Peabody P.R.E.P. Extends Remote Learning Option In District

PEABODY, MA — As difficult as remote and hybrid learning was for many students and teachers throughout the coronavirus crisis there were some who fully embraced — and even thrived — in the alternative schooling model.

In Peabody, that number was higher than most surrounding communities, prompting the district to put together a program to provide the virtual learning option once again next year as most districts across the state eliminate it.

Peabody Executive Director of Remote Learning Christopher Lord called the district's success with remote learning "a silver lining" to the pandemic and said that about 800 students chose to remain remote when the schools shifted from hybrid to full in-classroom learning this spring

Lord told Patch there was an initial interest of up to 500 students when the idea to extend the program into next year was first proposed in February, and that he expected between 120 and 140 students to enroll from kindergarten through 12th grade by Monday's deadline.

While all students had the option of finishing this school year remotely, Lord said Peabody was one of only 13 districts statewide to apply to continue to provide a remote learning option for the 2021-2022 school year.

Peabody's Personalized Remote Education Program — or Peabody P.R.E.P. — will be open to Peabody residents only and will provide synchronous learning with district faculty through a structured school day. Students will be able to participate in all school extracurricular activities, including Peabody High athletics and other after-school programs.

"We were fortunate enough to have a strong staff of teachers who really developed their remote skills over this time," he said. "Some students have really flourished in this environment and we want to help them get better at it."

Lord said both he and Superintendent of Schools Josh Vadala were both initially surprised at the level of interest in continuing the remote model — especially as coronavirus restrictions eased and most students in most districts returned to the classroom full time. But he said the benefits of learning remotely go well beyond any lingering virus-related safety concerns.

High school students, for instance, who might normally have to get up by 6 or 6:30 a.m. to make it to the school buildings in time for the start of their day will instead start the remote day at 8:30 a.m. District classes will run through 12:30 p.m. and high school students will take their electives in the afternoon.

Elementary P.R.E.P. classes will run from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. so that the students will have time to join their classmates for any after-school programs.

The curriculum will be designed to mirror the day-to-day curriculum taught inside physical Peabody classrooms.

Lord said that while the district will have the option to move teachers from the remote programs back in the classroom if numbers fluctuate through the 2021-22 school year, the district is encouraging those enrolling in P.R.E.P. classes to make a full-year commitment, if possible.

"We are requiring two things out of everyone involved — excellent attendance and excellent engagement," he said. "We are pretty excited to see if we can pull this off."

Lord said the main difference between this program and the remote classes that struggled with engagement across the state over the past year is that everyone involved next year in Peabody will be doing it because remote learning works for them instead of it being forced upon them.

"The volunteers who want to be in this game are the ones who are really going to make it sing," he said.

More on Peabody P.R.E.P. can be found here:

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(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)