Superintendent's 4th Quarter Update
March 2019
It has been another quick quarter and we are about to enter the stretch run of our school year! I am truly impressed with the efforts of staff and students in the classroom and believe we are going to see significant learning gains again. While accomplishments have happened in the classroom, there is more to be done, especially outside the classroom. We are poised to present a balanced budget for action by the school board in April. In turn, the borough assembly must fund that budget. This year, the state is looking at deep reductions that would impact direct funding to KPBSD and negatively impact how the Borough can fund the district.
I believe the solution to the problem of deficit spending is to have a long-term, sustainable fiscal plan at both the State and Borough levels. This will require tough decisions, but making tough decisions is what leaders do. The school district is here to support our government leaders in making those tough decisions and to strongly advocate for our children. We all know that cuts alone will not bring prosperity and a bright future for our communities. We also know that using savings is a temporary solution. We can no longer wait for the price of a barrel of oil to save the Alaskan economy. Our students have one chance at an education. It is up to our communities to make that chance the best opportunity possible for today’s students so that the next generation can continue to grow our state and communities when it is their turn to be leaders.
Sean Dusek, Superintendent
Learn more about PL, or read on:
Personalized Learning in KPBSD
Personalized learning shifts from a one-size-fits-all factory model of education to better prepare students for the jobs and needs of their future. The design of instruction and the classroom allow educators to respond to the individual needs of students instead of expecting students to fit the current mold or adapt to unsuccessful learning structures. PL does not replace teachers with computers. Many of our teachers implement elements of PL in their classrooms right now, and we will now build on this foundation to create an even better learning environment. Key elements your child will experience include:
- Teachers integrate digital content, which allows for a differentiated path and pace based on individual student needs
- Teachers use targeted instruction based on specific student needs and learning goals
- Teachers use current and relevant data to help inform instructional decisions and groupings
- Students engage in ongoing self-reflection that promotes ownership of their learning
When will PL formally start in KPBSD schools?
Every KPBSD school is doing some degree of work with personalized learning. However, the formal work of individual schools and teachers working directly toward personalized learning will be rolled out in three "waves" over the next year.
- Wave 1 schools began their work in spring 2017, and will continue in the fall of 2017.
- Wave 2 schools will begin their formal work with Education Elements in the fall of 2017.
- Wave 3 schools will begin their formal work with Education Elements in the spring of 2018.
Links
Personalized Learning
webpage
KPBSD Personalized Learning Blog
Personalized Learning
FAQs
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