Dalton Plan - American Education

A system of individualized instruction in which the student helps design his or her program of study and “signs a contract” pledging to complete the program within a specific time period. Developed in 1920 by Helen Parkhurst at Dalton High School, Dalton, Massachusetts, study contracts are now widely used in intermediate, or middle, schools to help students develop the self-discipline needed for the transition from teacher-directed elementary schoolwork to self-directed high school and college studies. Although the Dalton Plan can take many forms, the basic student contract usually covers the work the student will be required to complete during one month, including daily assignments. The student is expected to keep a careful chart of his or her progress.