Blended Learning Support
Blended Learning Grants (BLG) cohorts are a multi-year process to design, launch, and scale a high-quality blended learning program in K-8 math and K-5 reading. BLG is managed with a focus on fidelity of implementation (FOI) in both planning and execution, with the goal of designing and implementing a sustainable and high-quality program.
The 2023-2024 LASO Blended Learning Grant cohorts will have two distinct cohorts and associated purposes that applicants will select from; the Blended Learning Planning cohort and the Blended Learning Strategic Operations cohort.
Blended Learning Cohorts
Planning
The Blended Learning Planning cohort will support school districts and open-enrollment charter schools through a planning stage to design and subsequently implement a high-quality blended learning model in math (through Math Innovation Zones - MIZ) and reading language arts (RLA) aligned with a High-Quality Instructional Material curriculum (HQIM).
- Math Innovation Zones - Math Innovation Zones is a four-year process to design, launch, scale, and sustain a high-quality blended learning model in math throughout a K-8 feeder pattern.
Strategic Operations
The Blended Learning Strategic Operations cohort will support school districts and open-enrollment charter schools in leveraging a blended learning model to make a strategic operational shift to scheduling, staffing and/or budgets. This shift will seek to make robust operational changes in order to optimize campus staffing models for teachers while maximizing academic impact for students to rethink time in a teacher-centric way at the participating campuses.
- Multi Classroom Leader Staffing Model - An example of an operational staffing shift is seen by Ector County ISD who worked with the public impact initiative to leverage a “multi classroom leader” staffing model.
- Note: This model gives inspiration to an operational change not to a specific blended model.
Blended Learning Models
Research
Blended Learning combines face to face instruction with online learning by leveraging technology to assist teachers in diagnosing student prior knowledge, differentiation of academic paths for each student, and adjusting lesson execution based on real-time information about student mastery.
Blended Learning can be categorized into various models shown in the research links below:
District Planning
- Stephenville ISD Case Study - Case study on the blended learning work Stephenville ISD has launched and strengthened through a grant from the Charles Butt Foundation.
- Stephenville ISD Student Experience Prototype - Example of student experience prototype of the station rotation model from Stephenville ISD.
- Venus ISD Student Experience Prototype - Example of student experience prototype of the station rotation model from Venus ISD, including various subject specific versions.
- Dallas ISD Coaching Progression Tools - Coaching progression tools that identify the necessary steps to take when implementing a specific blended learning model. The ultimate goal of each progression is to help teachers-- working on their own or with a supportive coach, leverage blended learning to personalize instruction for every learner in his or her classroom.
District Strategic Operations
- Ector County ISD Staffing Designs - Article on how Ector County ISD used an innovative staffing designs to boost learning through the opportunity culture model.
- Note: This is not a specific blended model but inspiration on how to shift staffing within multiple classrooms.
- Weslaco ISD Elementary Rotation Model - Weekly schedule from Weslaco ISD embedding the science of reading practices within their blended rotational model.
- Floresville ISD Scheduling Prototypes - Several iterations of strategic staffing prototypes from Floresville ISD from the past few years.
Grant Opportunities
The Learning Acceleration Support Opportunities (LASO) is the next iteration of a universal consolidated application cycle that strategically batches grant funding opportunities that are supporting with continued learning acceleration and innovation opportunities.
