×

District 88 school board updated on middle school

NEW ULM — The District 88 school board heard middle school program updates during a study session Thursday, including updates about an ongoing pilot program for personalized learning.

Over the past four weeks, New Ulm Middle School has piloted a flexible learning period called Flex Time.

Described as an aspect of personalized learning, the Flex Time period provides students an opportunity to sign up for classes or subjects they may need an intervention or further assistance with. The period occurs during the school day meaning students won’t have to come in before or after school.

The Flex Time period gives students more control over their academic growth and which classes they would decide to focus more time on.

Before the Flex Time pilot, the middle school used the positive intervention and enrichment (PIE) program. Within the PIE program, each student was assigned to a class based on their academic needs. Students would be in the class for an entire trimester and then would be moved.

With Flex Time, students choose a flex session to attend based on their individual academic needs, with the choice to attend different flex sessions each week depending on where they stand academically.

Each week students’ grades are reviewed, and if those grades are low in certain areas, students then refocus their time onto a class to help boost the grade. The students have the choice of additional time within the class or signing up for academic enrichment in that subject.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper?
   

Starting at $4.38/week.

Subscribe Today