Apple Glen Elementary is the first school in Arkansas to be recognized as a Visible Learning School. In 2022, Apple Glen was awarded the Associate Level Award. In 2023, Apple Glen advanced that recognition when it was named a Partner Level Visible Learning School. Currently, there are about 12 schools in the United States and 20 schools globally that can boast this prestigious honor.

The Partner School Award demonstrates a school has completed deeper learning and made a continued commitment to Visible Learning principles. The methodology focuses on teachers educating their students about what they will be learning, how to learn and how to properly assess progress. Students are empowered to lead their own learning.

Peer Reviewed Research on Visible Learning

The learning intentions and success criteria are reviewed several times during a lesson and students are expected to reflect on the success criteria to determine whether or not they believe that they have reached the appropriate level of mastery. For example, an English teacher has students respond to a prompt in writing before they leave class each day. The prompt requires that students reflect on the success criterion/a for the day. On their way out the door, students place their “exit slip” in one of four boxes, labeled as follows:

• I am just learning and I need more help. 

• I’m almost there and I need more practice. 

• I own it and can work independently. 

• I’m a pro and I can help others.   

Source: The Long View of Visible Learning’s Impact Douglas Fisher * and Nancy Frey Department of Educational Leadership, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182, USA;