Memo:

            To:       Edison College Board of Trustees

            From: Educational Endeavors, Inc.

            Date:   April 24, 2008

            Re:      Proposal for a Charter School

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The enclosed proposal is in response to your RFP which was published in the Chronicle of Higher Education on March 5, 2008. We are a team of professional educators with over 30 years of classroom and administrative experience. We have created charter schools in six states and have achieved a 90 percent pass rate on all state mandated tests. We feel confident you will find our proposal both innovative and educationally sound. If you have any questions, please contact us at Ospreyacademy.com or call 239-987-9899. We will be available for a formal presentation at your convenience.

Osprey Educational Charter Academy   

Professor Bunting

Introduction to Education

Kelly, Whitney, and Chelsie

Osprey Educational Charter Academy Proposal

Introduction

The purpose of this proposal is to introduce the Osprey Educational Charter Academy as a possible charter school for Edison College.  The proposal that follows includes the following information:

·        Mission Statement for Osprey Educational Charter Academy

·        School Objectives

·        Student and Staff Composition

·        Curriculum

·        Philosophy

·        Teaching Methods

·        Assessment

·        Organization

·        Technology

·        Facilities and Equipment

·        Community Partnerships

Mission Statement:

The philosophy of Osprey Educational Charter Academy focuses on     :

Motivating our students to do their absolute best, while having fun with their education. The goal of this school is to teach children through a structured curriculum that also gives children the ability to voice their opinion on how they want to learn and what they want to learn in any given subject.

Osprey Educational Charter Academy is a school of choice open to students grades three through five. The academy actively seeks partnerships with Edison University, the parents, the social services, and the businesses in Lee County.

School Objectives:

• To create an environment in which all cultures and ethnic backgrounds feel valued and respected
• To involve students, teachers, parents, and administrators participation in selection of topic of study
• To integrate all curriculum areas of study into a theme, in order that knowledge and skills acquired in one course are applied in others
• To provide all students with access to advanced technology, multimedia, and 2-way interactive video as tools for learning
• To provide a wide variety of offerings in the unified arts, including foreign language, art, instrumental music (strings) as well as vocal music
• To involve students in extra curricular activities, such as student council, clubs, intramurals, year books, newspapers, dance
• To implement specific policies of discipline relating to drugs and students safety

Student and Staff Composition:

Staff resources and support are broken down into 3 categories as listed below:

Administrative:          (1) Principal

                                    (2) Vice Principals

                                    (2) Clerical Administrative Assistants

                                    (1) Technology Administrator

                                    (1) Information Specialist

Educators:                 (9) Certified Educators – covering core subjects

                                    (6) Certified Enrichment Educators

(2) Arts

(2) Music

(2) Physical Education

(9) Intern/Teachers Aides to assist the core educators on a daily schedule.

This will enable us to have three classes of twenty five students in each grade level.  With the inclusion of aides in each classroom, all ability levels will be able to remain together and have their specific needs addressed.                           

Curriculum:

Grades 3-5 will follow the essentialist curriculum sequence, which emphasizes critical thinking, writing, and reading a wide selection of source materials in the following strands:

• Language arts (reading, grammar, writing), including foreign languages; the Foreign Language Program (Spanish) will utilize texts

and teacher resource materials recommended by the District, possibly those included in the current District pilot programs, with an emphasis on recommended strategies following the creation of Individualized

Student Plans

• American civilization (including African-American and Latino studies)

• World civilization

• Geography (which is folded into the American and world civilization strands)

• Fine arts (music and visual arts)

• Mathematics

• Life and physical sciences

• Physical education

Philosophy

The philosophy of this institution is structured around both essentialism and progressivism. Our curriculum is meant to “train the mind and promote reasoning.” (Sadker, 2008) This institution strives to help students make lasting relationships with their peers and develop social skills that help them learn to work with others. We strive to teach our students about past history as well as the present and promote individuals ready to make their mark on the world.

Teaching Methods

• Allocated Time: set out for each subject to better transition from one subject to another.
• Engaged Time: gives students time to spend on a subject whether it be reading a book or answering questions to a topic.
• Direct Teaching: teachers briefly review what was taught the day before to refresh the memory of the students and get them on the right track as the day starts. Teachers explain in depth the new material to be learned and the purpose of teaching such topics. Teachers also encourage questions and give answers to any question asked.
• Cooperative Learning: students spend a great amount of time working together in small groups, learning from each other and working together to reach answers.

Assessment

• FCAT
• A pop quiz given at the end of every new set of material, not to count for much, ultimately a gage to determine whether or not students understand material.
• “Ask students to reflect on their work to encourage them and help them learn from each other.” (Sadker, 2008)
• Teachers call on students to test their knowledge on a particular subject, and encourage other students to assist them in finding the answers.

Organization

We at Osprey Educational Academy believe in heterogeneous classrooms, where the students can benefit from one another as well as our certified Educators.  Our classrooms will offer a safe environment where learning can be key and students can feel comfortable to share.  We also have an aid in every classroom to give an extra amount of help to students along with the teacher.

Technology

Computers are equipped with learning based games in math, science and reading.  These games will assist in enforcing drill and practice to ensure that students understand material, while still having fun.  “Promote higher order thinking by using simulations, problem based learning, internet research, and student authoring programs.” (Sadker, 2008)

Computers will be used to create a line of communication between teacher and parents via email and classroom based websites.  Classroom computers can also save valuable learning time by streamlining administrative tasks such as attendance, grades, etc. Online training can be made to strengthen teacher performance with availability to forums and research to enable the educator to customize lesson plans to reach all ability levels.

Faculties and Equipment:

The school facilities will include classrooms, music room, auditorium, gymnasium, cafeteria, Library/Media Center, and outside recreation areas with; playground, basketball courts, tennis courts, soccer field and track.

·        9 classrooms

·        Large main office with individual offices for principal and 2 vice principals

·        2 art classrooms

·        1 large gym, split down the middle for each class (the divider can be pulled back in necessary)

·        2 music classrooms on adjacent ends of the school as to not disrupt one another with their music

·        Welcome desk in main office with sign in/sign out sheet for tardy or late students

·        Desks behind welcome desk for secretaries

·        Cafeteria that seats up to 3 classes at a time so that there is a particular lunch schedule for each grade level

·        Large, well equipped library

·        Computer lab in library

·        Large playground with 2 swing sets, tire pyramid, playground set with bridge, slide, monkey bars, zip slide, and fire pole

 Community Partnerships

Osprey Educational Academy will work closely with it’s Parent/Educator community to reach out to the business community in our area to support our school and it’s students both in person and financially.  This devotion to community instilled at a young age will pay back the community in the future. 

Our local boosters are:

            ABC Supermarket

            Doug Heap Car Dealership

            Grass & Greens Lawn Maintenance

            Big Brothers & Big Sisters of America

            Adult Learning Center

            Future Educators of America

            Boys & Girls Club of America

Recommendation:

It is requested that the Edison College Board of Trustees designate Osprey Educational Academy as a charter school in the Lee County School District operating under the policies of the Board of Education.