Schools can demand rigorous intellectual work from students only if they are willing to forgo the goal of superficial content coverage. Successful schools follow the Coalition of Essential Schools’ (1994) guiding principle of “less is more,” carefully choosing what to focus on so that students gain in-depth understanding, rather than simply exposure to large quantities of information. In-depth study does not imply haphazard selection of a few interesting ideas to focus on. Instead, topics are judiciously selected to provide a framework for many related key ideas, so that students come away with an understanding of the core ideas of the academic disciplines they are studying.
At an effective small school, “less is more” applies not only to curricular choices, but also to the entire school program. Small schools simply cannot offer the breadth of choices that their large counterparts can if they want also to personalize instruction. They must make deliberate choices about what is most essential, and do those important things well. Successful small schools also supplement their own core offerings with out-of-school experiences such as community service, internships, and courses at local colleges. These programs, which require partnerships with community-based organizations and other agencies, allow a small school to provide a more well-rounded education and to give students the opportunity to understand the world in which they are growing up.
Source: http://schoolredesign.net/srn/server.php?idx=225&page=3
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