School Districts Develop ‘Adaptive Learning Plans’

School districts across Wyoming have been at work the past week developing what the state has called an “adaptive learning plan” – a way, according to Pete Kilbride, to educate students if they don’t return to their regular classrooms when schools in Wyoming resume on April 6.

Kilbride, who’s superintendent of Sheridan County School District 1, outlined the requirements of the plan in an emergency session of the District 1 board of trustees last week.

Kilbride said the plans are due from the districts by 5 p.m. Tuesday.

He told trustees the district’s schools won’t be providing education from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. the way they do in the school buildings. He said those hours aren’t a reasonable expectation for online students.

Also, he said, the method for delivering education may vary among students, possibly online for some, but for others, providing actual paper packets to the students may be a better option.

Kilbride said School District 1 is in a better position than a lot of schools in the state, because students have been out on spring break. He said what that means, in terms of the closure of Wyoming schools, is that District 1 students have lost eight days of instruction compared to 15 days lost for some other districts.

He said School District 1 has been in close contact with Sheridan County’s other two school districts, and all three have been exchanging information. He told trustees that quality education is still going on in spite of the circumstances.