North Star Self-Directed Learning For Teens
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North Star Self-Directed Learning for Teens is a self-directed learning center in
Sunderland, Massachusetts Sunderland is a town in Franklin County, Massachusetts, United States, part of the Pioneer Valley. The population was 3,663 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. Sunderland was first ...
, founded in 1996. The mission of North Star is to help
teenagers Adolescence () is a transitional stage of human physical and psychological development that generally occurs during the period from puberty to adulthood (typically corresponding to the age of majority). Adolescence is usually associated with ...
find ways to learn and excel outside of traditional
middle school Middle school, also known as intermediate school, junior high school, junior secondary school, or lower secondary school, is an educational stage between primary school and secondary school. Afghanistan In Afghanistan, middle school includes g ...
and
high school A secondary school, high school, or senior school, is an institution that provides secondary education. Some secondary schools provide both ''lower secondary education'' (ages 11 to 14) and ''upper secondary education'' (ages 14 to 18), i.e., ...
. It offers a non-coercive learning environment without required classes, grades or tests. Members range in age from 11 to 19 years old. Both previously-schooled teens and long-time
homeschoolers Homeschooling or home schooling (American English), also known as home education or elective home education (EHE) (British English), is the education of school-aged children at home or a variety of places other than a school. Usually conducted ...
attend the center. As of 2015, North Star has over 60 members and over 500 alumni from all over the
Pioneer Valley The Pioneer Valley is the colloquial and promotional name for the portion of the Connecticut River Valley that is in Massachusetts in the United States. It is generally taken to comprise the three counties of Hampden County, Massachusetts, Ha ...
and beyond. North Star was founded by two Massachusetts middle school teachers who were frustrated with a system that forced students to attend their classes. In contrast, North Star supports teenagers to self-direct their education, offering a program of optional classes, tutoring, trips and community events, taught and organized by North Star's professional staff and an extensive network of volunteers. Each North Star member is paired with an advisor who supports and encourages the teen as they transition to self-directed learning. The center is funded through sliding-scale tuition and donations.


History

North Star was founded as Pathfinder Learning Center by Kenneth Danford and Joshua Hornick in 1996. After reading
Grace Llewellyn Grace Llewellyn (born March 18, 1964) is an American educator, author, and publisher. She is the founder of ''Lowry House Publishers'', founder and director of ''Not Back To School Camp'' and ''The Hive: Self-Directed Learning for Teens''. Bio ...
's book '' The Teenage Liberation Handbook'' they both quit their jobs as middle school teachers to create a career that would make what Llewellyn described possible for teenagers in their area. In 2002, the center was renamed North Star: Self-Directed Learning for Teens, and in 2007 the center moved into the historic Russell Street School building in
Hadley, Massachusetts Hadley (, ) is a town in Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 5,325 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. The area around the Hampshire and Mountain Farms ...
. In June 2015, North Star moved to Sunderland due to safety concerns with the Russell Street building.


Program

Using homeschooling as a tool to get out of school, North Star works personally with each teen and their family to create an educational plan that is supported by North Star's staff and teachers. This customized plan consists of a staff adviser, parent conferences, and classes, tutorials, workshops, or tutoring if desired and available. North Star works with every interested family, regardless of ability to pay tuition or fees. Classes, tutorials, and workshops are taught by staff members, volunteers, or college students through work-study. Classes are scheduled Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, and the centre is closed on Wednesdays and weekends. Attendance is non-compulsory and there are no required classes.


The North Star model

Since 2010, several self-directed learning centres have opened in both the United States and Canada, using the approach and program pioneered by North Star. The centres are part of the Liberated Learners network which supports people to create centres based on the North Star model.


References

{{Reflist


External links


The North Star website

Ken Danford: School is Optional
at TEDxAmherstCollege, November 2013 Community building Educational organizations based in the United States Homeschooling in the United States