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How is Personalized Learning Changing Lives? Ask Thomas Rooney.

CompetencyWorks Blog

Author(s): The Ed Fly Blog

Issue(s): Issues in Practice, Lead Change and Innovation


This post originally appeared on the Foundation for Excellence in Education’s Ed Fly Blog on December 9, 2015.

Nestled in Central California, Lindsay Unified School District (LUSD) is meeting and exceeding expectations. And part of the district’s winning formula includes competency-based learning.

The Lindsay community certainly faces challenges. One hundred percent of all students qualify for free or reduced-price lunches. More than 90 percent of students are Hispanic or Latino, 50 percent are English Language Learners and 13 percent meet federal standards for homelessness.

Despite these incredibly difficult circumstances, LUSD is transforming education to a personalized system where all learners are met at their own level. These students are guaranteed success, challenged, and are pushed to leave LUSD ready to choose college or their career.

At the 2015 National Summit on Education Reform, we heard from Thomas Rooney, the superintendent of Lindsay Unified School District and a pioneer in the field of competency-based education.

Watch the #EIE15 video below to hear how Rooney’s district has redesigned itself to build the ideal learning experience for all students.

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