Small Schools:
Starting a Small School
In Milwaukee there are more ways to start a small school than in any urban area. New small schools may start within or in partnership with the Milwaukee Public Schools (for example, as a traditional school, a district instrumentality or non-instrumentality charter school, or a “partnership” school under contract with the district), as an independent charter school authorized by the City of Milwaukee or UW-Milwaukee, or as a private school that can participate in the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program.
TALC New Vision assisted people who wanted to start small schools. TALC New Vision issued grants of up to $50,000 to support the planning and up to $150,000 to support the implementation of small schools.
For a directory of the new, small high schools that have opened in Milwaukee with assistance from TALC New Vision, go to Directory.
Timeline for Starting a Small High School
This chart provided deadlines for grants and outlines the authorizing process necessary to open a small high school.
Download: “Grants and Authorizing Processes” PDF (35 Kb )
Seven Key Attributes of Equitable Schools
TALC New Vision’s mission is to support and protect the creation of and access to sustainable learning environments that engage communities and families in efforts to define themselves and secure equal access to power and resources.
In order to fulfill this mission, TALC New Vision provides support for teams working toward equitable schools, characterized by seven key attributes, and links school teams to other resources they need to open and operate an equitable school. The seven key attributes of the small equitable schools that TALC New Vision is working to create include:
- Common Focus
- High Expectations
- Personalized Environment
- Respect and Responsibility
- Time to Collaborate
- Performance Based
- Technology as a Tool
For further detail on the attributes, go to Seven Key Attributes.
Planning
TALC New Vision identified a process that helped planning teams start small schools from the vision process through the school startup to the first year evaluation. TALC New Vision offered a series of workshops on building a vision for the school and on specific issues of school design such as governance structure, budgeting, and professional development.
Click here to go to the Planning Place, which contains planning resource materials.
Implementation
Implementation begins when a school group is authorized to open in a building. This is the point where the school community experiences the test of teaching as the school comes to life. Implementation involves reflecting on the difference between what was planned and how it actually was put into practice, and then making necessary adjustments.
TALC New Vision offered assistance for the implementation process through on-site consultations and problem solving, on-going mentorship and staff development, facilitating staff exchanges between similar schools, and working with grantees to prepare a valuable first-year evaluation. Critical feedback is essential to building a reflective practice and enhancing the learning environment.
Click here to go to Implementing Info, which contains implementing resource materials.
Resources for Small Schools
