SECONDARY COMMISSION TO CONDUCT NATIONAL FCU R R ENTINN OVATION S - Schools Seek Solutions To "Bigness" Problems

Sep 21, 2026

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Material outlines a national effort by the NCA Secondary Commission to promote and broaden implementation of secondary school innovations, including flexible scheduling, nongradedness, advanced placement, disadvantaged programs, and independent learning. It describes a nationwide inventory and computerized study of innovative practices across about 10,000 high schools, followed by intensive follow-up support through publications, newsletters, and field service approaches. It also discusses schools-within-a-school structures and related student individuality measures.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

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Pages6

Reading Time15 min

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SECONDARY COMMISSION TO CONDUCT NATIONAL FCU R R ENTINN OVATION S

Schools Seek Solutions To "Bigness" Problems

Faculty Advisor System

Consultant Program

Students Learn About The World of Work Through Closed Circuit TV

# SECONDARY COMMISSION TO CONDUCT NATIONALO FCU R R ENTINN OVATION S The NCA Secondary Commission has taken a significant step toward stimu-lating broader implementation of important secondary school innovations suchas flexible scheduling,nongradedness,advanced placement courses,programs forthe disadvantaged,and independent learning programs. # Schools Seek SolutionsTo"Bigness"Problems A nationwide inventory of innovative practices among all accredited highschools in the United States and overseas will be carried out through a jointproject of the North Cenfral Association and the Instifute for the Developmentof Educational Activities(I/D/E/A). Challenging the planners of currentand future secondary school organiza-tion are rapidly-increasing enrollmentsand possible loss of student individual-ity as schools grow larger. The results of this computerized study will be the basis for an intensive fol-low-up on newly emerging innovations.Additional information will be used toprepare special publications for administrators who may be contemplating adop-tion of different ways of individualizing instruction or otherwise breaking thelockstep. A direct response to this challengehas been the"schools-within-a-school"concept as developed by the Evanston,Illinois Township High School whosecurrent enrollment is over 4,000. Although the present high school wasfirst occupied in 1921,far-sighted build-ing expansions will make it possible tohave an organization of four,semi-in-dependent schools by 1967. The administration will use the Gen-eralized Academic Simulation Program,a computerized scheduling procedure,to help solve the problems of spaceutilization and pupil scheduling.TheEducational Facilities Laboratories hasprovided financial assistance. Each of the four high schools willhave its own identity,faculty,andstyle.But all four will share specializedareas such as those for physical educa-tion and the arts.This plan for schools-within-a-school,it is believed,will givestudents the advantages of both thecomplex facilities of the large compre-hensive school and the more personal,semi-independent school. With an expected enrollment of near-ly 6,000 by the mid-seventies,the highschool will add a fifth school to theorganization. Faculty Advisor System The faculty advisor system is a vitalpart of another school’s effort to de-velop student individuality and involve-ment. At New Trier West High School(Northfield,Illinois),each advisor is as-signed a group of about 30 studentswith whom he stays from the freshmanyear through graduation.Because the (Continued on page 2) The project will be directed by Gor-don Cawelti,Commission ExecutiveSecretary and will be housed at Com-mission headquarters in Chicago.Re-search assistance for the follow-upstudy will be provided. All Regions Will Cooperate Through the cooperation of the fiveother regional accrediting associations,about 10,000 high schools will be askedto participate in the initial survey.These schools will subsequently receivespecial newsletters reporting the over-all results of the survey and publica-tions devoted to more in-depth cover-age of selected highly innovative prac-tices. The Commission expects the news-letters and other information serviceswill stimulate more intervisitation andinformation exchange among schools.Experience has demonstrated that fieldservice approaches are more effectivethan workshops in reducing the lag be-tween tested innovations and their sub-sequent widespread implementation. Information obtained from partici-pating schools could also encourage de-velopment of an NCA sponsored fieldservice program employing the grouptour and seminar approach. Also under consideration will be astudy of identifiable differences be-tween students in sets of highly in-novative vs."traditional"schools.Thereis a need to determine differences be-tween students in such schools withrespect to achievement(based on in-stitutional potential),affective behav- i

FAQs

What initiatives does the NCA Secondary Commission aim to stimulate in secondary schools?

It targets broader implementation of innovations such as flexible scheduling, nongradedness, advanced placement courses, programs for the disadvantaged, and independent learning programs.

How will the nationwide study of innovative practices be conducted and used?

A joint project between the North Central Association and I/D/E/A will carry out a nationwide inventory among accredited high schools, with computerized study results used for intensive follow-up and special publications for administrators.

What approach is highlighted as a response to challenges caused by larger school size?

The document emphasizes the “schools-within-a-school” concept, using organizational structures that keep student advantages from both large comprehensive facilities and more personal, semi-independent settings.

Sep 21, 2026

Uploaded by Himbo