Londonderry School District Announces Creation of Learning Pod Through New Hampshire Department of Education Recovering Bright Futures Program

Concord, NH: The New Hampshire Department of Education announced today that the Londonderry School District is the latest recipient of the Department’s Recovering Bright Futures grant, to offer a learning pod instructional model to families in the district.

In partnership with Prenda, the Department created the Recovering Bright Futures program to bring an innovative instructional model to New Hampshire students, families and schools. District Pods are embedded in New Hampshire school districts and provide students a unique learning environment. The grants are provided through COVID-19 response funds received by the State of New Hampshire. Previously announced learning pods include the Bow, Dunbarton, Fremont and Haverhill school districts.

“Learning Pods may be new to many, but throughout the pandemic and across the country, they have served over one million students in small-group, multi-age and trauma sensitive learning environments,” stated Frank Edelblut, commissioner of education. “Learning Pods are particularly helpful to students who have experienced learning loss and will thrive with more individualized attention.”

All New Hampshire school districts, including traditional and public charter schools, are eligible to participate in the District Learning Pod program. In addition, home education families are eligible to participate in Community Learning Pods.

Families and districts can find more information about the Recovering Bright Futures from the Department’s website or by contacting Gabby Fisk.

What is a Learning Pod?

Learning Pods involve small, in-person, multi-age groupings of students in a trauma sensitive environment that allow children to stabilize, rekindle curiosity, and accelerate learning. Generally, a learning pod has between 5 – 10 students in grades K-2, 3-5 or 6-8 groupings. Instruction of students in the District Learning Pod will reflect a partnership between the local education agency (LEA) and Prenda, which includes the following:

• Instruction will be conducted 100% by Prenda.
• Special Education services will be provided both by Prenda, where appropriate, and the LEA. Prenda has the capacity to meet many IEP accommodations, and certain specialized services will continue to be provided by the LEA. The LEA will continue to be responsible for IEP support services.
• Instruction will occur in an approved facility agreed upon by the LEA and Prenda Schools.
• The LEA and Prenda will agree on data reporting, including attendance, student progress, etc.
• The LEA will agree to receive students back from the Learning Pod if the LEA, family or Prenda determine that the student would benefit from a return to the classroom learning environment.