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Internet Resources on Starting Small Schools
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A Starting Point: 1. ERIC Clearinghouse on Rural Education and Small Schools These short "digests" are probably the best quick overview of the of the research on small schools. 2. Small Schools Workshop This site provides a more comprehensive overview of the research on small schools, including links to recent studies. 3. National Clearinghouse for Educational Facilities This is another comprehensive list of links to studies and articles on small schools, including some of the most recent research. 4. Small Schools Project This is a shorter (and thus more manageable) list, which includes some of the key studies on small schools. 5. Coalition of Essential Schools Fieldbook This is another shorter list of resources which includes some key studies, including some articles by the Coalition not cited elsewhere. Why
Small Schools? Dollars and Sense: The Cost Effectiveness of Small Schools from KnowledgeWorks Foundation examines the current research on the financial and social impact of small schools. This report takes a comprehensive look at the financial feasibility and social necessity of small schools as well as some of the hidden costs of larger schools. Small Schools: An Anti-Racist Intervention in Urban America by Michelle Fine and Linda Powell, in Racial Profiling and Punishment in U.S. Public Schools (ERASE Initiative, 2001) This eloquent piece explains why urban districts in particular need to adopt small schools as a systemic reform strategy. Transforming the American High School: New Directions for State and Local Policy by Michael Cohen (Jobs for the Future and the Aspen Institute, 2001) This report identifies key systemic policy changes that are necessary to improve American high schools, including the creation of smaller schools. The Politics of Urgency by Michelle Fine (Cross City Campaign for Urban School Reform, 2000) This speech describes the urgent need for change in urban schools and describes nine "myths" that have impeded the success of school reform efforts thus far. Musings in the Wake of Columbine: What Can Schools Do? by Mary Anne Raywid and Libby Oshiyama (Phi Delta Kappan Vol. 81, No. 6, 2000) This article explores some problematic design features of many suburban comprehensive high schools and explains how successful small schools can provide adolescents with a sense of community. The Big Benefits of Smallness by Deborah Meier (Educational Leadership Vol. 54, No. 1, 1996) This concise article provides seven reasons why smallness "works best and offers probably the only chance of carrying out serious reforms in pedagogy and curriculum." The
Research in Brief: New Small Learning Communities: Findings From Recent Literature by Kathleen Cotton (Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory, 2001) This is a clear, comprehensive overview of the recent research on small schools and small learning communities, with a primary focus on studies completed in the past five years. Small Schools: The Numbers Tell a Story by Michael Klonsky (Small Schools Workshop, 1998) This article provides an excellent overview of the research data on small schools, including some older studies that are not referenced in many other publications. Current Literature on Small Schools by Mary Anne Raywid (ERIC Digest, 1999) This digest provides a brief overview of research literature on the effectiveness of small schools and describes current topics researchers have begun to explore. Affective and Social Benefits of Small-Scale Schooling by Kathleen Cotton (ERIC Digest, 1996) This digest is a brief version of a longer paper called "School Size, School Climate, and Student Performance," (School Improvement Research Series Close Up #20, Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory, 1996). Both publications provide an excellent overview of small schools research, including in particular the affective and social benefits of small schools. School Size by Karen Irmsher (ERIC Digest, 1997) This digest is another good overview of small schools research, including information on cost-effectiveness, facilities, and whether there is an optimal school size. Research About School Size and School Performance in Impoverished Communities by Craig Howley, Marty Strange, and Robert Bickel (ERIC Digest, 2000) This digest reviews the findings of the Matthew Project, a multi-state study that replicated findings showing that small schools significantly reduce the achievement gap between low-income and wealthier students. Curriculum Adequacy and Quality in High Schools Enrolling Fewer Than 400 Pupils (9-12) by Christopher Roellke (ERIC Digest, 1996) This digest reviews research showing that small school size facilitates the development of a high-quality curriculum. Policy Brief: Relationship Between High School Size and Educational Outcomes Marc Winokur (Research and Development Center for the Advancement of Student Learning) This brief summarizes the research on the impact of school size on various aspects of schooling including behavior, involvement, achievement and violence. Small
Schools as a Systemic Reform: Guiding Principles of Small Schools (Bronx High School Superintendency, 2001) The Bronx New Century High Schools project is creating 15 new small schools over the next two years. These guiding principles provide a good framework for developing high-quality schools. Oakland New Small Autonomous Schools 2002 Request for Proposals (Oakland Unified School District, 2002) The Oakland Unified School District has adopted a small schools policy that allows teams of educators, parents, and community members to start new autonomous schools. This Request for Proposals, developed in partnership with the Bay Area Coalition of Equitable Schools, provides guidelines for design teams as they develop school proposals. Chicago High School Redesign Initiative Request for Proposals (Chicago Public Schools, 2002) Over the next five years, the Chicago High School Redesign Initiative is transforming five large neighborhood high schools into separate, autonomous high schools, each with no more than 400 students. This Request for Proposals includes useful lists of questions for small school design teams and large schools that want to convert to smaller schools. Small Schools, Great Strides: A Study of New Small Schools in Chicago by Partricia Wasley, Michelle Fine, Matt Gladden, Nicole E. Holland, Sherry P. King, Esther Mosak, and Linda C. Powell (Bank Street College of Education, 2000) This study of the small schools movement in Chicago shows how students in small schools have higher attendance rates, lower dropout rates, higher grade point averages, and higher test scores than their counterparts in large schools. The
Bottom Line: The Effects of Size of Student Body on School Costs and Performance in New York City High Schools by Leanna Stiefel, Patrice Iatarola, Norm Fruchter, and Robert Berne (New York University, 1998) This study shows that small academic high schools in New York City cost significantly less per graduate than large high schools. Small Schools, Big Results: Nebraska High School Completion and Postsecondary Enrollment Rates by Size of School District by Patricia Funk and Jon Bailey (Nebraska Alliance for Rural Education, 1999) This study of Nebraska schools found that "the so-called 'inefficiencies' of small schools are greatly reduced when calculated on the basis of cost-per-graduate." Smaller, Safer, Saner, Successful Schools by Joe Nathan and Karen Febey (Center for School Change, 2001) This report provides case studies of 22 school buildings in 12 states where small schools share large facilities. Who's
Who: Small Schools Workshop, Chicago Small Schools Project, Seattle Center for Collaborative Education, Boston Bay Area Coalition for Equitable Schools, Oakland Center for School Change, Minneapolis New Visions for Public Schools, New York Colorado Children's Campaign, Denver |
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