Faithin Omaha eBook Collection

Download or read book Understanding the Impact of Restructuring Into Small Schools on Teaching and Learning written by Irvin Leon Scott and published by . This book was released on 2011 with total page 324 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In this manuscript, Irvin Scott adds a new dimension to the historical debate and discussion regarding improving the effectiveness of America's high schools. Scott does this by observing, describing, and analyzing the evolution of one small, urban high school: Washington High School in Providence, Rhode Island. Using the case study method, Scott chronicles the work of the school community as it tries to balance the internal and external commitments in pursuit of improvements in teaching, learning and student achievement. This study looks particularly at how district leaders, the school principal, and teachers work collaboratively to maintain a focus on not only improving the climate and culture of the school but also the Instructional Core of the school. Drawing on Richard Elmore's theory of the Instructional Core, this study pays close attention to how the various internal actors (i.e. principal, teacher-leaders, and teachers) along with external actors (i.e. Superintendent, and central office administrators) communicate and execute on the goals of the District's Small High School initiative. The first research question that guides this study seeks an answer to how the small schools initiative contributes to or detracts from improvement in the core of instructional improvement: that which impacts students, teachers, and the content taught. The second research question that guides this study seeks an answer to how the collaboration between central office leaders, the Washington principal, teacher-leaders, and teachers influences their reform efforts.