IOWA REPUBLICAN ZACH LAHN SAYS IF HE’S ELECTED GOVERNOR, HE WILL PUSH TO OFFER PUBLIC SCHOOLS “INNOVATION WAIVERS” FROM THINGS LIKE MANDATORY TESTING OR SOME HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS, SO SCHOOLS CREATE A PORTFOLIO OF EXPERIENCES THAT FIT EACH STUDENT.
LAHN1 OC……..THIS EXACT ISSUE.” ;06
LAHN MADE HIS COMMENTS DURING A WEEKEND CAMPAIGN APPEARANCE IN OSAGE, AFTER SOMEONE IN THE CROWD ASKED HIM ABOUT USING PUBLIC MONEY FOR PRIVATE SCHOOLS.
LAHN2 OC……….NEEDS OF STUDENTS. :24
LAHN SAYS THERE’S VALUE IN MOVING TOWARD A MASTERY-BASED APPROACH RATHER THAN USING MULTIPLE-CHOICE TESTS TO MEASURE A STUDENT’S PROGRESS.
LAHN3 OC………THAT THEY HAVE.” :10
HE SAYS HIGH SCHOOL SHOULD BE MORE CUSTOMIZED AND, FOR EXAMPLE, GEARED TOWARD APPRENTICESHIPS IF A STUDENT DOESN’T PLAN TO GO TO COLLEGE.
LAHN IS THE CO-FOUNDER OF A PRIVATE SCHOOL IN KANSAS THAT OPENED IN 2018.
HE HAS DESCRIBED IT AS “LEARNER DRIVEN” WHERE DOING IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN MEMORIZING AND STUDENTS MAKE PROGRESS AT THEIR OWN PACE RATHER THAN BEING GROUPED INTO GRADE LEVELS.
INSTRUCTORS ARE CALLED GUIDES AND COACHES RATHER THAN TEACHERS.
LAHN4 OC………A BETTER WAY.” :18
CRITICS OF THE SCHOOL SAY IT’S GEARED TOWARD HIGHLY MOTIVATED, UPWARD BOUND STUDENTS AND DOESN’T FIT THE PUBLIC SCHOOL MODEL OF SERVING ALL STUDENTS, REGARDLESS OF ABILITIES OR HOUSEHOLD INCOME.
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