But many students were accelerated before they were ready, said Erick Lang, an assistant superintendent. The pressure had families hiring private tutors for stu

But many students were accelerated before they were ready, said Erick Lang, an assistant superintendent. The pressure had families hiring private tutors for students who were falling behind and high school math instructors wasting time reteaching basic material. I think a lot of ground could be made up with online education outside of the classroom. With the popularity of MOOCs and digital textbooks on tablets, students could learn the basics using self-directed online study, and cover the more advanced topics in class. The challenge with computer-based learning is largely the same one brought up by these parents - that the same material is being taught to each student, regardless of ability. I think once you figure out how to tailor the lesson to each student, online learning could be a worthwhile supplement to classroom learning.