Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Tailored Learning Options topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Tailored learning options show early gains; district warns space and staffing limit expansion
Summary
District staff reported that STAR, Open Doors and other tailored learning options are showing improved engagement and outcomes for students who need alternative pathways but said physical space and FTE constraints limit growth; board was told TLO will be prioritized in next-year budget planning.
Kurt (TLO lead), Kathleen Paradis and Elizabeth McAuley presented data on tailored learning options, which include STAR, Open Doors, Success Academy and VLA. Staff said referrals to TLOs are frequently for students with special-education or multilingual needs and that programs are showing positive early outcomes in belonging, self-efficacy and attendance.
The presenters highlighted mastery/competency-based approaches supported by an MBLC grant and said the STAR program (9–12) already shows gains: ninth- and tenth-graders in STAR have completed 16 competency-based classes so far this year compared with the previous year’s totals for a larger cohort. Staff noted programs like Success Academy operate out of partner spaces (Boys and Girls Club) and that STAR currently has limited slots (about 30), which constrains how many students the district can serve.
Board members and staff discussed FTE allocation mechanics and how midyear reactive funding can lead to double-counting across school budgets; presenters recommended proactive planning and potentially prioritizing TLO investments during the next budget cycle.
“There are physical space limitations,” Kurt said, noting that available facilities and staffing will determine how many additional students the district can serve in these programs.
