We Can Do It! An MSG and Proxy Hour Success Story from Blaine Learning Lab

Significant MSG and proxy hour increases

At the 2025 MN Digital Learning Institute (recorded sessions linked here), attendees learned that in the past year, BurlingtonEnglish was the #1 most commonly used curriculum generating student proxy hours in the state of Minnesota, with over 60,000 proxy hours for 2024-2025. Of the programs across the state using BE, Blaine Learning Lab students generated the most proxy hours, with a record of over 12,000 proxy hours from BE for the 2024-2025 year! How did they do it? In a recent interview with Meagan Hymes, Metro North Adult Education Supervisor, we unpacked what was working for her site to generate such high usage.

Blaine Learning Lab began using BurlingtonEnglish in 2021, and a dig into the data shows significant increases of MSG’s and BE proxy hours over the past 4 years. The data is included at the bottom of the article.

Note: the current (2025-2026) state MSG target is 36.8%.

How were these gains made?

How did Blaine Learning Lab (BLL) students make such increases of MSG’s and proxy hours? A dive into BLL’s program practices gives insight.

“Students rise to your expectations,” said Meagan Hymes. “When our attendance policy was 50%, students met that. Now that it is 80%, students meet that.”

Rather than starting from a place of deficit, assuming that students cannot attend class 80% of the time, BLL staff provide ample supports and clear expectations, which hold the students and themselves to a high standard.

When first implementing the 80% attendance policy, there was some concern from staff that students would quit attending entirely and that classes would be empty, but that has not been true; like many lessons we have learned over the past several years, they found that their students COULD do this if given enough support. In addition to the 80% attendance policy, a 100% distance learning policy was implemented.

BLL 80% Attendance Policy and 100% Distance Learning Policy notes

• When implementing any new policy, ensure the expectations are clear from the beginning.
• Meet individually with students to sign a learning contract and discuss their learning goals, as well as what it will take to be successful meeting those goals. Review the plans monthly with the students.
• It is natural that all students cannot meet these standards all of the time.
• Students who cannot meet the policy get put on probation, but rather than being punitive, this is a time for teachers to meet with the student to provide extra support and discuss options for taking a break or moving forward. “Probation and exits are permission, not punitive. It is permission to take time for yourself, deal with what you need to, and return when you are ready.”
• After taking a break from attending class, re-enrolling students conference with staff to create a plan for their attendance. During this time, staff identify barriers, and offer solutions such as independent learning.
• Each month, all teachers discuss these expectations with their classes, and each teacher has their own version. The beginning of each month has a calendar lesson day, and they bring in numeracy to break down what 80% attendance will look like for the month, and how many minutes they should do independent practice in BE each day.
  • Some teachers also show the class BE’s Progress component for classwide accountability and encouragement.
• For students to be successful in language learning, it takes serious commitment. If a student isn’t able to meet the attendance expectations, staff help the student find another program.
• Using a blended curriculum means that if students miss a lesson in class, they can still do the independent student portion at home so as not to fall behind their classmates.
• “The brain needs building blocks. In classes, teachers scaffold and do prior knowledge checks, both with language learning and with attendance expectations.”
• In hyflex classes, cameras are required to be on.
• Conferences with students are held for 2 days, 3x a year, online and in person. During these conferences, staff learn about barriers students have, and check in on their goals and big picture.

Gains all around

When the attendance policy was at 50%, the evening students were struggling to make MSG’s, but they rose significantly after implementing the 80% attendance policy.

Student satisfaction also rose, and Meagan regularly interviews students for their feedback. Overall, students are very satisfied, and can tell they are making improvements to their English.

Teacher satisfaction also grew, due to having classes with less fluctuation—though they still have to deal with rolling enrollment. Meagan said, “Teacher burnout in ABE is real. Our policy is for the students, and also for the teachers. There will always be remediation and scaffolding, and teaching hyflex is HARD. Regular student attendance and the resulting student success also gives job satisfaction.”

Questions about Blaine Learning Lab? Email Meagan Hymes: [email protected]

Questions about BurlingtonEnglish? Email JennaRose Dahl: [email protected]