Hickman Mills School District – Kansas City  

At a Glance: Hickman Mills School District

Hickman Mills C-1 School District serves 5,173 students across nine schools in Kansas City, Missouri. The district serves a diverse set of learners (67% African American; 14% Hispanic; 7% Multiracial, 9% White; 2% Other) with English Language Learners (ELLs) and newcomers making up 8.05%.

District Challenges

1. Adapting Quickly To The Needs of New Students.

Serving a diverse population requires flexibility and adaptation from teachers. A significant number of ELLs in Hickman Mills school district are newcomers. New students arrive throughout the year. Teachers need to quickly integrate new students and support learning. 

2. Getting Students On-Track for Graduation.

In Middle and High School, ELLs who are beginners in English are unable to access the district-wide curriculum. Beginner English courses are often too childish for High School students. Unless they are able to test out of the English program–a task which Swapnam Kumar, English Language Development Lead for the district, said can take between three to seven years– they risk being unable to graduate from high school. 

3. Delivering Personalized Support.

Newcomer students arrive with varied educational backgrounds. Some students have not attended formal education previously, or have had their education interrupted for months or years. Instruction must meet the level of the student. 

4. Delivering Remote and Face-to-Face Instruction.

After several periods of remote learning due to the pandemic, most students are now back in the classroom, however, some students can choose to stay at home. 

The Off2Class Solution

Hickman Mills ELD department offers a beginner English course for newcomers, using the Off2Class Step-by-step Curriculum. Through the Off2Class platform, each ELL can access their personalized course, homework assignments and unit checks. Administrators and teachers can track progress from a school dashboard.

1. Students can start making progress straight away.

The Off2Class system can quickly grow to accommodate student numbers. Since launching Off2Class in May 2021, Hickman Mills has increased the number of students enrolled on the platform by 66%. The comprehensive placement test ensures teachers have a thorough understanding of each students’ personal level and challenge areas. 

2. Research-based English materials.

Using the Off2Class Step-by-step Curriculum, teachers can offer a research-based English course that progresses students to the next English level. The curriculum includes interactive lessons which address all four skills (speaking, reading, writing and listening). Homework assignments and unit assessments make it easy for teachers to track progress and provide additional support where needed. 

“The teachers are happy,” said  Swapnam Kumar, District Lead for English Language Development. “Off2Class is easy to navigate and teachers are not struggling to find what they want”. 

3. Personalized interventions.

The Off2Class platform makes it easy for teachers to personalize courses so that every student is challenged.  Teachers can choose from 1000s of lessons and homework assignments that are suitable for both directed- and self-study. Even students in the same class can be given individual tasks to support their learning.

“I’m doing a lot of whole group instruction with the many newcomers we have in the district, – Jed Yarick, English Language Learner Teacher at Ruskin High School. “All the lessons seem to target their level, but are challenging enough to push them to a different level.”  

 4. Seamless virtual learning.

Off2Class works in both face-to-face and remote settings, so students can still study virtually and keep updated with their lessons. 

Finding solutions for ELLs and Newcomers

English teaching is not “one-size-fits-all”. To succeed in Middle and High School, ELLs deserve English programs that are appropriate for their age, educational background and English level. Our expert team can help you design a personalized Off2Class system that will empower your teachers and match the needs of the learners in your district. We can also advise on federal funding options. Book a consultation with our friendly advisors.