Personalized learning pilot gets green light from Mukwonago School Board

 Section Elementary School will pilot an Innovative Personalized Learning Community (IPLC) after gaining approval of the Mukwonago Area School Board on Monday night. 

"We are looking at having the opportunity to do what the program is named," Section Principal Bob Slane told school board members. 

The pilot would involve two groups of students taught by six teachers, three teachers for grades one through three and three teachers for grades four through six.

Things will look a lot different in the three rooms designated for IPLC, Slane explained. Since rows of desks are not the most effective way for a child to learn, there won’t be a desk for every child, but instead there could be bean bags, soft chairs or students sitting on the floor.

"This would look more like a home type environment than a classroom," Slane added. 

The pilot would involve 130 to 150 students split between two groups of grades one through three in one group and grades four through six in another, taught by six teachers — a team of three teachers for each group of up to 75 students. With teachers having the ability to stay with students for three years, it allows students and teachers to pick up learning where they left off each spring rather than spend time assessing at the beginning of each new school year, Slane explained. 

A note to Section parents informing them of the pilot opportunity will go out this week, with informational meetings planned in the beginning of March.