ERIC ED397490: The Subschools/Small Schools Movement--Taking Stock.

	ERIC ED397490: The Subschools/Small Schools Movement--Taking Stock.
	by ERIC
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	Today, the division of large schools into subschools or
	subunits is often recommended as the answer to a number
	of problems in education. This paper examines the several
	forms of school-downsizing efforts and the somewhat
	diverse purposes for which they are being established.
	The data come from a review of literature and an
	evaluation of 22 schools-within-schools and small
	schools. The paper describes the downsizing activities in
	New York, Philadelphia, and Chicago and identifies four
	distinct types, each with varying degrees of separateness
	and autonomy--a house plan, a mini-school, a school-
	within-a-school, and a small school. The impacts of
	downsized structures on students and schools are
	described. Critics, particularly Coalition of Essential
	Schools researchers, argue that school downsizing is
	costly, creates divisiveness and inequitable grouping,
	and contradicts effective-schools strategies. The paper
	concludes that reducing the size of schools can increase
	student participation, reduce dropout rates, enhance
	academic achievement, and enhance teacher efficiency.
	Such success depends in large part on the extent to which
	the small schools concept has been adopted in principle
	and implemented. Those units designed so as to permit
	them to become separate, autonomous, distinctive entities
	have a much better chance than those that have not been.
	Downsizing stimulates the move toward personalized,
	communal schools and may be needed to restore conditions
	that allow human beings to function as engaged and
	committed agents in their own and others' education.
	Finally, it appears that downsizing may be necessary so
	that schools can begin implementing school-improvement
	strategies. On the other hand, some of the problems
	associated with downsizing are unknown and have yet to
	surface. One apparent frustration is the demands that the
	effort makes on teachers. Two figures are included.
	(Contains 142 refernces.) (LMI)

	Date Published: 2015-12-15 02:54:32
	Identifier: ERIC_ED397490
	Item Size: 93535506
	Language: english
	Media Type: texts

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