During the design phase of the conversion process, the school and community create frameworks that describe the essential components of small, autonomous schools. The framework descriptions align with established guiding principles, which include academic rigor and relevance and supportive relationships for all students. The frameworks will guide the development of detailed specifications of small school structures and programs.
The outcome of the design phase is a portfolio of frameworks for selected small school designs.
The key tasks to accomplish the outcome are:
- Build a deep understanding of effective small school models and strategies
- Create design teams to develop the design frameworks for the small schools
- Design the small school frameworks
- Establish a process for selecting small school frameworks
The key participants during the design phase are the principal, school Change Coordinator, Leadership Team and the Design Teams. Staff members who have a strong vision for high achieving, equitable schools emerge to lead Design Teams. Working collaboratively, the principal, Change Coordinator, Leadership Team and Design Team leaders recruit staff, parents, students and the community to the Design Teams. The Design Teams explore selected small school models to inform their frameworks of the future small schools. Design Teams, working with the principal, Change Coordinator and the Leadership Team, create and apply a process for selecting the small school designs.
For more detailed description of the roles and responsibilities of the Change Coordinator, Leadership Team and Design Teams, see Converting a School.
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