What should public schools look like in the year 2020 in Johnston County? One idea being tossed around is at least one school in the county where students would experience a lab school environment.
The concept was unveiled at the March school board meeting. It would serve as an opportunity for first generation college-bound students in the I-95 corridor. It would receive 100 middle school aged students per year for the first 3 years.
The lab school would be an innovative learning center for the students selected to attend but also a host site for professional development for teachers and administrators. Teachers would have greater freedom to test pedagogical strategies and investigate methods that embrace student input and choice. Students would be empowered to have greater input in their learning.
The Laboratory Learning Center concept would serve a target population of middle school students along the Interstate 95 corridor. Students would have to meet similar high standards as the innovative high school programs to enroll and attend.
Chief Academic Officer Dr. Eddie Price said the sixth through eighth grade lab school would strive to have at least 90 percent of their students first generation college students in their families. Economically disadvantaged students would be targeted for recruitment. Each child enrolled would already know they want to attend college.
