Using ESSA to Expand Personalized Learning in Rural Schools | Understanding ESSA
 

Using ESSA to Expand Personalized Learning in Rural Schools

Using ESSA to Expand Personalized Learning in Rural Schools

October 11, 2016

Bellwether Education Partners released a new report on the use of personalized learning in rural schools. The paper called for states to “explore alternative accountability mechanisms” through ESSA’s flexibility in the Innovative Assessment pilot program. However, Bellwether expressed concerns that students and schools are largely focused on standardized annual assessments, and argues that this evaluation approach not only “aligns poorly with personalized learning models” but is also incompatible with “flexible pathways” or alternative measures to test growth.