Some school districts are returning to an old idea, AP reports.
They’re grouping students by performance rather than age. The
boldest experiment will start in Kansas City, Missouri schools
this fall when 17,000 students will switch to the new system.
Students — often of varying ages — work at their own pace,
meeting with teachers to decide what part of the curriculum to
tackle. Teachers still instruct students as a group if it’s
needed, but often students are working individually or in small
groups on projects that are tailored to their skill level. For
instance, in a classroom learning about currency, one group
could draw pictures of pennies and nickels. A student who has
mastered that skill might use pretend money to practice making
change. Students who progress quickly can finish high school
material early and move forward with college coursework.
Alternatively, in some districts, high-schoolers who need extra
time can stick around for another year. Advocates say the
approach cuts down on discipline proble