District highlights Kagan cooperative learning pilot; teachers report higher engagement

At the meeting the Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment team presented on district efforts to adopt Kagan cooperative learning structures across K–12 classes to increase student engagement and talk time.

“Cooperative learning provides structures that get students talking more than the teacher,” the CIA representative said, summarizing the research basis and the district’s training work. Several practitioners described classroom results: a teacher who received Kagan training said structures help counter social isolation and build social skills within academic instruction; another teacher said resistant students increased participation over time.

Kyle Jepson, principal of the Innovation Center, said early pilots showed students at the Innovation Center who used Kagan structures were more engaged and less likely to disengage with phones or withdraw from class. Elementary teachers reported that the structures changed classroom dynamics so multiple students feel they have a voice, and one teacher said she’s seen measurable gains in short cycle and unit assessments.

Presenters said fidelity and ongoing coaching are critical to sustaining the practices. The board discussed including cooperative learning in the district strategic plan, and the administration said next steps and implementation supports will be shared with board members.

The update was presented as an informational item; no action was taken.