Award will create consortium, help change area high schools
release date: September 30, 2010
Contact: Dr. Kathryn Gerbino, Assistant
District Superintendent for Instruction, 518-862-4930
Dr. Charles
S. Dedrick, District Superintendent, 518-862-4901
ALBANY, NY — A Capital Region BOCES-led consortium has been awarded a five-year, $2 million grant to help Albany High School and other area high schools change their structure and outcomes.
The funding is from the U.S. Department of Education’s Smaller Learning Communities Program, and was one of 28 awards given nationwide, and one of three awards given in New York state. The grant awards were announced September 30. (Note, the U.S. Department of Education website lists a $750,000 award, which represents the first payment; over five years the grant award will total about $2 million.)
The funding will create “The Tech Valley SLC21 Consortium,” which includes partners Questar III BOCES, the Greater Capital Region Teacher Center and the City School District of Albany. The consortium’s mission is to help create “Smaller Learning Communities” in area high schools and ultimately spread those learnings throughout the region.
Smaller Learning Communities (SLCs), sometimes referred to as “schools within a school,” are created by dividing large schools into smaller, independent groups of students and teachers. The goal is for each SLC to incorporate project-based learning, teach 21st century skills, and facilitate higher education and business partnerships to connect students to college and career opportunities in the Tech Valley region.
The award will fund the hiring of staff to implement and coordinate the consortium, ongoing professional development, and teaching coaches for Albany High School staff.
Expanding the consortium’s impact
Albany High School will receive about $750,000 in the first two years of the award to fully implement the Smaller Learning Community concept. Two other high schools named in the grant, South Colonie and Mohonasen, did not receive funding, but will still benefit from the award.
Assistant District Superintendent for Instruction Kathryn Gerbino said those districts — and others in the region — will benefit through the building of the consortium, including professional development opportunities and regional meetings that will be open to area schools.
