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GVSU: Charter Schools Study Highlights "Hybrid" Learning

pic of GVSU Charter Schools Logo
GVSU

A first of its kind study by Grand Valley State University’s Charter Schools office reveals teachers are innovative and resilient when it comes to COVID-19 and moving forward with education.  The study highlights K-12 districts’ support for student learning and well-being.

“Perhaps the silver lining from this tragic pandemic is that we have wider recognition of the innovation that educators are using to drive learning forward right now.”

That’s Robert Kimball, Grand Valley State University’s Associate Vice President for charter schools.  He’s referring to a first of-its-kind study commissioned by GVSU’s Charter Schools office.  The study looked at the learning plans of its 78 charter schools.  It shows how K-12 districts are adapting to new ways of supporting students through COVID-19.  In fact, the study found that 87 percent of Grand Valley authorized charter public schools, will provide hybrid modes of education. That means students will receive lessons through a combination of virtual platforms and hard-copy materials.

Kimball says the study provides a roadmap for Grand Valley to develop support for the teachers.

“Having a large understanding of the themes of the different strategies that our schools are using across the state will allow GVSU to build the supports that are needed by the teachers that are doing the hard work.”

Kimball says the mental and physical health of students was also a factor in the study. 

“Schools were really prioritizing that care, connection with families, in addition to the academic programming and that was an inspiring finding that we found within the study.”

You can the complete report at gvsu.edu/cso/research.

Jennifer is an award winning broadcast news journalist with more than two decades of professional television news experience including the nation's fifth largest news market. She's worked as both news reporter and news anchor for television and radio in markets from Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo all the way to San Francisco, California.