Columbus Schools Create SuccessWorks Academy to Combat Poor Conduct and Academics

Columbus Schools' SuccessWorks Academy willthe unified arts but the curriculum will reflect the
be an alternative education program that aims toweakness and strengths of the students
provide quality education to those students withdetermined by pre-entrance examines. This may
continual and often severe behavioral issues. Theinclude the use of individualized, small group and
Columbus Schools' SuccessWorks Academy plansclass instruction to better handle the students
to admit students beginning in January of 2007.learning or socialization needs.
The SuccessWorks Academy will provideStudent Selection
education to approximately 150 students in thirdAs the aim of the SuccessWorks Academy is to
to seventh grades. The school will not only followhave the students return to a regular school
a strong academic curriculum but offer servicesenvironment the student population will be
and trained counselors to address the social,continually changing. The Columbus Schools
emotional and physical health needs of students.admissions committee will admit students into the
The overall goal of the SuccessWorks AcademySuccessWorks Academy based on the referrals
is to transition the students back into a regularfrom schools and the students' records. Referrals
school environment and give them the skills tocan be based on severe misbehavior as well as
participate fully and effectively in a normal school.documented frequent poor attendance, low
The Staff and Curriculum of Columbus Schools'academic performance, and lack of social skills.
SuccessWorks AcademyThe placement period will be initially set for one
The SuccessWorks Academy will have twosemester and the students will be monitored and
teachers for each grade level and support staffconsidered on an individual basis to determine
that includes a principal, a counselor; a behaviorafter the first semester if the student is prepared
specialist; instructional assistants; a nurse; art,to return to a regular school environment. This will
music, and physical education teachers; and ainclude serious collaboration with parents and
psychologist. Prior to hiring, the staff will have tocounselors. When the student returns to the
show that they know how to work successfullyregular school environment, the student will
with at-risk students, have experience in howreceive support for the transition from the school
ability to apply effective research basedcounselor to help assure a successful transition.
instructional practices, have the necessaryThe support services of the SuccessWorks
communication skills needed to work with parentsAcademy will follow and maintain a close
and the skill to document student development onconnection to the student as the student returns
a regular basis. This is in order to ensure that theto his or her regular school. The school that
most cable teachers are placed in thereceives the transitioning student from
SuccessWorks Academy. The teachers will haveSuccessWorks Academy will get an all-inclusive
to teach a curriculum tailored to the needs of thereport about the student's growth and future
student population. Not only the core subjectneeds. This is a highly innovative program that will
areas of reading, writing, math, science, and socialimprove the Columbus Schools.
studies, as well as health/physical education and