Childrens School

Edgenuity highlights schools, districts implementing blended learning

As schools and districts try to better meet the needs of students with different learning styles, blended learning programs are becoming increasingly popular.
Because blended learning combines face-to-face instruction with personalized online learning, students have some degree of control over their learning pace and how their content is delivered and consumed.
Online and blended learning provider Edgenuity works with more than 16,000 schools, and from that base, the company identified 10 schools and districts that are taking blended learning to the next level through student-centered, personalized instructional models that create new ways to address instructional goals and deliver better student outcomes.
“There is no doubt that blended learning is a proven solution for transforming the educational experience for students,” said Sari Factor, CEO of Edgenuity. “What is less understood is the level of thought, planning, and change management required by schools to implement these new models. We’re glad to recognize these schools and districts for effectively executing on a vision of using technology to empower students and teachers, and we look forward to sharing what these schools have learned to help more and more students across the country.”
“Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools has a commitment to ensuring success for every student. One of the ways we do this is by providing a personalized learning environment that caters to individual student needs. Technology allows us to accomplish this goal. Edgenuity has been an important partner, enabling us to provide rigorous, aligned content in online and blended formats. It is exciting that Edgenuity recognized CMS as a top district for innovative approaches and commitment to students,” said Hope Kohl, Director of Virtual Learning and Media Services at CMS.
The schools and district’s on Edgenuity’s list are:
Carpe Diem Schools
• Tuition-free virtual school with campuses across the US serving grades 6-12 that provides students the freedom to complete coursework when and where they like.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, N.C.
• The 2nd largest school district in North Carolina, the district is comprised of 168 schools and serves more than 147,000 students in grades K-12.
Clark County School District, Nev.
• Serves over 316,000 students across 377 schools with a student teacher ratio of approximately 22-to-1.
Derby Public Schools, Conn.
• Serves approximately 1,600 students in grades K-12 across 4 schools.
Henry County Schools, Ga.
• The 7th largest district in Georgia, serves 40,000 students in grades K-12 across 14 schools.
Jefferson Chamber Foundation Academy, La.
• Students are provided with the opportunity to work at their own pace to earn their diploma.
Rio Rancho Public Schools, N.M.
• In 2005 the district founded Rio Rancho Cyber Academy, the accredited, diploma-granting school for nearly 170 students in grades 6-12.
East Pennsboro Area School District, Pa.
• A growing, progressive school district with a total population of approximately 2,700 students in grades K-12.
Tift County Schools, Ga.
• Serves approximately 7,650 students in grades K-12 across 12 schools, including one alternative school.
Village Green Virtual Charter School, R.I.
• Opened in 2013 for students grades 9-12, the school has a state-wide enrollment policy and any student entering the 9th or 10th grade and who lives in the state is eligible to attend.
“As technology has grown to become more mainstream in education, we’ve seen too many schools focus on the hardware itself rather than on the proper implementation of that technology,” said Stacy Hawthorne, Blended Learning Strategist at Edgenuity. “It is critical that schools first take a hard look at what they want to accomplish with a blended learning program, which students they are hoping to serve, and how the program will fit into the district’s broader goals before moving forward. This requires strong leadership, which the schools named today should be applauded for.”