Albany Preparatory Charter School will provide Albany's middle school students a quality alternative to the district's middle schools and an education that enables them to be successfully admitted to high schools of choice, gives them necessary academic foundation to graduate high school with honors, and allows them to fully participate in our nation's democracy and the global community

Three goals form the core of Albany Prep's mission:

1. Achieve academic excellence: Albany Prep will accelerate the learning and academic skills of students so that they will achieve mastery of the skills necessary for success in high school, college, and life - especially reading, writing, math, and critical thinking.
2. Become active, valued citizens: Albany Prep will develop students who take responsibility for themselves, their school, their community, their country, and their role in the global community by learning to think critically about issues that affect them and by making participation in society while at school a regular activity.
3. Effectively apply knowledge: Albany Prep will develop students that are able to apply what they have learned creatively in a range of circumstances and new situations, drawing insightful conclusions and offering unique perspectives on problems.

INTRODUCTION

A DESIGN OF QUALITY

ALBANY PREP'S EDUCATIONAL PLAN DETAILED

• Major Academic Areas of Study
• Language Arts
• Mathematics
• History & Geography
• The Sciences
• The Arts
• Languages Other Than English
• Physical Education

• Other Academic Activities and Requirements
• Personal Project
• Community and Service
• Technology

• Areas of Interaction & Academic Content Areas Together

• Success of Curricular Components
• Backword Design Scope & Sequence
• Profile Approach to Writing
• Write Source
• Singapore
• History Alive
• FOSS Science Program

INTRODUCTION

With high expectations for academic achievement, Albany Prep is designed to produce smart, mature young people who can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with students locally, nationally, and internationally. Our school expects the best from its students and - with its research-based curricular components, more classroom time, dedicated teachers, and the support of the community - Albany Prep will deliver the best back to its students.

A DESIGN OF QUALITY

Commissioner Richard Mills of the New York State Education Department noted in a report in early 2004 that the New York public middle schools that are posting the most significant gains in student performance share some common design elements (News Release, New York State Board of Regents / The State Education Department, "1012 Elementary and Middle Schools Make List of New York States "Most Improved, " February 23, 2004, pp. 3-4). For language arts and mathematics - two foundations of learning in all subjects - these common elements include:

• The progress of students needing extra help is closely monitored;
• More attention is paid to language and math skills in every subject;
• Teacher training is increased, and teachers are involved across grades and subjects;
• A recognition that students who read more learn more, and had students read at least 25 books per year of different types;
• A focus on analytical reading and writing;
• Required students to write daily in all subjects, and provided feedback to allow students to revise and improve their writing;
• Focused on mastery of algebraic foundations in grades 5 and 6, and on algebraic components in grades 7 and 8; and
• Paid close attention to students' mathematical and scientific measurement skills;
• Regents prep for 8th graders in math.

Albany Prep contains each of these elements and more:

• 100-minute long ELA and Math instructional blocks, a unique feature that allows thorough development of lesson plans, the ability to include key academic skills components such as reading and writing across all subject areas, and adequate time to incorporate interdisciplinary themes.
• Intensive focus on the key core subjects of language arts and mathematics, allocating an hour-and-a half each day, every day, to each of these subjects. The 7 ½ hours of weekly study on each of the two core subjects will be a major factor in Albany Prep's success on the state's 8th grade English Language Arts and Math tests.
• The innovative inclusion of blocks of time for student group interaction, independent study, remediation, and activities.
• The use of teachers expert in their particular subject area, and allowing these teachers sufficient time for individual and group (cross-grade and interdisciplinary) preparation.
• Research-based curricular with proven track records of success for Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and History, and a comprehensive plan of remediation for incoming 5th graders that do not possess the necessary basic academic and social skills.
• An educational model that emphasizes the application of knowledge and learning through critical-thinking.

Albany Prep also goes beyond this, incorporating other structural elements into its design to help ensure the academic success of its students.