Map Academy’s model was designed with flexibility built-in, making it ideal for students who can’t attend school on a traditional schedule — including those who are working full-time to support themselves and their families, like Sophia. Sophia struggled with mental health and family issues, causing instability that disrupted her education. Her experience at her last school was challenging, and she wasn’t getting the support she needed to stay engaged, so she dropped out. Then, she found her way to Map.

Map’s flexible schedule allows her to keep her job as a full-time certified nursing assistant while pursuing her high school diploma. Sophia worked with Map social worker Mike Balaschi, who helped establish boundaries around academic expectations while still allowing Sophia the accommodations she needed to balance work, life, and school.

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Education Disruption is a podcast by Rachel Babcock and Josh Charpentier, founders of Map Academy — a free, public charter high school open to all Massachusetts students.

More about Map Academy: themapacademy.org

Follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/themapacademy

This podcast is a Hairpin production: hairpin.org