School District: Putnam County School District
State: Tennessee 
Product: ACT Test Prep (and more!)

How Personalized Learning Became VITAL in a Rural Tennessee District

A quick browser search of "the most bang for the buck" or "the whole enchilada" should immediately turn up Putnam County School District's implementation of Shmoop. The key word here is should. However, the internet can be a scary place, so skip the search and follow along below as we dive into the district's success story.

Putnam County School District in Tennessee began its journey into digital learning when they realized that the missing link for student success in this vast rural district was greater access to high-quality learning materials to provide more flexibility and differentiation. The solution came in 2008 with the launch of the Virtual Instruction to Accentuate Learning (VITAL) program, which introduced a number of innovative online learning resources to teachers and students.

Fast forward four years to 2012, better known as "the beginning of an epic partnership between Shmoop and Putnam County." (And don't worry, we're still working on the name.) At this time, Putnam County was investigating options for online course content that would help teachers increase student engagement, whether inside the classroom or at home.

Discovering New Opportunities to Meet State Requirements

Tennessee is one of five states that requires all students to complete a personal finance course. While working with third-party online content creators to develop the online course in 2012, inspiration struck. What if the course could also present another opportunity to set up students for long-term success? The answer came in the form of integrating Shmoop's ACT Test Prep into the course curriculum.

"We built our own online personal finance course and paired it with Shmoop's ACT Prep course, which guaranteed every student in Putnam County would receive ACT prep before taking their required free ACT test in 11th grade," says Sam Brooks, Personal Learning Supervisor for Putnam County Schools.

Many postsecondary institutions in the area use the ACT as a determining factor in student acceptance. Five years after integrating Shmoop's ACT Test Prep into the personal finance course and Putnam County has continued to outpace the state average in ACT scores. Putnam County's average ACT score increased 1.3 points compared to the state's one point increase over a five year period and, in 2017, Putnam County scores were over a point higher than the state average.

The proof is in the pudding—well, really it's in the table below.

_{*Results are from the Tennessee State of Education Report Card}

Shmoop ACT Test Prep resources help teachers prepare students for the ACT with fun, engaging, and relatable materials that bring the test to life. Check out our suite of test prep resources, including two diagnostic exams, practice tests, 1000+ practice questions, and more!

Shmoop Helps Move Students Forward 

ACT Prep was only the beginning of the story. Soon, the district's teachers and students took it upon themselves to investigate other ways Shmoop could support classroom instruction. Today, all Putnam County teachers have access to Shmoop's suite of digital resources, which includes comprehensive curriculum materials for grades 5-12. We've outlined a few examples of Shmoop curriculum in action throughout Putnam County:

• Teachers in English language arts love using Shmoop's literature guides to enhance their lessons. These online resources support critical thinking and the student-centered language with ever-present humor make literature engaging for all learners.
• When students explore topics in history or delve into Greek mythology, teachers are able to supplement their traditional learning materials with fun and interactive online Shmoop resources to personalize learning for each student.
• Math teachers are using Shmoop's Math Shack program to support students who need extra reinforcement of foundational skills. The online program uses assessments to diagnose where students are in their learning and, based on these individual results, provide additional materials to help them progress in the right direction. Meanwhile, advanced math students are able to leapfrog ahead by accessing Shmoop's AP course curriculum.

"When it's your teachers and students that are going above and beyond what's required to investigate different ways to use a platform, you know it is making a difference," says Lance Key, teacher and Instructional Technology Specialist for Putnam County. "The value of the program and the many ways we can use it in Putnam County was the deciding factor in our decision to move forward. The fact is that Shmoop is different—not only does it include test prep plus instruction, but it takes it a step further by injecting humor into the lessons. Both our students and teachers love it."

Whether it's for a student interested in learning more about a specific topic or a teacher needing extra support in the classroom, Shmoop Online Courses offer a variety of comprehensive curriculum materials across all core subjects and multiple electives.

Putnam County spans more than 400 square miles across central Tennessee, with the closest major metropolitan city (Nashville) more than an hour drive away. Today, the rural school district serves over 11,000 students and includes three non-traditional schools plus twelve elementary, five middle, and three high schools spread across the county.

Interested in getting Shmoop into your school or district? Email sales@shmoop.com and let our sales team know who you are and what you're looking for.

Just have a question about something in Shmoopland? Hit us up at support@shmoop.com. We'll get back to you in the blink of a cursor.

_{ACT is a federally registered trademark of ACT, Inc. Shmoop University is not affiliated with or endorsed by ACT, Inc.}