COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
P.O. BOX 2120
RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23218-2120
PRINS. MEMO NO. 6
February 5, 2002
ELEMENTARY /
MIDDLE / SECONDARY
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TO: |
Principals |
|
FROM: |
Patricia I.
Wright Assistant
Superintendent for Instruction |
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SUBJECT: |
Announcement
of Smaller Learning Communities Competitive Grants for Large Public High
Schools |
The United
States Department of Education (USDOE) has announced the Smaller Learning
Communities (SLC) program, which will provide competitive grants to support the
planning, implementation, or expansion of small, safe, and successful learning
environments in large public high schools.
Under the statute, grant funds may be used to redesign schools into
structures such as academies, house plans, schools-within-a-school, and magnet
programs. Funds may also be used for
personalization strategies that complement or take advantage of smaller
learning communities. Examples of such
strategies include freshman transition activities, multi-year groupings,
alternative scheduling, advisory or advocate systems, and academic teaming.
Local educational agencies (LEAs), applying on behalf of large public high
schools, are eligible to apply for a planning or an implementation grant. The available grant amounts vary depending on
the number of participating high schools in the LEA. The range for planning
grants is $25,000 to $250,000; implementation grants vary from $250,000 to
$2,500,000. Grant applications are due to the USDOE by February 19, 2002.
Further
information about the program, including the grant application package, is
available at the SLC website: http://www.ed.gov/offices/OESE/SLCP/. If you have questions, please contact Dr.
Linda Wallinger (mailto:lwalling@pen.k12.va.us),
director of secondary instruction, at (804) 225-2880.