A Magnet to Learning

Within our school system several years ago, many students were dropping behind on credits or quitting school due to lack of motivation and overwhelming odds of advancing with their classmates. In an innovative move, a Magnet School was created for the county in which failing students could attend to try and get caught up with their classmates. This safety net has rescued hundreds of students who otherwise would not have graduated.

To qualify for the Magnet School, students must be in a credit deficient situation, be able to work independently, have good reading skills, and have the permission of their principal and counselor. The target group is juniors and seniors who are close to graduation.

The Magnet School consists of a computer lab networked to a local server containing courseware for most of the secondary courses needed by the students to meet the requirements of a high school diploma. Students are assigned a station and a password. They work at their own pace to read, digest, explore, and learn topics within specific subjects. The system automatically grades the students on each subtopic, as well as calculating an overall average. During a half-day session, students can complete as many as five credits per term, three more than the standard two credits they would have earned in regular classrooms. This allows them to gain ground with the hopes of graduating with their classmates in May.

While many students find the low-stress atmosphere conducive to learning, academic rigor is still present. Students are required to achieve a 75 percent mastery level of all topics within a subject before moving on. English and science courses also require supplemental writing assignments that are checked, annotated, and corrected through one-on-one dialogue between instructor and student. Proper grammar and sentence structure are required at all times. Upper level English courses also require research term papers. A final posttest must be defended in a one-on-one dialogue with the instructor. Any noted deficits in understanding or reasoning results in rework of specific sections of coursework.

The advantages of the Magnet School are a distraction-free learning environment, one-on-one instruction, and self-paced work schedule. The school also provides a boost to self-esteem.

In addition to earning credits, students have the opportunity to receive timely advice about careers, college, finances, scholarships, and other personal matters. Each day, students are greeted with encouraging words from instructors and staff. Good progress and earned credits are rewarded in various ways.

The Magnet School is a model educational environment that helps students get back on track with their life and begin to live their dreams. It could be the classroom model of the future. Wouldn't it be wonderful that we could truly have an environment in which no child would be left behind?

The Magnet School is not perfect; there are a few who decide even this setting is too hard. However, the Magnet program is solid enough to rescue many students from an otherwise dismal career path.