The Institute for Student Achievement (ISA) partners with schools and school districts to create new small high schools or to convert large failing high schools into several personalized and academically rigorous  Small Learning Communities (SLCs) that graduate students ready for college and/or meaningful employment.  ISA works with high schools that serve poor, minority students who are at-risk of dropping out of school and not going on to college.  ISA utilizes a research-based and practitioner tested  capacity building  model that includes an extended day component and a school violence prevention component.
It is not sufficient to react to disruptive and unresponsive students.  ISA helps school communities create the kind of safe and support school environment that will meet students needs, thereby reducing unsafe behavior.  ISA accomplishes this by partnering with schools and school districts to create small schools and small learning communities – schools within schools –to be proactive in creating the kinds of schools we want for all our students – schools that are safe and supportive. 
High schools that partner with ISA have a history of underperformance. Students are predominantly minority and most are eligible for free or reduced price meals. High dropout rates, low attendance rates, high incidents of violence, and student disengagement are common. When a partnership is formed between ISA and the school, not only is the large school transformed into several small schools or small learning communities, the entire school environment is reshaped.

ISA’s partnership program addresses the following needs:
Students need to be presented with a challenging curriculum that results in higher student achievement.
Students need to be provided with affective supports that improve student personal development so they feel connected to school and remain until graduation.
Schools need to develop the capacity to provide effective academic and affective services for students through implementation of the ISA model so that additional student support services become an integral part of the regular school day rather than only provided during an extended day program.

School Violence Prevention Component
ISA partner schools implement a Distributed Counseling™ Program, which is an integral part of the ISA model.  In a system of distributed counseling, teachers and counselors regularly work together to support students’ academic and social-emotional development, resulting in improved school climate and a reduction in violence and suspensions.  Teachers and counselors have an expanded role in supporting students’ success in school.  Teachers find that when they form strong relationships with their students, they are better able to support them and to demand more from them academically.   They are able to take advantage of their relationships with students to leverage not only higher levels of performance, but to address issues of that lead to conflict, bullying, bias, and gang involvement.
Teachers function in a dual role as teacher and advisor, establishing them as the first line of defense to identify and address issues affecting their students.
Counselors work closely with teachers enabling them to participate in counseling directly
Students have a caring adult who knows them well and counselors have a smaller, more intimate caseload
The major components of ISA’s partner schools model of distributed counseling are:
team collaboration and integration of counseling strategies
participation of a dedicated counselor
role of teacher as advisor
student support mechanisms
parent communication
college preparation

Extended Day Component
During the extended day program, school staff provide students with additional structured time, individual attention and other support necessary for their success with the program's challenging, college preparatory curriculum.
Dedicated time for extra help with homework, test preparation, career related activities, internships and community service projects
Additional opportunities for effective skill and talent development and enrichment

Schools that have been selected for this project are schools that have been in partnership with ISA for four or more years, and are in Alumni School status with ISA.  Program activities are designed and implemented at the school site to meet local needs.  Funding from this grant enables ISA and the alumni schools to continue  Extended Day and Distributed Counseling activities.  As more schools enter Alumni status with ISA, additional schools will be served through this funding source.