delaware math and it academy PDF
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DELAWARE MATH AND IT ACADEMY Table of Contents School Proposal Overview and Enrollment Projection……………….…………….……Cover Executive Summary…………………………………………………………………………….……Section 1 Founding Group and School Leadership.……………….………………..………….……Section 2 Education Plan……………………………………..………………………….……..………….……Section 3 Performance Management…………………………………………..…………………….……Section 4 Staffing.………………………………………………………….……….……………..………….……Section 5 Governance and Management…………..………………………….……..………..….……Section 6 Parent and Community Involvement………………………………………………….……Section 7 Start-‐up and Operations……………………….………………………………..………….……Section 8 Facilities………..……………………………………..………………………….……..………….……Section 9 Budget and Finance…………....……………………………………..…………………….……Section 10 Charter Management Company and Highly Successful Charter School Operator Supplement….…………………....Section 11 Attachments 1-‐43 School Proposal Overview Provide information for the primary point of contact for your team. This individual will serve as the contact for all communications, interviews, and notices regarding the submitted application. Note! Names and contact information may be shared with external groups by the Delaware Department of Education. The information in this section is not included in narrative page limit. Name of proposed DELAWARE MATH AND IT ACADEMY school Primary contact person SARAH BLAIR Mailing address 6100 FROST PLACE Street/Post Office Box LAUREL, MD 20707 City, State, and Zip Code Phone Day 301 776 2300 Evening E-‐mail address [email protected] Fax 301 776 2322 Name of applicant group or entity DELAWARE EDUCATION FOUNDATION applying Provide the names and roles in the applicant team and current employer of all persons on the Applicant team. Name Role Current Employment Sarah Blair Communication Chesapeake Lighthouse Foundation Murat Unlu Curriculum DuPont Annessa Wilson Public Relations Chesapeake Lighthouse Foundation Shauna Watson Board Member Children and Families First Hakan Orak Curriculum & Instruction Chesapeake Lighthouse Foundation Ali Gurbuz Staffing & Finance PG County Public Schools Page 1 Delaware Department of Education Charter School Application 2014 Provide the name and planned opening year for the proposed school. Proposed School Name Opening Year Geographic Community † DELAWARE MATH & IT 2015-‐2016 Christina & Colonial School ACADEMY districts Zone and Area † Identification of geographic community may be as specific as a neighborhood or as general as the city/town identified for the school location. What is the model or focus of the proposed school (e.g., Arts, College Preparatory, Dual-‐Language, etc.)? STEM FOCUSED Page 2 Delaware Department of Education Charter School Application 2014 Does the school expect to contract or partner with a Charter Management Company or other organization for school management/operation? Yes X No If yes, provide the name of the Charter Management Company or other partner organization if known. CHESAPEAKE LIGHTHOUSE FOUNDATION Note! If the applicant plans to contract with a Charter Management Company, the applicant must complete the Charter Management Company and Highly Successful Charter School Operator Supplement (See Section 2.5) in addition to the application narrative. Proposed Principal/School Leader Information (if known) Name of proposed Principal/School Leader Candidate: ALI GURBUZ Current Employment PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS Daytime phone: Cell phone 410 979 7656 E-‐mail address [email protected] Page 3 Delaware Department of Education Charter School Application 2014 School Enrollment Projection Number of Students Grades Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 2015-‐16 2016-‐17 2017-‐18 2018-‐19 2019-‐20 K 1 2 3 4 5 6 150 100 100 100 100 7 150 150 100 100 100 8 150 150 100 100 9 150 150 100 10 150 150 11 150 12 Total Students 300 400 500 600 700 Classes per grade 6 4 & 6 4 & 6 4 & 6 4 & 6 Average number of students 25 25 25 25 25 per class Page 4 Delaware Department of Education Charter School Application 2014 DMIT ACADEMY – SECTION 1: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1.1 Executive Summary 1. Mission and Vision Statements Mission Statement In partnership with students, parents, and community, Delaware Math and IT Academy will attain educational excellence towards college and quality workforce by providing a world-‐class, rigorous and technology-‐integrated education for middle and high school students with an emphasis on science, information technologies, engineering, and mathematics. Vision Statement Delaware Math and IT Academy will equip students for the competitive job market and the challenges of the next generation’s workplace to serve as assets in diverse fields through unique academic instruction and career preparation. It is Delaware Math and IT Academy’s aspiration to produce students who will be accepted and will thrive in highly respected colleges and universities not only in Delaware, but throughout the nation as well. Students will graduate with a global perspective to cope with the 21st century technological skills and will stand out amongst their peers in an increasingly technology-‐centered world. 2. Educational Need and Target Population a. Identify the target population, grade levels, and school districts(s) that the... Delaware Math and IT (DMIT) Academy will serve 6th through 12th grade students with an interest in STEM education in Christina, Colonial, and surrounding school districts, and will prepare them towards college and STEM careers. DMIT Academy will increase its students’ DCAS and SAT scores, increase graduation rate, decrease dropout rate, and prepare its students for STEM job opportunities by college and workforce readiness. Christina and Colonial School districts were mainly chosen due to current; • low Math and Science DCAS scores in upper grade levels, • low SAT scores and graduation rate, • high drop-‐out rate, • lack of STEM focused middle and high school programs. b. Explain how the proposed charter school, including the grade levels chosen, … There are similarities between the student demographics of the Christina and Colonial districts where the proposed charter school will be located and Prince George’s County where one of the CLF schools, CMIT Academy, is located (See Appendix 8). More than half of the students in both populations are low-‐income. African-‐American students are the largest groups in both locations. Also, Hispanic populations are around 20%. Finally, English learner and Special education student populations are also similar. DMIT Academy will offer STEM-‐focused program by replicating the Chesapeake Lighthouse Foundation’s (CLF) highly successful school model. Rigorous curriculum, data-‐driven instruction, high expectations, technology incorporated math and science environment, free before / after-‐ school and weekend tutoring, numerous student clubs, parent and student partnerships are some of the key features to meet the identified needs of the community and the targeted student population. Section 1 ,Page 1 Delaware Department of Education Charter School Application 2014 DMIT ACADEMY – SECTION 1: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY DMIT Academy will provide intense, individualized instruction in math and information technologies. High school students will earn college credits through DMIT Academy’s proposed middle college program. DMIT Academy, a college prep charter school with a successful STEM curriculum, will be an outstanding choice for parents in underprivileged neighborhood and help students reach their full potential. Therefore, the program will help to improve district’s scores, graduation rates, and college admissions. c. Identify any admissions preferences and how they will be implemented pursuant … Preferences in student admissions will be given to: 1. Siblings of students currently enrolled at the school. 2. Children of persons employed on a permanent basis for at least 30.0 hours per week during the school year by the charter school. 3. Children of a school's founders, so long as they constitute no more than 5% of the school's total student population. Above admission preferences information will be collected and verified through application process. 3. Community Engagement a. Describe how the Applicant has assessed demand and/or solicited support for … Founding group members established a partnership with Chesapeake Lighthouse Foundation (CLF) to assess demand and/or solicit support for the proposed school. First, CLF prepared a website (www.dmitacademy.org) where school model, mission, and vision were clearly made public. CLF also prepared a flyer and entered a contract with Minuteman Press to mail-‐out these flyers to about fifty thousand addresses. Parents of Newcastle County were asked to support the establishment of the DMIT Academy via a support form at the school website. Please see the Attachment 27A for the list of parents supporting DMIT Academy. Moreover, CLF conducted a face-‐to-‐face survey to research the interest of the community in the proposed charter school at various shopping centers in the area. 350 participants who live in Colonial and Christina School Districts were reached out. Almost all of the community members agreed on a charter school with a focus on Math and IT education as well as stating a technology enriched college preparation was a need in these school districts. Please see the Attachment 27B-‐Support Log where 250 of the community members took their time to sign. Founding group members met with numerous elected officials, state officials, members of local community organizations, and charter schools, in order to assess the need for a Math and IT charter school in Christina and Colonial School Districts. The feedback shared with the members was very positive, supportive, and encouraging. 4. Education Plan a. Briefly describe the most important characteristics of the educational … Characteristics of the DMIT Academy educational program are: • STEM focused program aligned with Common Core Standards • Project based learning • Technology incorporated & blended learning Section 1 ,Page 2 Delaware Department of Education Charter School Application 2014 DMIT ACADEMY – SECTION 1: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY • Alternate assessments – Exhibition of STEM skills • Alignment of Students’ STEM track • Data driven and differentiated instruction In the DMIT Academy unique instructional method, the subject of science, mathematics, technology, and engineering curriculum are not separated. By using the STEM program, the school provides the opportunity of using tools of investigation and analysis as an advantage of the active learning process. The classroom with STEM will support experience-‐based learning rather than learning separated facts with independent learning at DMIT Academy. DMIT Academy believes that students` academic achievement improves when community involvement increases in the educational practices. The school will develop effective and committed partnerships with local organizations across the community such as universities, community colleges, hospitals, government agencies, and businesses. CLF school model is a strong evidence of these partnerships such as offering middle college program and organizing college visits to promote college awareness for all students, starting at the middle school level. These community engagement practices always allow students the opportunity to learn from professionals in the business world where they will be engaging in real math, science and engineering through tours and site visits, guest speakers, tutoring, mentoring, job shadowing, and internships. Much as in the CLF school model, DMIT Academy partnerships will spark students’ curiosity and allow them apply their learning to solve real world problems. b. Briefly describe the learning environment. DMIT Academy believes that safety is a priority of the school environment. The school believes early and immediate intervention is important to head of future problems. Thus, the school will use research based positive behavior intervention system to create safe and orderly learning environment for all students. Instructional design will be based on rigorous learning activities through technology integration and differentiated instruction. In order to provide a learning experience that prepares students for the demands of the job market, DMIT Academy will use technology integrated educational tools such as Smart Boards, tablet PCs, laptop computers, Chrome books, e-‐readers, and wireless internet that engage students in the learning activities. c. Briefly describe the plan to improve student learning for all students, … DMIT Academy will select and modify resources according to students` needs per pre/post assessment and learning goals with research based educational practices; the school administration will ensure that teachers response to the students’ readiness, interests, and learning styles. DMIT Academy will have a dynamic and innovative curriculum, an effective response to data driven instruction to meet the learners` needs. “At-‐risk” students struggle with learning due to gaps in their literacy and math skills. Gifted students may lose interest if the material is too easy. In order to meet the needs of each student, the DMIT Academy will use blended learning – the coordinated use of online and computer-‐based learning to supplement classroom instruction, enhancing student engagement and increasing the time that students spend interacting with content materials. Special educators and ELL teachers will continuously support the students with special needs by Section 1 ,Page 3 Delaware Department of Education Charter School Application 2014 DMIT ACADEMY – SECTION 1: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY collaborating with the general education teachers. In order to overcome with challenges of educating students with different needs, DMIT Academy will implement the following strategies: • Intervention and enrichment classes embedded in student schedule • Data driven and differentiated instruction via diagnostic assessment • School culture that drives achievement through blended learning • Intentional teaching of study and organizational skills • Before/after school and Saturday tutoring • Homework infrastructure d. Briefly describe how the school will use assessment to improve student learning. DMIT Academy will use MAP testing (Measures of Academic Progress) by Northwest Evaluation Association and quarterly benchmarks in State-‐tested subject areas to assess student’s abilities, growth, and classroom instruction. With analysis of detailed student data, DMIT Academy staff will determine weaknesses and strengths of each student, decide what curriculum will challenge students and which standards need to be retaught, and continuously use the data to modify pacing guides and design lesson plans. School wide diagnostic tests, benchmarks, end of the year tests will be used to evaluate effectiveness of the school programs and create steps of the data based decision making process to improve student learning. 5. Leadership and Governance a. Provide an overview of the school’s governance and management … DMIT Academy Governing Board has initially five members. After the approval of the charter, two more board members (a teacher and a parent from school) will join to the governing board team. DMIT Academy Governing Board will be held directly accountable to and for the proposed school and will be the sole governing body entered into the charter contractual agreement with Delaware State Department of Education. The founding board members entered a partnership with Chesapeake Lighthouse Foundation (CLF), a charter school management organization, in and after application process to replicate CLF school model. CLF is providing support during this process and will provide academic and operational services during and after the school opening. A Principal will be hired with authority and responsibility for day-‐to-‐day operations of the school, including but not limited to: hiring and firing school staff, implementing the school’s curriculum, and creating the school’s annual budget (subject to board approval). Board members will not interfere with daily operation of the school. b. Highlight the strengths of the leadership team and the proposed governing board. CLF is a highly successful charter operator in Maryland and has a unique and replicable STEM focus charter school model. Prince Georges County in Maryland decided to replicate CLF STEM focus model in 2013 with federal RTTT grant. The proposed Governing Board has three local teachers, one with PhD in Education and the other two with Delaware State certification. One of community members has PhD degree in Section 1 ,Page 4 Delaware Department of Education Charter School Application 2014 DMIT ACADEMY – SECTION 1: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Chemistry and the other is a PhD Candidate in Economics. All of the board members are very involved in education and have been serving to the community for many years. c. Explain how the governance and management structures will provide for … CLF will advise and provide services when necessary in the following areas; human resources, professional development, strategic planning, curriculum development, instructional strategies and testing, extra-‐curricular activity design, technology support, facility management, and purchasing services. With the experience CLF is bringing to the table, the governance and management structures will provide for stable, effective governance and leadership throughout the five-‐year charter term and thus fulfill the school’s mission and vision. 6. Business Plan a. Provide a brief overview of the business plan that includes facilities, … CLF will be in charge of finding facilities, managing financials, communicating with prospective partners, and accessing to financial resources on behalf of DMIT Academy. Upon the approval of charter, CLF will present a business plan to DMIT Academy. DMIT Academy Governing Board will be the only and the final authority to approve the plan. Section 1 ,Page 5 Delaware Department of Education Charter School Application 2014
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