One of the critical elements of effective schools developed as a result of recent reform efforts and restructuring processes was the concept of learning communities and learning circles. This short paper discusses learning communities and learning circles. It defines learning communities as "a fellowship of learners in which the teachers in a…

This is the first part of a four-part report on the second year of a project designed to help students with scholastic difficulties become successful in college, and either competent teachers or effective paraprofessional school personnel. The project was originally intended to extend over an 8- to 10-year period, but because of budget cuts it…