While school districts across the country toy with ideas like later start times, shorter days, and less homework to help with student achievement, Algoma Superintendent Nick Cochart thinks they already have the best one working for them right now. Cochart says the traditional model is turning into a race to complete what is required. He believes student-led initiatives like Live Algoma, its Pups and Wolves mentoring program, and the new “school within a school” Beta project is helping to drive more success. Cochart says the focus for his staff is to determine how to make the time and the space they have with their students more authentic.

Alternative ideas for driving student success could be on the table down the road according to Cochart, but says it is tough to balance as some students still identify with the traditional school schedule while others do not.