SPOTLIGHT | Publications

Personalized Learning is a Mindset Not a Prescribed Model

Guest post for EdWeek, By Jennifer Ferrari, and Jin-Soo Huh: Being a network of schools committed to personalized learning means that we are constantly evolving and managing change. It is part of our culture. 

Rethinking Grade Levels and School Design for Personalized Learning

From The Hechinger Report, by Tara Garcia Mathewson: featuring CICS West Belden's openness to multiage classrooms gives both students and teachers extra choice and support.​

​Working to Broaden the Definition of Success 

Guest post for EdWeek by Jennifer Ferrari: success is narrowly defined, and the measure that ultimately determine our value as good/bad educators does not accurately correspond to our work, our efforts to prepare our kids for bright futures.

​Dreaming of an 11-Star Experience to Build a 7-Star Experience

Guest post for EdWeek, by Jin-Soo Huh: What kind of school learning environments and experiences would be so compelling that everyone who was a part of it wouldn't just enjoy it, but be compelled to tell others about the experience?...

​What Makes a School System Successful? Study the Redwoods

Guest post for EdSurge, by Jin-Soo Huh: The redwood forest offers a metaphor to describe the rich and complex nature of a school system. As we strive to create a symbiotic and interdependent growing environment for students and educators alike, where a wide variety of education initiatives exist, we realized that we could take some lessons from the redwoods.

Cultivating a Positive Adult Culture: Find Ways to Say Yes

Guest post for NGLC, by Jennifer Ferrari & Jin-Soo Huh: At the core of personalized learning is a rich adult culture that enables and encourages educators to study existing shortcomings in our schools and classrooms, and to collaboratively and passionately find innovative solutions. 

Summit Learning Spotlight: Highlighting Best Practices in Personalized Learning

From Summit Learning:Summit Learning Spotlight, a way to honor those achievements and encourage sharing of personalized learning best practices amongst a growing Summit Learning community nationwide, highlights CICS Irving Park, and Distinctive educators, Sami Smith and Jon So. 

Q&A with Colleen Collins: Director at CICS West Belden

Mastery Communications Week: When we looked at our students, we saw that each student had unique strengths and areas of growth. For example, our data provided information that allowed us to identify students that needed additional supports to attain mastery, as well as students that were exceeding mastery in several areas. 

Q&A with Sami Smith: Middle School Mentor Teacher at CICS West Belden

Mastery Communications Week: Mastery-based learning is different than traditional learning. It’s is a student-centered process as opposed to traditional teaching, which is more one-and-done. With traditional learning, teachers teach, kids learn, then they do a “thing”—like a paper, project, or tests.

New Designs for School Grantee CICS West Belden

From NGLC: CICS West Belden outlines the transition to personalized learning.
 Innovative Staffing to Personalize Learning: ​How new teaching roles and blended learning help students succeed 
From Christensen Institute & Public Impact: Studying the staffing model of CICS West Belden, including: instructional coach, mentor teacher, career teacher, and resident teacher.  

​Can SEL Support Personalized Learning? How One Chicago School is Finding Out

From EdSurge, by Amanda Ronan: The transition to a personalized learning model went beyond altering the physical space. Students were also expected to take more ownership over their learning.

A virtual tour of blended-learning schools, so others can see how it’s done

From The Hechinger Report, by Nichole Dobo: featuring CICS West Belden, one of six schools considered leaders in innovation are featured online​.

SPOTLIGHT | Case Studies

Journeys to Personalized Learning: CICS West Belden
Case study: The story of how one school laid the foundation, developed a plan, piloted their innovative ideas, refined & implemented their methods, and transformed the student experience. Read about the Journey to Personalized Learning at CICS West Belden, and learn more about how to adopt personalized learning approaches!
Summit Learning Boosts Distinctive Schools’ Student Growth
Case Study: When faculty at Distinctive Schools sought a personalized learning program to boost student achievement they turned to Summit Learning because of its focus on project-based learning and mentoring.   ​

SPOTLIGHT | Video