*Small Schools; Student Motivation; *Teacher Collaboration; Teacher Expectations of Students; Teacher Student

Educators in intentionally small schools in Chicago are working to 'create a climate that is inviting, engaging, and challenging to some of the most academically disadvantaged students. Over a period of 18 months, data were collected from eight intentionally small schools that included elementary, middle, and high schools; freestanding schools; schools within schools; schools on probation; and schools that predominately enrolled poor and working-class African American and Latino students. Findings from 76 interviews with administrators and staff, 36 focus groups with staff and students, and 137 observations in schools highlighted the importance of professional community, collegial trust, and collaborative work in creating a schoolwide climate for effective education. Factors that contributed to this were philosophical coherence among faculty, a sense of collective responsibility for student welfare, public accountability, shared leadership, teacher collaboration, and a balance between academic concerns and studen