Last Thursday Page Two looked at hybrid learning in the Mat-Su Borough School District. This week, we explore another flexible option for students: course sharing.
Years ago, a few middle school students in the district crossed the street to attend a geometry class at the neighboring high school — an early example of what is now known as course sharing.
Mat-Su Borough School District Communications Director John Notestine said in an email about course sharing that it has been a standard practice in the District for many years.
So, what is course sharing? Course sharing is when a student takes a course at a different school in the district than their home campus. It is only available to high school students.
A student may take up to three in-person classes per semester at another school in the district. A student who takes four or more classes in a semester at a school is considered full time at that school.
Course sharing is available only when space and class size permit. The option is most commonly used by high school juniors and seniors to take electives or specialized courses not available at their home campus.
Notestine said most course shares are in career and technical education programs, with welding being the most popular. Other examples of shared courses include drafting, auto mechanics, and even accounting.
Until this school year, the District provided transportation for course share students. That service was discontinued due to budget cuts. Families are now responsible for transportation between campuses.
Course sharing is sometimes confused with hybrid learning, but they’re not the same. Hybrid courses blend in-person, at-home, and online instruction. Most hybrid students stay at their home campus, usually Mat-Su Hybrid Learning Academy.
Course sharing has minimal impact on scheduling. Hybrid courses, by comparison, are intentionally structured and staffed to accommodate students from multiple schools.
This year’s enrollment numbers reflect the reach of both models: the district has more than 3,000 course share enrollments and almost 1800 hybrid enrollments.
There is no cost to students for either option. The district allocates average daily membership, or ADM, funding to the school providing the instruction.
In the Mat-Su, both course sharing and hybrid learning support flexible, expanded access to learning for students.
Big Cabbage Radio is committed to keeping you up to date on what’s happening in local education. We stream the school board meetings live on bigcabbageradio.org.
Emily Forstner recaps the meetings the next morning at 7:30 a.m. on In Summary.
And then there’s Inside the District, our monthly interview with Superintendent Dr. Randy Trani and other district leaders. It airs the third Friday of the month at 5 p.m. and is rebroadcast on the following Saturday at noon.
Both In Summary and Inside the District are then added to our podcasts on bigcabbageradio.org.
Downtown Palmer gets spooky tomorrow when the Palmer Chamber’s annual Trick or Treat Street returns from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Join the trick-or-treating fun at local businesses throughout downtown. And be sure to stop by Big Cabbage Radio! Arrggg..Our pirates will be handing out candy.
Judgment and Deliverance a radio play at CHS will air live on Big Cabbage Radio on Oct. 25 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 at the door or listen on the radio.
Page Two articles are written by Emily Forstner and Lee Henrikson. If you have an idea for a Page 2 topic, please email us at page2@radiofreepalmer.org.
Please support Page 2. Donate today.
That’s it for today and the news on Page Two on Thursday, October 23, 2025.