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Addressing Barriers to Learning and Teaching and Re-engaging Students |
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As part of the Rebuilding for Learning initiative, leaders of national, state, and large district
education agencies and organizations will be provided with professional development and technical
assistance resources to help them substantively rethink and comprehensively restructure how they
address barriers to learning and teaching. Those who choose to move forward with systemic changes
for addressing barriers to learning and teaching. will be provided ongoing learning opportunities to
guide planning and implementation.
The intent is to enhance school improvement capacity building by offering information, guidance
and support through the auspices of Scholastic and the UCLA Center for Mental Health in Schools.
This includes
Rebuilding for Learning Online Institute -- available to Institute participants, this resource allows users to probe deeper with theory and practice content. The online resources are especially designed as aids for moving forward.
See: http://rebuildingforlearning.scholastic.com.
Technical Assistanc -- Institute participants pursuing implementation of comprehensive learning support systems have access to the initiative's team of specialists who are available to provide strategic guidance as districts move from planning to implementation.
Rebuilding for Learning Core Materials -- provide administrators with information on student learning supports policies and practices. Core materials include the Rebuilding for Learning Institute Handbook. The handbook is provided to all in person institute participants.
Louisiana
In the summer 2009, the initiative began working with Louisiana's state department of education. The initial focus was on developing a pioneering prototype design for schools to adapt as they move forward in developing a comprehensive system for addressing barriers to learning and teaching and re-engaging disconnected students. See the Louisiana State Department of Education just released Design Document online at http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/summit2002/ladesigndocument.pdf
Also, view state Superintendent Pastorek's statement about Louisiana's Comprehensive Learning Supports System � on Teachertube at http://teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=139807&title=Louisiana___s_Comprehensive_Learning_Supports_System The initiative currently is working with the state department on their strategic and action plans for rolling out the work and taking it to scale. American Association of School Administrators (AASA)
In the fall 2009, a collaboration was established with AASA which is designed to stimulate a range of opportunities focused on developing a comprehensive approach to addressing barriers to learning and teaching and re-engaging disconnected students. Here is an update:
In response to an AASA Request for Application, districts submitted proposals to become Lead Districts and a collaborative for developing a comprehensive system of learning supports throughout their districts and demonstrations for other districts. Four Lead Districts have been chosen and will be guided in their work by the Center's co-directors. The districts are
On October 29, 2009, AASA, Scholastic and UCLA hosted a webinar entitled: Strengthening School Improvement by Developing a Comprehensive System of Learning Supports to Address Barriers to Learning and Teaching. The Center's co-directors explored why a system of learning supports is imperative for schools to succeed, and what forward thinking states and districts are doing to implement such systems. The powerpoint from the webinar is online at http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/powerpoint/Webinar(10-29-09).ppt The recorded webinar can be accessed at https://scholastic.webex.com/scholastic/lsr.php?AT=pb&SP=TC&rID=48915112&rKey=09f14db0881f5159&act=pb At the February, 2010 AASA National Conference on Education in Phoenix there was a special thought leader's session and related workshop on Rethinking Student Supports as Key to Rebuilding for Learning.
Phase II 2011-2012 Scholastic/AASA/UCLA initiative continues with Gainesville city Schools and working with two new districts, Stillwater Areas Schools, MN. and Grant Parish Schools, LA. in the Lead District work. On Dec. 15, 2011 there was an in-person meeting of these district teams hosted by the Louisiana Dept of Education. Also attending were the teams from Jefferson Parish and Red River Parish, as well as the incoming chief state school officer from Alabama and the executive director of the school administrators organization in Alabama.
This initiative provides a range of ways for the participating districts to share information and learn from each others. The next in-person meeting is in February, 2012, at the AASA national conference in Houston.
Scholastic also is finalizing a Practitioner's guide to accompany the Rebuilding for Learning Institute Handbook and is exploring how to incorporate the initiative's content into its professional development work.
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For a printer friendly flyer about the initiative to share with others, click here.
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About the Inititative |
Introduction to Inititative |
Information on Initiative Implementation |
Handbook Contents |
Toolkit & Other Resources |
Interested? Want to Know More? Need TA? |