Introduction and Background
The Puget Sound Center for Personalized Learning (PSCPL) is committed to supporting the transformation of schools to ensure the elimination of racial inequities and the success of each student. We partner with educators and leaders in districts to develop strategies, processes, and tools that support personalized learning (PL) schools that tailor learning to address each student’s strengths, needs, race, culture, and interests and give student’s voice and choice in how, when, and where they learn in an effort to prepare every student to achieve academically and reach individual goals. The PSCPL will establish cohort school leadership teams made up of teacher leaders and administrators from selected schools. We seek to create a cohort of schools that exemplify a personalized, student-centered approach in educating students. Preference will be given to schools that seek to decrease racial inequities and create systems that ensure opportunity and access for those who historically have been underserved or excluded.
Selected Puget Sound Personalized Learning Cohort Schools will:
- Participate in the 12-month Puget Sound Personalized Learning Design Process including: 4 in-person professional development sessions, scheduled school site visits, and school design and planning time with the PSESD Director of Personalized Learning.
- Form a team called Personalized Learning Leadership Team, made up of 5-6 team members that are a combination of school administrators and teacher leaders. School leaders will be the members of Administrator Academy, participating in additional days of school leader-level training. School teacher leaders will be designated as PSCPL Teacher Leadership Fellows.
- Collaboratively design a personalized learning action plan that is customized for each school.
- Be invited to participate in the PSCPL network meetings in subsequent years.
- Receive continued coaching and technical support from PSCPL in subsequent years post the cohort launch.
Each school’s personalized learning leadership team will be comprised of a combination of school leaders (such as principals and/or instructional coaches) as well as representative teacher leaders. See below diagrams for a reference.
Puget Sound Personalized Learning Cohort Schools
We seek to create a cohort of 5 schools that exemplify a personalized, student-centered approach in educating students.
PL Leadership Team Structure from Each School
| 1-2 school leaders (principal and/or coach) | Each School’s Leadership Team  | 4-5 school teachers who will lead the personalized learning initiative as a part of PL leadership team |
Fellowship Group – Network among Cohort Schools
Administrators/Teacher Leadership Fellows
Interested school leadership teams within PSESD districts will be required to go through a selection process to become a PSCPL Cohort School.
Over the next 3 years, PSCPL will sponsor annual cohorts of schools interested in designing for personalized learning. All proposed school designs will include regional and statewide school districts. PSCPL seeks to demonstrate that personalized learning can be the preferred learning option in a district rather than creating a “lighthouse” school on the district fringe. Preference will be given to urban districts that:
1. District Selection
If deemed necessary, an information session will be held to provide an overview of the PSCPL cohort model and the benefits to those interested in becoming personalized learning schools. An application to be accepted as a PSCPL Cohort School will be distributed to all school districts.
2. Selection of PSCPL Cohort Schools
PSCPL will identify 5 PSCPL Cohort Schools through a competitive application process which will include a school self-assessment (based on the PSCPL Framework) to get baseline data on current readiness for and implementation of personalized learning.
Self-Assessment
Interested schools will be asked for a self-assessment of their current practice related to the PSCPL Framework .
Application Document
Along with a self-assessment, each school will also submit an application. One application will be submitted per school team with a cover page signed by the District Superintendent or designee and school principal.
The PSCPL cohort application will focus on:
- the school’s rationale for participation,
- commitment to the PSCPL Framework
- vision for personalized learning outlined in an innovative school design
- commitment to racial equity
- the planning process and timeline, and
- strengths of the school and areas needed for support
Recommended Checklist for School Administrators
- Planning with School Administrators: District and school administration can meet with PSESD Personalized Learning Director to align on the importance of personalized learning, understand the ways that PSESD will support the school district, and review the application, selection and cohort processes.
- Establishment of PSCPL Cohort School PL Leadership Team: Selected PL cohort schools will select 1-2 school leaders for membership in the administrators academy, as well as 4-5 representative staff members as teacher leadership fellows to serve on a personalized learning leadership team. Leadership team members will commit to attending 4 in-person sessions and will communicate and collaborate with school faculty and leadership to design a school plan for personalized learning.
- Full Staff Orientation: Materials for an orientation are available for the school administration to introduce the entire school staff to the concept of personalized learning, the “PSCPL Framework”, and the process for school design and teacher input. This will be an opportunity to field questions from school staff.
Submission Review & Selection
The completed proposal will be submitted to PSCPL for review. Criteria for acceptance will include:
- Evidence of a vision of personalized learning for the school which encompasses the PSCPL Framework.
- Evidence of a commitment to racial equity
- Evidence that the proposed innovative practices will benefit student engagement and achievement
- Evidence that the school leadership team is committed to shepherding the transformation, including gaining faculty support and commitment
Using a scoring rubric based on the PSCPL framework applications will be reviewed by a team from the PSESD. Proposals will be rated:
- Accepted;
- Accepted with Required Recommendations; or
- Declined
A written response to the application will be created and sent to the District and school principal.
Preference will be given to proposed designs that embrace the PSCPL Framework, can demonstrate an innovative vision for personalized learning, as well as schools that are committed to decreasing racial inequities and creating systems that ensure opportunity and access for those who historically have been excluded.
3. Technical Assistance to PSCPL Cohort Schools during the Design Process Approved PSCPL cohort school leadership teams will be expected to participate in a rigorous design process. Each team will commit to develop a comprehensive, research-based personalized learning school action plan that has high success potential. In support of this, PSCPL Cohort Schools will be invited to participate in 4 in-person professional development sessions, scheduled school site visits, and school design and planning time with the PSESD Director of Personalized Learning.
4. Design Process Roadmap for Selected Cohort Schools PSCPL Cohort Orientation/Foundations Personalized Learning Design Institute The identified leadership teams will engage in a Personalized Learning Design Institute that will extend over 2 in-person sessions and ending with a personalized learning showcase or symposium. This institute will: Sharing, Reflection, and Next Steps
5. Early Implementation Support Early implementation support could be provided at a discounted fee from the PSESD to each successful PSCPL cohort school: Coaching & Support District Support: Network Support: