Four Chicago magnet schools will use a $15 million grant to enhance personalized learning for students, starting in the 2025-26 school year.
Chicago: At Avalon Park Fine & Performing Arts School, the second floor is buzzing with creativity. Tables are set up like a diner, and students are busy calculating imaginary orders. It’s a fun way to learn about math, specifically percentages and ratios.
This hands-on approach is part of a shift towards personalized learning. Avalon Park is one of four magnet schools in Chicago that scored a $15 million grant to make learning more tailored to each student. The idea is to let kids work with teachers to create their own learning paths based on what they like and need.
The grant comes from the U.S. Department of Education and will kick off in the 2025-26 school year, lasting through 2028-29. CEO Pedro Martinez mentioned that this is just one of many ways the district is trying to make education better for all students.
The four schools getting the grant—Avalon Park, Milton Brunson Math & Science, Rudyard Kipling, and Logan Square—will join 13 others already using personalized learning. Avalon Park is excited to start this new journey, especially since they’ve been preparing for it for two years. They even asked students what they wanted, and the answer was clear: they want to have fun while learning.
Principal Takeshi James and her team are all about making learning engaging. They’ve turned the hallway into a lively space that changes regularly, keeping things fresh and exciting for the kids. James believes this new approach will help students feel more supported and challenged.
With a high mobility rate and a diverse student body, James hopes this grant will help students see bigger possibilities for their futures. She wants them to know they can achieve anything, no matter their background.
At Jonathan Burr Elementary, another school that has embraced personalized learning, the results have been impressive. Since they started this model, students have shown significant improvement in their test scores. The focus on choice and flexibility has made a real difference in how kids engage with their education.
Fifth-grader Geffen Epstein shared how personalized learning has changed his experience. He loves being able to learn at his own pace, which has made school a lot more enjoyable for him. He feels less stressed about grades and more focused on actually learning.
Overall, this new grant and the shift towards personalized learning are exciting developments for these Chicago schools. It’s all about making education work for each student, and that’s something everyone can get behind.
