A+ Success Lander County, Battle Mountain Nevada Online Adult & Alternative Distance Education & High School Credit Recovery Program Success Story
New Opportunity
Lander County School District implements new technology to create options for Adult Education and Credit Recovery students.
Lander County School District in Battle Mountain, Nevada was seeking a curriculum tool that would exceed several needs the district was faced with. Previously trying other programs and yet to find one that impressed them with rigor, customizable options, in-depth reading passages and the ability to prevent students from cheating — Lander County School district was pleased to find the A+nyWhere Learning System® (A+®).
District Superintendent Curtis Jordan heard of the A+nyWhere Learning System from a neighboring school and asked teacher Arva Fielder from The Learning Center to research this curriculum and assessment solution. After product research, onsite interview, and discussions with surrounding districts, Superintendent Jordan believed this tool was the answer that was going to meet their needs.
In September 2009, Lander County’s started an Alternative Ed program that focused on a non-traditional learning program. Most important, a program that would hold each student accountable and responsible for their work, and instill a commitment to earning the credits needed for graduation. Knowing the customizable options the A+nyWhere Learning System program provided, additional areas that were addressed included credit recovery at the junior high, GED prep for returning adults, whole group instruction with a daily “sponge activity” and a full curriculum instruction and assessment program at Leighton Hall Detention Center.
Needing to meet the needs of all students, while addressing the vast spread in learning levels, Lander County purchased Kindergarten thru 12th grade curriculum to assure they were able build the thorough program they were looking for. Teaming with Certified Trainer Dan Reid from Backbone Communications, Lander County administrators and teachers were able to express the vision they had for this program that was going to be used district wide. Dan Reid, accounting for all their needs and expectations, was able to build a custom curriculum and assessment program for their district.
The first academic year has come and gone and the success with the A+nyWhere Learning System throughout Lander County School District has exceeded the expectations of administrators and teachers. Throughout the district there is an average of 80 students that have been involved in using the A+ system — ranging in grade levels from 5th thru 12th grade. Arva Fielder, Principal at The Learning Center, is the driving force behind it all, making sure the A+nyWhere Learning System is being used effectively by teachers and students at all district campuses. In addition to monitoring students across various campus locations, Ms. Fielder has three students that she monitors closely as they work from home on their A+ lessons due to health restrictions that prevent them from attending a district campus. Regardless of the campus location or student location, Arva Fielder is a great example of how well teachers and administrators can monitor their students’ work, productivity, and success.
Assessments and reporting are a critical part of the A+nyWhere Learning System. With many reporting options to choose from, teachers are able to show administrators the direct success students are achieving using the A+ program. Superintendent Jordan and principals throughout the district are all actively involved in the A+ program and like what they see. Teachers have given many positive comments in regards to various components of the A+nyWhere Learning System — such as the writing component of the essays, Clearview videos, and opportunities for a more in-depth perspective of learning the content by tools such as the color wheel in the Art Appreciation class.
Parents are equally impressed with the A+ program as it is giving students the opportunity to recover credits in an environment that is conducive to their child’s individual needs when a traditional classroom wasn’t previously working. One 16-year-old transfer student to the Lander County School District unfortunately did not have the credits showing he graduated from junior high from his previous district. With hard work on the A+ program, he is now a sophomore with passing grades and is excited. Because of his academic success, he was able to try out for the 2009/2010 wrestling team and placed 3rd in the region. Arva Fielder was greeted with a big “thank you… my son is now a sophomore that is on track” by the parent who witnessed this newly-earned academic success.
Since implementing the A+nyWhere Learning System, Lander County School District has seen students earn a total of 85 previously lost credits, can measure an increase in student progress, and are excited to see the opportunity for students to progress ahead of a traditional track and receive extra classes for college.
Tags: Battle Mountain Adult Education, Battle Mountain High School Credit Recovery, Lander County A+, Lander County Adult Education, Lander County Battle Mountain Nevada Online Learning, Lander County High School Credit Recovery, Nevada A+ Success, Nevada Adult Education, Nevada Distance Learning, Nevada High School Credit Recovery
