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