Student-Centered Schools

A focus on students is our goal. We call that being student centered.

Student Agency is important to mastery learning. In a mastery learning environment, students know what they are learning, why they are learning it, and how to demonstrate mastery. Students use opportunities to use choice and voice make important decisions about what, when, where and how they learn.

Students develop a Personalized Learning Plan (PLP), which helps them to reflect on areas of strength and growth as well as focusing on how they learn. In Shelby County Schools, the student's PLP is housed in Empower, our Digital Data Dashboard.

Students in our schools regularly apply their knowledge and skills to issues facing their classroom, school or broader community. Teachers create and co-create Project Based Learning (PBL) and Inquiry opportunities to give students an opportunity to learn through doing the task. These instructional methods promote deeper learning and problem solving so that students develop the skills to transfer their learning to new situations.

Students co-design learning pathways as teachers advise and mentor students to reach academic outcomes. Therefore, pacing is flexible, students receive timely feedback and intervention in their progression toward mastery, and instruction can be differentiated by the needs of the student.

Advisory structures and supportive learning environments promote Equity. Students use Exhibitions of Learning to reflect on and present learning. At transition levels, students do a Defense of Learning in order to progress to the next level.