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Smaller Learning Communities Coalition
The coalition was formed in 2003 by The Education Foundation of the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce as an applicant and then award recipient of a U.S. Department of Education SLC Grant. The SLC grant initiatives would address last-in-the-nation graduation rates, serious performance gaps between sub-groups of students and increase overall achievement, preparedness for work and training and education. The Education Foundation provided grant project management and the Charleston County School District served as fiscal agent.
U.S. Dept. of Education Grants
Planning Grant, 2003-04: $215,000
Implementation Grant, 2004-07: $2,223,201
For major grant results, click here.
The continued initiatives of the Coalition are to create school environments that are conducive to student growth and achievement, close the achievement gap among subgroups of students and sustain smaller learning communities through full stakeholder participation. The SLC Coalition focuses on Ninth Grade Academies and career pathway development for grades 10-12 in an effort to introduce all students to career options and prepare them for post-graduate careers and/or college.
Professional Development: Smaller Learning Communities Institutes and Forums
The Smaller Learning Communities Coalition has researched the most effective ways to create learning environments that foster achievement and has paid particular attention to the findings and recommendations of renowned experts, best practices and lessons learned from SLC model schools. The SLC Regional Forums for Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester County Coalition schools allows for sharing model programs, peer-to-peer feedback about challenges, and resource exchange. The SLC Institutes focus on key topics related to SLCs.
2010 Regional Forum – Career Pathway Management through e-IGP Process and Advisory Programs, IGP Data Reports and the Trident Soft Skills Project.
2009 Regional Forum – Master Schedule, Common Planning, Credit Recovery, Extra Help Programs, Advisory, Renaissance, Incentive Programs, Career Majors and Career Academies.
2008 SLC Institute – Closing the Achievement Gap by Dr. Belinda Williams.
2007 SLC Institute - Indicators of Successful SLC’s by Diana Oxley, Advisory Interaction, Developing an Advisory Program, Community and Consistency, Ninth Grade Orientation - Development and Implementation, PAWS Advisory Program and Making Ninth Grade Orientation Work, Organization by House – Mini-Schools within a School, The Roles of Lead Teachers and Administrators, Student – Teacher Interaction, Organizing SLCs Around Career Clusters, Ninth Grade Academy, Ninth Grade Orientation, Closing the Achievement Gap, Setting Up Ninth Grade Academy - What Works, Freshman Success Program, Developing Career Academies.
2004 SLC Institute – An In-Depth Look at a Talent Development Ninth Grade Success Academy and Wall-to-Wall Career Academies/Smaller Learning Communities, Choosing Themes for Smaller Learning Communities, Organizing teachers & students into SLC's, Bridging the Gap: Building Effective Partnerships, Nuts and Bolts, The Process of Changing a Traditional High School into a Smaller Learning Community.
Contact: Suzi Raiford,
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, 843.805.3032
