About the REAL Program:
Addressing the Root of the Learning Gap
At Cut Knife Community School, our educators have identified a pressing issue-a persistent learning gap that becomes increasingly evident in the transition from elementary to high school. This gap, if not addressed, leads to a steep decline in graduation rates and success in Division 4 courses. It's a challenge we must urgently tackle.
REAL (Responsive Education, Authentic Learning) was not created to react to the problem, but to proactively intervene before students reach high school. It ensures they develop the essential skills, confidence, and understanding they need to succeed long-term.
A Different Approach to Learning:
Traditional education models progress students based on age and grade level, even when they have not fully mastered foundational concepts. This model creates learning gaps that compound over time, making it harder for students to keep up, particularly in high school.
REAL redefines learning progression by focusing on:
- Mastery over Seat Time – Students advance when they are ready, not just because the school year ends.
- Personalized Support – Each student receives the instruction they need at the right time.
- Engagement & Confidence – When students experience success at their level, they build motivation and self-efficacy.
- Better Long-Term Outcomes – By closing foundational gaps early, students are more likely to stay engaged, complete high school, and succeed in post-secondary or career paths.
It's Designed for Student Success through:
- Data-Driven Development – REAL was built based on years of student performance data and staff observations.
- Voice in design – Using student feedback to develop program and interactions.
- Intentional Skill Building – The program ensures students master key literacy and numeracy concepts before moving on. This is done through a focus on executive functioning skill development with concept integration.
- Flexibility & Responsiveness – REAL adapts to students rather than forcing students to fit into a rigid system.
By investing in early intervention and customized learning, REAL is not just changing the trajectory of student success in the short term, but also paving the way for their success from the first years of schooling to high school graduation and beyond.
Program Goals:
- To increase students' understanding and abilities in ELA and Math at a level of at least 1 year based on curricular outcomes.
The focus of this outcome is to allow students to catch up to their current grade level as it exists. For example, if a student enters the program at grade 7 and is showing reading skills at a grade five level the goal of the program is to have the student leave grade 9 meeting grade 9 outcomes. To accomplish the increase in this learning gap, the students within the program would have to show growth at a rate of at least 1.5 years in each school year.
- To increase engagement in English language arts and math courses with the hope of having this increase in engagement transfer to other classes.
The focus of this outcome is to show students that they can be successful in their learning. The program designers believe that if students can have 1 success in education, they will transfer that success into a higher level of engagement not only within the program but through their studies at large.
- To improve the efficiency in learning opportunities within these subject areas.
The focus of this outcome is to solve a problem that has been a critical focus of Living Sky School Division over the previous five years. That problem is how do we maintain high levels of learning and support as funding in education decreases regularly. In appendix A we are introduced to the Living Sky School Division core value questions. These questions are a series of prompts that programs within the division must face before they can commence. The component of cost and effectiveness is brought up in this outcome, the program has the intention of redistributing supports to provide students opportunities for success better. Through this, there is another efficiency in learning that is a goal, how do we provide enrichment for students who are beyond the learning abilities in the course. This outcome aims to answer that question.