AISD high school staff and parents researched and visited schools across the country that had implemented successful redesign changes. They were especially impressed by the results of high schools they visited in Kansas City and Houston that had chosen to use a redesign model called First Things First (FTF).

Teachers and students at these schools consistently referred to the smaller, more intimate classroom settings, the powerful relationships and the rigorous learning opportunities that they have developed with the assistance of FTF. Like AISD, these schools recognized that the traditional high school model does not prepare all students for 21st century success. They have demonstrated that changing structures and providing support can result in improved student success. For example, in Kansas City, the district has experienced dramatic increases in reading, math and high school completion rates, significantly narrowing the achievement gap.

First Things First (FTF), which was developed by the Institute for Research and Reform in Education, works with its partner schools to strengthen relationships among students, school staff, and families; to improve teaching and learning in every classroom every day.

LBJ, Reagan, and Travis high schools will work with FTF to put these critical changes into place for the 2007-08 school year. Major changes will include:

• Extensive professional development to prepare all teachers for this new program and to strengthen their skills and content knowledge.
• New teaching tools at the district and classroom level to ensure students get the help they need faster.
• Division of each school into smaller groups of students of 300 - 400, often called Small Learning Communities (SLC's), will be based around a theme connected to an area of student interest and selected by teachers, students, and parents. SLC's provide a more personalized environment for both teachers and students. Teachers will have more opportunity to focus attention on individual students, get to know them better, and have time to review student work with teachers from each class a student takes. Traditional class schedules to do not allow the structure for this focused attention on student learning
• Family Advocacy System that will assign every student to an adult advocate who will become the one person you can call to check on student progress, discipline, and academic and who will help their student graduate successfully.

To learn more about the First Things First national school reform please visit www.irre.org.

Small Learning Communities at First Things First Schools

The Small Learning Communities (SLCs) that have been established at First Things First Schools are:

LBJ High School

• Performing,Visual Arts
• Technology, Business
• Health Science, Law

Reagan High School

• Art of Learning (AOL)
• Leadership, Engineering, Architecture, Design (LEAD)
• Medical, Science, Health (MASH)

Travis High School

• Visual & Performing Arts
• International Hospitality, Business
• Law, Criminal Justice, Government
• Media, Engineering, Technology
• Health, Science