Designing a Differentiated Course for a High-Need Student Population 

At an online school, a particular student population was struggling in the online learning environment. The group was made up of roughly one third students with IEPs, one third English Language Learners, and one third students with attendance and knowledge gaps, and the standard course format was not serving their needs. 

A differentiated blended learning ELA course was designed and built specifically for this population, outside of standard course development duties. The design incorporated a team teaching instructional strategy to support the range of learning needs represented in the group, and course delivery and assessment were managed through an SIS-integrated LMS. 

The course achieved a 90 percent pass rate, compared to the school's overall average of 80 percent, for a student population typically considered higher risk in an online setting.