National education model for educating at-risk students receives support for a return to Memphis

Pathways in Education (PIE) operates eight public charter high schools across the country. Each  serves at-risk students with a unique flexible hybrid schedule that leaders hope to bring back to Memphis.PIE previously operated two public charter school in Memphis under the state’s Achievement School District from 2013 through 2022. The proposed new school would operate under Memphis-Shelby County Public Schools and would have a larger pool of potential students than the prior PIE schools.Under the PIE learning model, students attend the physical campus for at least two days a week to participate in one-on-one sessions with teachers or attend a traditional-style class. When they’re not physically at the school, PIE students complete independent work online and through traditional textbooks.The school is specifically designed to help students who’ve dropped out, are chronically absent, or are facing other at-risk factors.“Pathways In Education will not have to compete with other schools in the district for the “traditional” high school student; rather, it is filling a need for those students who pose a tremendous challenge for the traditional school because of limitations in resources or autonomy. Pathways seeks to recapture students who are truant, who are under-enrolled, or who have dropped out,” wrote the school in its application. “The students that come to Pathways In Education are often facing unique challenges that require alternative methods to address and to help them become successful students and high school graduates.”The proposed school would eventually grow to serve 350 ninth through twelfth grade students in Whitehaven and its application is receiving the support from a new independent review.The recently launched Quality Charter Review (QCR) is providing an independent analysis for each public charter school application in the state, including all five applications in Memphis.QCR reviewers commended PIE’s finances and the location the organization has secured for its school.  Reviewers also gave the school’s management and overall academic plan high marks.“The applicant has conducted extensive community engagement and demonstrates understanding of the needs of the target student population,” wrote QCR reviewers. “Overall, the applicant demonstrates evidence that the school will provide innovative skills-based curriculum and personalized instruction exceptionally well.”The QCR also applauded PIE’s efforts at gathering community support.  The school’s application included nearly two dozen letters of support including several from former students who attended the school when was operating under the Achievement School District,“Honestly this is first ever school I have been able to genuinely have full focus and comfort from with any other public schools I've been to. The school has allowed me to show how smart I am just off self knowledge and even was able to learn on my own pace rather than anybody else's rushing or anything” wrote former student Tyler Phillips.The PIE school is one of three in Memphis QCR reviewers have recommended the Memphis-Shelby County School Board to Approve.A decision is expected sometime this Spring.