Case Study: Wicomico County scales rigorous distance learning with Newsela

How Wicomico County Used Flexible Content to Scale Rigor During Distance Learning

Wicomico County faced significant challenges in scaling rigorous and sustainable distance learning for its 14,889 students. The district, led by supervisors Dr. Brian Raygor and Dr. Renee Hall, had to manage a rapid shift to remote operations, which involved supervising numerous lesson plans, overcoming major tech access hurdles for students, and preparing teachers for a volatile school year.

The solution was implementing Newsela for its timely, flexible, and accessible content. Newsela provided relevant, engaging articles that could be differentiated for various reading levels and used for both synchronous and asynchronous instruction, whether virtual or in print. The district expanded its Newsela subscription to all schools, and teachers integrated the content directly into their curriculum, ensuring aligned, high-quality instruction could continue seamlessly regardless of the learning environment.

Wicomico County

Brian Raygor

Supervisor