Lou Anne Sparks, director of alternative learning, reported progress for the Panther Learning Center (PLC) during the Jan. 13 Derby Board of Education meeting, citing measurable gains in academics and behavior since the program’s 2021 start.

Sparks said the average GPA for PLC students rose from 1.04 in August to 1.64 in December; average credits per student increased from 5.77 to 13.88 over the same period. She also reported a reduction in discipline referrals — from an August average of 5.8 referrals per student to 1.26 in December.

Attendance remains a challenge. Sparks said the program’s average daily attendance rose from 73% to 79% but noted that many PLC students still miss substantial amounts of school time. "We work really hard to move that needle," she told the board.

Sparks described several supports bolstering PLC success: increased blended enrollment options, concurrent college courses for some students, partnerships for internships, and community mental-health referrals through Comcare’s MHIT program. She also described training to manage aggressive behavior — the board was told more than 300 staff have received training, and the program aims for 100% of critical response team staff trained by May.

Board members praised the program changes and asked staff to identify budget priorities that would allow the district to expand capacity while preserving the PLC’s small-group structure that staff say contributes to student gains.

Sparks said the PLC served roughly 89 students last year and that the district continues to refine the model as demand grows.