With more than 850 students, 30 percent of whom are below grade-level, Saluda Trail Middle School had a culture of project –based learning. The problem was the classrooms didn’t support the teaching methods. Furniture was outdated, students were fixed in their seats and teachers lacked the digital and analogue tools to share information. Then the school applied for and received a Steelcase Active Learning Center Grant.

The grant program brought flexible learning tools to the school, including mobile furniture, interactive white boards and intentionally designed teacher stations. Today, the Rock Hill, South Carolina based school boasts some of the highest student engagement levels and increasing test scores.

The Active Learning classroom brought new life to the school, engaging students in the classroom experience and making them excited about learning and their potential.

Watch the video below to hear from 7th grade teacher Julie Marshall on how a new Active Learning classroom transformed her teaching and the students’ learning experience.

The application period for Cycle 4 of the ALC Grant begins on Friday, December 1, 2017 and will remain open until Friday, February 2, 2018.