Corbin Independent Schools
“Personalized learning is a major component of our District of Innovation as well as project-based learning and performance-based learning, which also includes assessment – which, that’s what we’re all looking for, authentic assessment,” said Mark Daniels, Corbin’s director of pupil personnel. “How can we assess students in relation to what they know and how they apply their knowledge to the real world?”
Daniels said the district will now have more flexibility to reach students it previously wasn’t able to reach.
“I can give you a lot of different examples of how the traditional school day does not work with a lot of students these days,” he said. “So we create more of a flexible schedule for those students.”
A group of Corbin Independent students enrolled in the district’s Kappa School
attend a webinar on coding. Kappa is a fully accredited online e-learning school
that can be used by students who want a flexible schedule or by homeschoolers.
(Photo courtesy of Corbin Independent Schools)
He said some students in the district are the caregivers for their family and it’s increasingly hard to balance a normal school day with work.
“So we create more of a flexible schedule for those students so they can do what they can do. It may take them a little bit longer to finish up but we want them to be able to complete that high school diploma,” Daniels said. “That’s one of the best examples of what we’re trying to do with all of our programs and services.”
He said it’s “frustrating” to try to work within a system when a student needs something different. “With this type of flexibility it allows us to be able to reach that kid,” he said.
Corbin had piloted some of its innovative ideas and the District of Innovation status allows it to consolidate the efforts under one umbrella. In addition to more flexible schedules, students will be able to use the extra time to take dual credit programs.