North Dakota Personalized Learning Network

10/09/2026

Williston. Bismarck. Fargo. Grand Forks. 🎙️

Four ND teachers. One hour. Real talk on how they’re using AI to personalize learning and get students hooked.

📅 Wed, Nov 4 | 4 to 5 PM CST | Free & virtual
🎥 Can’t watch live? Sign up and we’ll send you the recording.

👉

10/07/2026

One thought to close out a full day of learning in West Fargo.

During our learner panel, a Horace junior shared this:

“We dare to explore these endeavors in academics because we feel safe enough to fail.”

That one stuck.

When learners feel safe to explore, take risks, try something different, and figure out who they are….
that’s the kind of learning environment worth building.

Thanks to West Fargo Public Schools for letting us see what that can look like today.

10/06/2026

Personalized learning is a lot easier to understand when you can see it in action.

This morning, educators from across North Dakota stepped inside classrooms at Horace High School and South Elementary to observe, ask questions, and learn directly from West Fargo students and educators.

Site visits give us something a presentation can’t: a chance to see the decisions, routines, relationships, and learning experiences behind the big ideas.

No two classrooms—or communities—have to look the same. The opportunity is to see what’s possible, take an idea home, and make it your own.

A big thank you to West Fargo Public Schools for opening its doors and letting us learn alongside you.

10/06/2026

A room full of North Dakota educators, one shared goal: keep learning from each other.

Today, the ND Personalized Learning Network is in West Fargo for a day of learning alongside educators and leaders from across the state.

We’ll spend the morning getting out into classrooms, seeing personalized learning in action at Horace High School and South Elementary, then come back together this afternoon to dig into what those ideas could look like in our own schools and communities.

The best professional learning doesn’t just tell us what’s possible. It lets us see it, talk about it, and learn from the people doing the work.

More from West Fargo throughout the day!

10/05/2026

We're 1 day away from Building Agency Through Proficiency Scales at the West Fargo District Support Center, and we can't wait to learn alongside you!

Our Learn Coordinator, Tom Klapp, put together a quick masterclass on proficiency scales. It's short, practical, and will help you walk in ready to dig into the good stuff with colleagues instead of starting from square one.

▶ Watch: 5 Minute Masterclass: Proficiency Scales Explained

10/01/2026

"I'm not sure how we could replicate the program, but I can see how we can implement small changes."

That's what one Arizona administrator told us after spending a day at Empower[Ed], Bismarck Public Schools' personalized learning program.

We asked the visiting team what surprised them. Three things stood out:

✅ You don't need the whole model to start. More student voice in one unit. One flexible pathway. One mastery checkpoint. That's a real first step.

✅ Teachers shift too. The role moves from directing to guiding, and that's the part worth preparing for.

✅ Kids can explain their own learning. One student's single project earned credit in both science and English, and they could tell you exactly why.

None of that gets staged for a visit. It gets built over years, one small change at a time.

📖 Read the full recap below

This week, a team of administrators from Arizona spent the day at Empower[Ed], Bismarck Public Schools' personalized, competency-based learning program. Afterward, NDPLN asked what surprised them, what would be hard to replicate, and what they'd tell a colleague back home. Three things stood out eno...

09/24/2026

What does personalized learning actually look like in a North Dakota school? 👀

📍 South Elementary (West Fargo): how years of steady work built a culture where young learners know where they are, where they're headed, and how to own their growth.

📍 Jamestown Public Schools: a district early in its journey, already opening doors through student voice, career-connected learning, and community partnerships.

📍 Building Momentum: a statewide look at how schools across ND are making this work their own.

No two schools started the same way, and that's the point. If you've ever wondered whether this could work in your building, these stories are a great place to start. 🙌

👉 Read the case studies: https://www.fullscalelearning.org/personalized-learning-in-practice-lessons-from-north-dakota-schools/

Want more stories like these in your inbox? Subscribe to the NDPLN newsletter: https://www.ndplnetwork.org/contact

Personalized Learning in Practice: Lessons from North Dakota Schools Across North Dakota, educators are creating learning experiences that are responsive, […]

09/22/2026

Join us Nov 4, 2026 at 4:00 PM CST for Webinar - AI in the Classroom: Real Stories from ND Teachers. Learn how North Dakota educators are using AI to build authentic tasks, personalize learning, and deepen student engagement. Reserve your spot: https://wix.to/rG6Hwiy

09/21/2026

Join us for the Fall NDPLN Workshop @ WFPS — Building Agency Through Proficiency Scales. Educators and leaders from across North Dakota will explore how proficiency scales and shared learning targets help students take ownership of their learning.

Date: October 6, 2026
Time: 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM
Location: West Fargo Central Office (207 Main Ave W rm 251)
Seats capped at 60 — reserve your spot today: https://wix.to/pL9IOB0

09/16/2026

Fall is stacked with ways to learn with NDPLN 🍂

📍 Oct 6 — West Fargo Workshop (2/3 full, grab a seat!)
🔁 Oct 7 — Learning Cycles kick off (topical or bring your own goal)
🎓 Oct 14 — Student Learning Cycle (nominate your learners!)
💡 Nov 4 — AI in the Classroom webinar
❄️ Dec 1 — Winter Workshop (save your spot early)

In person or async, there's a way that fits you. Find yours 👇
https://www.ndplnetwork.org/eventlisting