Phoenix Academy Atlanta (credit, home, high schools)

[toll_booth]

https://www.ajc.com/news/local/atlan...6D1JXfvHcU0KO/

Phoenix Academy opened in August, the result of a district decision in March to merge programs for “non-traditional” students, including those in danger of not graduating. The change has led to a smaller staff and more online learning, an approach also being tried elsewhere.

APS officials said the restructuring has saved $1.5 million this year while helping students earn the credits they need. They are teen moms and foster kids, homeless students and students who fell behind or struggled at their home high schools.

The smaller staff has meant a shift to more “blended learning” classes, which combine online curriculum with a supervising teacher who answers questions, checks students’ notes and gives additional offline assignments.

That means students are taking different classes during the same period. In a social studies classroom, for example, students were using computers to take U.S. history, world history, economics and government, depending on which course they need to complete.

I hope this nontraditional approach works for students who have had a tough time graduating due to various external pressures. Time will tell if it does.

[DreamerD]

Hopefully this ends up benefiting the students. I am also curious about how academically rigorous these kind of programs are. My favorite was that they provide more social services like on-site child care, a calm room, etc. The on-line/in class might help many of the students due to the fact a ot of them might have jobs where they couldn't make it to class and work.

[CMMom]

I'm skeptical. Online learning is not only not easier than brick and mortar learning, but requires MUCH more self-discipline and time management. If these kids aren't bringing those skills to the table from the get-go, who will teach them the skills? And if they don't have a vigilant parent/guardian monitoring them, it's way too easy to fall behind. I hope it works, but kids could still fall through the cracks.