National Forum Policy Statement
SMALL SCHOOLS AND SMALL LEARNING COMMUNITIES

Introduction
Defining Small Learning Communities and Small Schools
Research-Based Benefits
Conclusion
References

REFERENCES

Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD). 2000. Supporting schools as true communities of character—Testimony before the House Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Youth and Families. Alexandira, VA:ASCD.

Center for Collaborative Education. 2001. How Boston pilot schools use freedom over budget, staffing, and scheduling to meet student needs. Boston: Center for Collaborative Education.

Cotton, K. 2001. New small learning communities: Findings from recent literature. Portland, OR: Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory. Retrieved May 12, 2004 from www.nwrel.org/scpd/sirs/nslc.pdf.

Felner, R. D., Jackson, A. W., Kasak, D., Mulhall, P., Brand, S., and Flowers, N. 1997. The impact of school reform for the middle years: Longitudinal study of a network engaged in Turning Points-based comprehensive school transformation. Phi Delta Kappan 78(7):528–50.

Fowler, W. J. 1989. School size, school characteristics, and school outcome. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, San Francisco.

Galletti, S. E. 1998. Increasing the capacity and will to accelerate middle level reform: An argument for small middle level schools. Paper presented at the Conference on Early Adolescence. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Education, Office of Educational Research and Improvement.

George, P. S., & Lounsbury, J. H. 2000. Making big schools feel small: Multiage grouping, looping and schools-within-a-school. Westerville, OH: National Middle School Association.

Heck, R. H., & Mayor, R. A. 1993. School characteristics, school academic indicators and student outcomes: Implications for policies to improve schools. Journal of Education Policy 8:143–54.

Hord, S. M. 1998. Creating a professional learning community: Cottonwood Creek School. Issues about Change 6(2):1–8.

Howley, C., Strange, M., & Bicke, R. 2000. Research about school size and school performance in impoverished communities. ERIC Digest. Retrieved May 12, 2004 from www.ael.org/page.htm?&pd=1& scope=ss&index=243&pub=x.

Huang, G., & Howley, C. 1993. Mitigating disadvantage: Effects of small-scale schooling on student achievement in Alaska. Journal of Research in Rural Education 9(3):137–49.

Lawrence, B. K., Bingler, S., Diamond, B. M., Hill, B., Hoffman, J. L., Howley, C. B., Mitchell, S., Rudolph, D., & Washor, E. 2002. Dollars & sense: The cost effectiveness of small schools. Cincinnati, OH: KnowledgeWorks Foundation. Retrieved May 12, 2004 from www.kwfdn.org/ProgramAreas/Facilities/dollars_sense.pdf.

Lee, V. E., & Smith, J. B. 1993. Effects of school restructuring on achievement and engagement of middle grades students. Sociology of Education 66:164–67.

Lee, V. E., & Smith, J. B. 1994. Effects of high school restructuring and size on gains in achievement and engagement for early secondary school students. Madison, WI: Center on Organization and Restructuring of Schools, University of Wisconsin.

Lee, V. E., & Smith, J. B. 2000. School size in Chicago elementary schools: Effects on teachers’ attitudes and students’ achievement. American Education Research Journal 37(1):3–31.

Lee, V. E., Smith, J. B., & Croninger, R. G. 1995. Another look at high school restructuring: More evidence that it improves student achievement and more insight into why. Issues in Restructuring Schools, No. 9. Madison, WI: Center on Organization and Restructuring Schools, University of Wisconsin.

Louis, K. S., &  Kruse, S. D. 1995. Professionalism and community: Perspectives on reforming urban schools. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.

McMullan, B. J., Sipe, C. L.,  & Wolf, W. C. 1994. Charters and student achievement: Early evidence from school restructuring in Philadelphia. Bala Cynwyd, PA: Center for Assessment and Policy Development.

Mertens, S. B., &  Flowers, N. 2003. Middle school practices improve student achievement in high poverty schools. Middle School Journal 35(1):33–43.

Mertens, S. B., Flowers, N., & Mulhall, P. F. May 2001. School size matters in interesting ways. Middle School Journal, 1–5. Retrieved May 12, 2004 from www.cprd.uiuc.edu/schools/MSJ%20article% 20May01.pdf.

New Rules Project. 2003. Florida small school law. Retreived May 12, 2004 from www.newrules.org/eguity/smallschoolfl.html.

Perry, T. 2003. Reflections of an African American on the small schools movement. Voices in Urban Education 2:4–11. Providence, RI: Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University.

Raywid, M. A. 1997/1998. Synthesis of research/Small schools: A reform that works. Educational Leadership 55(4):34–39.

School Redesign Network at Stanford University. 2004. Retrieved May 12, 2004 from schoolredesign. net/srn/server.php?idx=446.

Sergiovanni, T. J. 1992. Moral Leadership: Getting to the heart of school improvement. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

Small Schools Workshop, Info Center. 2004. Retrieved May 12, 2004 from www.smallschoolswork shop.org/info3.html.

Stiefel, L., Berne, R., Iatarola, P., & Fruchter, N. 2000. High school size: Effects on budgets and performance in New York City. Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis 22(1):27–39.

Wasley, P., Fine, M., Gladden, M., Holland, N., King, S., Mosak, E., & Powell, L. 2000. Small schools; great strides: A study of new small schools in Chicago. New York: Bank Street College.