Schenectady board hears detailed plan for new Freshman Leadership Academy; district projects smaller learning communities and expanded electives

The Schenectady City School District presented the design and instructional plan for the new Freshman Leadership Academy (also referenced as SFLA) during the board work session on May 7. District leaders said the academy is intended to create a smaller learning environment for ninth graders, align freshman coursework with future leadership communities at the high school and provide new career and technical education (CTE), arts and extracurricular spaces.

Phil Wyman, the Freshman Academy principal, described the model as four smaller learning communities within the academy, each formed by a team of four core teachers and supported by a social worker, a school counselor and restorative-practice and safety staff. "Our teams ... will have anywhere from a 15 to as high as a 25 students in that core team," Wyman said, noting that smaller teams are designed to let staff identify lagging skills and monitor interventions.

Program design and instructional supports The academy will use a straight-eight schedule with four core classes—English, global history, mathematics and science—and four additional slots for electives and supports. Wyman and other presenters said the schedule…