that these initiatives fail to address the real issue: lack of elementary and middle school preparation.

Posted by Jim Zellmer at December 15, 2008 9:33 AM
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