Charter schools were intended to be a place where new teaching strategies are tested, tweaked and perfected.
Today, many of them have implemented a new learning model that turns the traditional one on its head.
Known as the Next Generation Learning Model, it seeks deliver a personalized learning experience by doing things like allowing students to break away from the traditional bell schedule, letting teachers specialize in their preferred subject and encouraging students to spend time in a self-directed, digital environment.
On Thursday, the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools released a report that looks at some of the schools that have adopted the model and breaks down how they're switching things up.
One of the four schools to merit a case study is Venture Academy, a Minneapolis charter school now in its second school year.
Students at Venture are divided in three "communities" initially by grade level. Each group has one math teacher, one English language arts teacher and one rotating electives teacher. Each community has a teacher/leader.
A portion of the day is spent doing project-based learning.
According to the authors early reviews of the Next Generation model are somewhat mixed, though several have shown promise particularly with some low-performing students.
