Events

Through the Opportunity by Design (OBD) initiative, selected districts nationwide design and open new high schools that emphasize personalized learning (PL) as an approach to help low achieving students catch up and better prepare all students for college, career and citizenship. Our five-year evaluation examines contextual factors related to PL implementation, how OBD schools approach PL and the association between students’ OBD enrollment and achievement outcomes. First year results suggest facilitators to successful implementation including parental buy-in, community partners, teacher contract and hiring flexibility, dedicated district staff and supportive state laws. Preliminary one-year student achievement impacts measured with an observational research design, while statistically insignificant across schools, are consistent with achievement dips that are common during the first year of complex education reforms. Formative recommendations address teacher support, data tracking and communication.