Evidence-based Practice: Small, personalized learning communities

Definition

In schools with many students who are off track to graduate, the WWC recommends creating small, personalized learning communities.1 By grouping students into small communities of no more than a few hundred students, teachers and other school staff can be better equipped to implement other interventions, including providing students who are off track with intensive, individualized support. The WWC notes that in small, personalized communities, staff can check in with students more frequently, pay closer attention to their needs, and form stronger and more meaningful relationships with them. As the relationships between students, teachers, and other school staff grow, students may develop a greater sense of belonging in the school community, thus helping them stay engaged in school.