The Hellerup School: Lessons from a school without walls

A North Carolina teacher has had marked success using mastery-based learning techniques, which emphasize skill acquisition over classroom time, in her classroom. She says of the self-directed approach to instruction: "“The mindset is ‘Give students their own data and let them choose what to work on themselves.’" With this setup, the teacher also has extra time to work in smaller groups with struggling students.

Journalist Laura Pappano travels to Texas to examine how one school is enacting "personalized learning," a trend she suspects may be "more revolutionary than we think." At Dan D. Rogers Elementary School in Dallas, students are taught to lead their own learning starting in their first days of kindergarten. Pappano weighs the pros and cons of the approach, looking at technology and educational equity in these increasingly popular schools.

How can rural African children learn to read when there are no books in their languages? Save the Children helps kids to create their own books, creating a homemade library for their village.

Custer Elementary School in Washington State transformed from a chaotic, low-performing school into a twice-awarded "Best Public School" by implementing Integrated Multi-Tiered Systems of Support, a framework that addresses student needs across three tiers, from schoolwide culture-building to intensive individual interventions. As a result, student survey data showed that 95-97% of students felt safe, included, and cared for, leading to better academic outcomes.

The Boys' Club of New York addresses the mental health crisis among at-risk boys by providing structured programming, peer mentorship from alumni staff, and a culture of belonging across three clubhouses and roughly 2,500 members.

In Washington, D.C., where only 27% of Black students read at grade level, the nonprofit Everybody Wins DC launched Power Readers, a program that pairs elementary students with volunteer mentors for weekly one-on-one reading sessions. Operating in six schools, the program allows students to choose their own books, receive personalized attention during lunchtime sessions, and access free, culturally relevant reading materials. J.O. Wilson Elementary recorded more than a 10% increase in literacy rates between 2022 and 2024 after implementing the program.

The Claire Aid Foundation works to bridge the literacy gap in Jebbu Miango by hosting after-school classes in a newly created library in the area. About 350 children attend the after-school programs during the week where they’re taught basic grammar. The group also offers summer school programming, where students are taught more vocational skills like bead-making, tailoring, and pastry making.

Multiple hospital systems and health organizations across North Carolina have implemented school-based telehealth programs so students can receive medical and behavioral health care during the school day, making care more accessible. Evidence shows students who participate in the telehealth program see better attendance and academic performance, as well as improvements in their mental health.

To better serve Black students, Joe Shoemaker Elementary School uses “equity cohorts.” Teachers select four to seven students of color who are reading below grade level and then focus on building relationships with them, helping to nurture their social and academic skills. Over the past two years, they’ve seen improved test scores and reading levels among students who participated.

To enhance learning, Smart Primary School has integrated peer-mentoring in its curriculum through the Buddy program. Each student in the first grade is paired with a fifth grader who tutors and guides the younger one with lessons and activities for the next four years. The program has not just helped them improve their language, communication, and mathematics skills, but also helped enhance the school atmosphere through the trust and bonding students build in the process.