Hundreds of high school freshmen in Detroit and Warren are entering a more supportive learning environment this academic year with the help of United Way. These environments include nine "small schools" and three learning communities, launched as part of the first round of investments made by The Greater Detroit Education Venture Fund.

The Greater Detroit Education Venture Fund was created by United Way to turn around our region's 30 schools with dropout rates of 40 percent or more. With the help of United Way, participating schools will attain an 80 percent graduation rate within five years. The Fund provides support to schools who are approved partners and includes funding from AT&T, Ford Motor Company Fund, the Skillman Foundation, and United Way for Southeastern Michigan.

United Way's turnaround efforts are based on a proven model that has had success in other communities. The model centers on three components critical to creating high performing schools in high poverty areas:

• Changing conditions within the schools so that administrators have control over their staff, students, and budget.
• Providing a network of schools locally and nationally who are committed to the work and share best practices for success.
• Increasing capacity of schools by bringing in an intermediary with turnaround experience to support the school and ensure it succeeds.

The launch of the small schools and learning communities is a step that changes conditions within the school environment to provide increased attention per student. In a typical school, many students may feel lost in the crowd and without a watchful eye, may falter. In the turnaround model, the smaller schools allow at least one teacher to mentor and advocate for each student for the duration of his or her high school career, increasing the student's chances for success. In addition, the schools employ hands-on, project- and inquiry-based instruction which helps students develop deeper critical thinking skills and apply their knowledge to the real world.

The new small schools in Detroit are:

• Academy of Critical Thinkers at Cody High School
• Detroit Institute of Technology at Cody High School
• Academy of Medicine and Community Health at Cody High School
• Academy of Public Leadership at Cody High School
• Osborn Evergreen Academy of Design & Technology Academy
• Osborn University of Science, Mathematics, & Technology Academy
• Osborn College Preparatory Academy

In Warren, Van Dyke Public Schools are offering smaller learning environments through three learning communities. Lincoln High School is now made up of three small learning communities which consist of:

• Design and Technology
• Sports Medicine
• Performing Arts

Each of these schools or communities has a dedicated principal who leads and guides the educational process within the individual school and is accountable for making sure students achieve. With passionate principals and faculty at the helm, there is a renewed commitment among the schools to this new personalized and rigorous learning environment that has proven so effective in other cities.

If you're interested in learning more about K-12 education reform and the success it's had in other cities, please join United Way and others on Nov. 2 for a screening of The Providence Effect, a movie that tells the amazing story of an inner-city school in Chicago. You can attend a preview and discussion from 4 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., or attend the movie screening at 7 p.m.

Labels: Educational_Preparedness