The Learning Community International has been a leader in high-quality, strength-based individualized empowerment learning for over a quarter-century.

Students enjoy a wide degree of freedom to pursue their unique educational and career goals. Each student's curriculum is tailored to his or her goals, interests and needs — a "my size fits me" learning program.

The Learning Community International is an accredited private school serving families and educational institutions across the United States and worldwide. No other organization delivers our level of personalized service, guidance and program flexibility.

Individualized Empowerment Learning Process

TLCI’s strength-based, K-12 Individualized Empowerment Learning™ program is designed to nurture the growth of independent thinkers and doers who develop the skills needed to direct their own lives and become leaders in their communities. It is essential for success in a rapidly changing world, where good is just not good enough.

Empowerment is the process of increasing an individual's ability to make choices, and to transform those choices into desired actions and results.  Learners develop confidence as they gain more control over their lives.

The pillars of TLCI’s Individualized Empowerment Learning™ program include:

Collaboration. Successful independent learners are skilled at working closely with peers and adult mentors. Students are expected to participate in the creation and maintenance of their individualized Learning Plan (ILP) and communicate with their consultant, parents and adult mentor(s) on a regular basis throughout the year.

Reflective learning. A master skill, "reflective learning" transforms studies from low-level data collection into knowledge and understanding. Reflective learning is metacognitive, the mental process by which one is able to know what one knows.  This provides an opportunity for the individual to self-correct.

Objective self-evaluation. This important skill is crucial for growing self-aware independent thinkers who have the ability to critically assess their progress.  These learners can make rapid and effective changes in their study habits, time management, and other aspects of their program to achieve their goals.

Demonstration of Learning. The core of TLCI’s review process is our comprehensive “stand and deliver” learner evaluation. Reviews give learners the opportunity to demonstrate progress and defend research projects and conclusions. Learner will also illustrate how their studies are aligned with their short- and long-terms goals, and present all physical evidence of achievement — including study records, materials used, and the accumulated portfolio.

Self-correction. The empowerment learning process also provides an opportunity for the individual to self-correct. Through a collaborative process with the TLCI consultant, parent and other adult mentors, learners review their records, performance, and progress to correct any deficiencies in the ILP. Achieving one’s goals requires consistent reflection to uncover the large and small changes needed to move forward successfully.

Empowerment learning is incorporated in all parts of TLCI’s program, including recordkeeping, reviews, workshops, publications, seminars, and webinars. Learners have the opportunity to receive training in a variety of thinking processes, including Theory of Constraints and Six Thinking Hats. These deepen understanding and provide insights into the learning process.

Reflective learning, self-evaluation, and self-correction are rapidly becoming standard practices in colleges and universities, the military, and businesses. We are committed to these processes because these skills are necessary for an individual’s success.

TLCI’s strength-based, K-12 Individualized Empowerment Learning™ program creates a virtuous cycle of continuous improvement, success, and joy of learning.

Individualized Empowerment Learning Program

TLCI’s strength-based, K-12 Individualized Empowerment Learning™ program is designed to nurture powerful, knowledgeable, independent thinkers and doers who will gain the skills necessary to direct their own lives and successfully achieve their goals.

Upon enrollment, the student in collaboration with the parent explores the opportunities offered by our individualized learning program by completing TLCI’s Starting The Journey — Steps To Empowerment Learning. Our mission of learner empowerment starts in kindergarten and is in full bloom by high school, when young adults are encouraged to be an equal partner in the development and success of their program of studies.

Each family is assigned a professional consultant directing the development of an Individualized Learning Plan (ILP). Through scheduled home visits, reviews, conferences and contact, the consultant directs the development and implementation of an ILP for each enrolled child. The ILP is designed with the learners' interests and strengths in mind and meets all state, national and TLCI educational requirements.

Elementary School—Building the Foundation

Just as no two children are the same in ability, motivation, and interests, an effective Individualized Learning Plan requires that the right level and mixture of directed guidance, scheduled support and curricula resources be matched to the unique needs and goals of each learner.

Young children are natural learners who thrive in an environment aligned with their learning styles. Multi-sensory experiences and “scope for the imagination” are critical. An elementary child’s ILP might include trips to museums, parks and cultural sites, hands-on activities such as kitchen-sink science, and workbooks for core studies such as language arts and arithmetic.

Consultants work closely with parents to guide and support successful implementation of the ILP. The consultants invite learners to interact with them as appropriate to each child's age and inclination.

Middle School—Managing the Transformation

In preparation for adulthood, adolescents desire more control over their own lives and are eager to accept more responsibility. The Individualized Learning Plan of middle-school adolescents reflects the rapid developmental changes in intellectual ability, interests, and motivation. This period in the lives of children includes a natural inclination toward novelty and an excitement for ideas. Many middle-school learners look for opportunities to be creative and want to be active in extracurricular activities — from sports to volunteer projects.

The TLCI consultant works with families to create an Individualized Learning Plan for middle-school learners that reflects these developmental changes. Through the collaborative process with their parents and the guided support and higher expectations provided by the consultant, teens find satisfaction and empowerment as they begin to accept increasing responsibility for their lives and learning.

The middle school ILP may include daily use of an electronic K-12 curriculum; art, music or other formal subject instruction; organized sports; volunteer opportunities; and self-designed studies and projects. The adolescent learner also is introduced to "empowerment learning" elements in preparation for the greater responsibilities of high school, including reflective learning, objective self-evaluation, and critical thinking tools.

High School—Rise of the Empowered Learner

Our mission of learner empowerment comes to fruition in high school, where learners are encouraged and guided to be an equal partner in the development and success of their high school plan. At this stage of their development, adolescents are transforming into young adults, becoming more goal-oriented, independent, responsible, and capable of sustained independent study.

Collaborating with the parent, the process begins with the learner completing a comprehensive exploratory exercise designed to gather information about interests, learning styles, strengths, and performance skills.  The consultant uses this information provided by the learner to direct the development of goals, a four-year plan, the learner’s ILP and provide guidance for exploring college and career options.

The ILP of the high-school learner includes reflective learning, objective self-evaluation, and critical thinking tools as part of the program. Learners are expected to keep consistent study records, maintain an organized portfolio of their work, submit scheduled documentation, and participate in conferences and reviews with their consultant, parent and adult mentor(s).

Depending on the high-school learner’s short and long-term goals, the content, structure and process of the ILP can vary significantly. An ILP may be limited to a traditional core curriculum supplemented with electives, or expand dramatically to include TLCI guided, self-designed studies, learning projects, travel, internships and work-study experiences supported by extensive library resources.

Reviews are a critical component of TLCI’s Individualized Empowerment Learning™ program.  They offer learners the opportunity to demonstrate their command of their ILP, discuss knowledge gained, articulate their progress, illustrate how their studies are aligned with their short- and long-terms goals, and provide a plan for changes or improvements.

College & Career

TLCI’s Individualized Empowerment Learning™ sets the standard for 21^st century learning unmatched by any other program. Our graduates have been admitted to Ivy League colleges, technical and arts schools, state universities, every military academy, and universities outside the U.S.

Through participation in TLCI’s Individualized Empowerment Learning™ program, our graduates have developed the skills to reach for their highest potential as individuals.

TLCI actively communicates our unique program to universities, employers and other institutions, increasing the likelihood of admissions, scholarships and employment.

Personalized, Comprehensive Service & Support

To ensure a high level of success, TLCI provides timely and comprehensive guidance, support and supervision throughout the service year, tailoring the schedule to best meet your child’s needs. In addition to recommending curricula resources, assisting you with required recordkeeping, and helping with documentation, your consultant is also accessible via email, telephone or Skype throughout the service year to answer questions and offer support when requested or needed. Many families develop a close relationship with their consultants.

For families in need of additional support beyond the program service hours, TLCI offers service packages that provide additional hours of guidance and direction. These are tailored to the specific requirements of your family.

Enrollment includes basic services and materials to support the learning program. For instance:

• discounts for resources and curriculums
• group events, professional seminars and webinars
• e-groups
• the Performing and Visual Arts Fair
• opportunities for children to display projects in science, math and other subjects.

TLCI’s service year extends from September 1 through May, with final review visits and conferences taking place in June.

Program & Curricula Resources

TLCI’s Individualized Empowerment Learning™ program does not rely on the application of any particular curriculum or educational materials. Educational resources are selected based on the specific needs, goals and learning styles the student. Through our expanding partnerships with resource and curriculum providers, TLCI aims to offer educational resources at discount prices whenever possible.

Enrollment includes Discovery Education, the No. 1 provider of digital services to U.S. schools. TLCI provides access to Discovery’s dynamic curricular resources, thousands of videos, comprehensive assessment services, and customized professional development plans — supplemented by ongoing support from TLCI to leverage and improve student achievement.

To leverage Discovery’s educational videos, TLCI has partnered with eTAP to offer its K-12 electronic, U.S. standards-based curriculum at significant savings. Students can access thousands of streaming Discovery videos as well as thousands of additional instructional videos, strategically embedded in lessons throughout the eTAP curriculum.

Our consultants also have a growing list of free or inexpensive resources to support any ILP.

Enrollment & Placement

Enrollment begins with our comprehensive face-to-face pre-enrollment interview designed to answer all your questions and ensure that TLCI’s individualized program is a good match for the needs of your children.

TLCI services, requirements, and placement in the appropriate support level are discussed during the pre-enrollment interview.  The enrollment intake process continues at the first Start Up meeting or conference, when your personal TLCI consultant will determine which additional service packages or curriculum, if any, will be required as a condition of enrollment.

Click pre-enrollment interview for more information about TLCI’s interview process and to enroll your children in our Empowerment Learning™ program. 

Click here to start the enrollment process.