Chauncey Pedersen believes a little PLP could help students learn.

The counselor for Kimball Public Schools presented the idea to the school board at last week’s regular meeting of the body. PLP--or Personal Learning Plan--is a document that provides an ongoing record of a student’s learning progress. It belongs to the student and will stay with them until graduation, even when they change teachers or schools.

PLP’s are individual, pertaining to each student and giving them with the opportunity to comment on key aspects of their lives, both in school and out. Pedersen suggested to the school board that the process begin at the eighth grade level, but also include older students past the projected start date who would still benefit from the program.

Pedersen claimed the program will stimulate useful discussion during conferences with parents or guardians of the child, record achievements beyond a subject-based focus, set goals for the next stage of learning and help locate a tutor or mentor who can help the student reach their goals--all serving to overcome obstacles to learning. The school would help with partnerships to promote their goals in learning and allow teachers to focus their teaching by taking into account any needs of that child, which would be shown in the PLP.

The counselor is excited about the new project. School board seemed equally as interested in the idea.