District Conditions for Scale: A Practical Guide to Scaling Personalized Learning
This paper provides a definition of personalized learning and then focuses on ten district conditions, identified through interviews with district superintendents and district leadership teams from across the country, that are driving system-level changes around this approach. The secondary and primary research provides the basis for the identified “Ten District Conditions for Scale.” The authors note that these conditions are agnostic and acknowledge their bias that personalized learning, per the provided definition, is and will be a catalytic force for educational change in the United States.
The descriptions of the ten conditions to support the development of personalized learning initiatives (curriculum, instruction, comprehensive assessment systems, learning environments, student supports, professional development, technology policy, comprehensive data systems, and partnerships) are simple and easy to read. The format helps the resource meet its goal of discussing in depth each of the ten district conditions, as well as exploring cross-cutting metathemes. While it does not provide direct evidence of impact, its content will prove useful and timely for those pursuing this topic in an exploratory manner or as a practice to be implemented.