RSA Curriculum

Personalized Online Curriculum at Renner Secondary Academy

At Renner Secondary Academy (RSA), we use online courses specifically designed to meet the individual needs of our students. Currently, RSA utilizes Acellus for a wide range of core subjects and Denison Math for targeted mathematics instruction, both of which provide adaptive, flexible, and multimodal learning experiences that support students with diverse learning styles and learning differences.

Even with these online courses, our dedicated RSA teachers provide ongoing support and guidance, helping students stay on track, master challenging concepts, and fully benefit from the curriculum. As the needs of our students evolve, RSA remains committed to selecting additional online curricula that ensure every student has access to the instruction, support, and resources they need to succeed academically and reach their graduation and post-secondary goals.

How the Acellus Online Curriculum Meets the Needs of Students with Learning Differences

Renner Secondary Academy chooses the Acellus online curriculum because it is specifically designed to support diverse learners and students with learning differences. Rather than a one‑size‑fits‑all approach, Acellus uses adaptive, research‑based instructional technology that helps students succeed academically while honoring how they learn best.

• Personalized pacing and mastery focus
Acellus allows students to move through lessons at a pace that matches their needs — slowing down to build mastery where learning is difficult and accelerating where they excel. This prevents students from feeling pressured or overwhelmed by a traditional classroom pace.

• Builds confidence and motivation
Acellus balances academic rigor with supportive learning structures that encourage persistence and celebrate progress. When students experience success, their academic confidence grows — a critical factor for learners who may have struggled in traditional settings.

• Flexible and supportive for hybrid environments
Because Acellus can be accessed from home or school and is structured for flexibility, it integrates seamlessly with RSA’s hybrid model. Students benefit from professional online lessons while still receiving in‑person guidance and academic coaching from RSA instructors.

Together with RSA’s in‑person instruction, academic support, and college/career readiness guidance, the Acellus online curriculum provides a powerful foundation for students with learning differences to reach graduation goals and thrive academically.

  

Here’s why Acellus works well for students with learning differences:

• Adaptive support built into the platform
With tools like Vectored Instruction, Acellus identifies gaps in understanding and delivers corrective instruction immediately. This ensures that students don’t just move on after errors — they receive targeted support that addresses foundational gaps in real time.

• Multimodal instruction
Content is delivered through engaging videos, interactive activities, and assessments, appealing to visual, auditory, and kinetic learners. This variety helps students process information in ways that feel natural and accessible to them.

• Designed for differentiated learning needs
The curriculum supports students with learning differences by allowing instruction to be customized — ensuring that each student can access, engage with, and master content at a level appropriate to their learning profile. This mirrors evidence‑based differentiated instruction strategies shown to help diverse learners succeed.

How the Denison Online Curriculum Supports Students with Learning Differences

The Denison online curriculum (especially Denison Algebra) is designed to meet the needs of students who learn differently by offering clear, brain‑friendly instruction and structured support that helps students build confidence and mastery — even if they’ve struggled with math in the past.

Key ways Denison supports learners with learning differences:

  • Thoughtful Instructional Design
    Denison courses are created with step‑by‑step video lessons that walk students through each concept as the instructor works through problems in real time. This helps students who struggle with abstract or traditional textbook‑only formats by giving them a synchronous learning experience they can replay as needed.
  • Confidence‑Building and Engagement
    The curriculum is structured to foster retention and reduce math anxiety by breaking lessons into approachable segments and reinforcing understanding before moving on. This approach helps students feel successful rather than overwhelmed — a big benefit for learners with ADHD, dyslexia, or similar challenges.
  • Support for Struggling Learners
    Denison offers “Success” versions of core courses that include shorter lessons and assignments with extra review. These are especially helpful for students who learn slower, lose focus easily, or benefit from additional processing time.
  • Multi‑Tool Learning Components
    Denison combines videos, textbooks, solutions manuals, and pacing guides, giving students multiple ways to access and engage with the material. For students with learning differences, this multimodal format provides reinforcement through visual, auditory, and hands‑on practice.
  • Works Well Within Hybrid Models
    While Denison Algebra is primarily a math curriculum, its approach aligns well with RSA’s hybrid instructional model: students can complete these organized online lessons independently or under teacher supervision, supported by RSA academic coaching and in‑person instruction.