Blended Learning

Method Schools Offer Blended Learning for Southern California Students

• By Leila Meyer
• 05/12/15

A new public charter school system in California, called Method Schools, opened this year and offers a blended learning model that combines online curriculum, project-based learning, face-to-face instruction and flexible scheduling.

Students enrolled in Method Schools' blended learning track work through Fuel Education (FuelED) online curriculum at home at their own pace and receive face-to-face instruction from teachers at school. Each student has a personalized learning plan and can choose to attend class one, three or four days per week, with most students choosing four. When they attend classes on site, the teachers use project-based learning methods to reinforce the material students have been studying online.

Students in kindergarten through grade 2 complete virtual school at home. Students in grades 3-5 can choose to continue with virtual school at home or they can move to the blended learning model. Students in grades 6-12 can choose from any of Method Schools' learning models.

"Our students have the flexibility of an independent study school, along with a very comprehensive and engaging classroom experience," said Mark Holley, co-founder of Method Schools, in a prepared statement. "It's like two schools in one."

Method Schools administers student pre-tests, monthly benchmark assessments and post-tests to track student outcomes closely. The schools' goal is for each student to achieve 1.5 years of growth in math and reading each year.

Method Schools currently serves 110 students in preK-12 at locations in Murrieta and San Diego, and plans to open a third location in Los Angeles in the fall.