The High Desert Partnership In Academic Excellence Foundation Inc

THE HIGH DESERT PARTNERSHIP IN ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE FOUNDATION, INC., IN PARTNERSHIP WITH BUSINESSES, FOUNDATIONS, EDUCATORS, PARENTS, STUDENTS, AND OTHERS, PROMOTES AND SUPPORTS THE EDUCATIONAL NEEDS OF THE STUDENTS, TEACHERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS. THE VOLUNTEER BOARD OF DIRECTORS OVERSEES THE ACTIVITIES OF THE FOUNDATION AND RECEIVES AND UTILIZES FUNDS ACQUIRED THROUGH SOLICITATION FOR THE PURPOSES FOR WHICH THE CORPORATION WAS FORMED. THE MISSION OF THE LEWIS CENTER FOR EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH IS TO ENSURE THAT THE SCHOOLS AND PROGRAMS OPERATED BY THE CORPORATION PREPARE STUDENTS FOR SUCCESS IN A GLOBAL SOCIETY THROUGH DATA-DRIVEN INNOVATIVE AND RESEARCH-PROVEN PRACTICES. ACADEMY FOR ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE EXISTS TO PREPARE STUDENTS FOR POST-SECONDARY SUCCESS THROUGH A RELEVANT, RIGOROUS COLLEGE PREPARATORY EDUCATION. NORTON SCIENCE AND LANGUAGE ACADEMY EXISTS TO ENSURE LEARNING FOR A DIVERSE POPULATION OF STUDENTS WITHIN A SAFE AND RIGOROUS BILINGUAL EDUCATION ENVIRONMENT.

THE ORGANIZATION OPERATES A TK-12 PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL, ACADEMY FOR ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE. THE SCHOOL PROVIDED INSTRUCTION FOR APPROXIMATELY 1,433 TK-12 STUDENTS. THE SCHOOL IS MODELED ON THE PRINCIPAL THAT CHILDREN LEARN BETTER WHEN THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ACTIVELY ENGAGED ALONG WITH THE TEACHER IN THE EDUCATION PROCESS. THE SCHOOL HAS ENTERED INTO PARTNERSHIPS WITH BUSINESSES, COLLEGES, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, SPECIFICALLY NASA AND THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE. THROUGH THESE PARTNERSHIPS THE STUDENTS HAVE UNIQUE OPPORTUNITIES FOR HANDS ON LEARNING. ONE EXAMPLE IS OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH NASA-AMES. WHEN NASA PERFORMED THEIR JUNO PROJECT TO ORBIT JUPITER, OUR STUDENTS AND STUDENTS IN SOUTH AMERICA, THROUGH LEWIS CENTERS MISSION CONTROL, WERE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE TRACKING OF SPACECRAFT VIA THE INTERNET. THEY OPERATED THE DEEP SPACE RADIO TELESCOPE DSS-13 LOCATED AT THE GOLDSTONE DEEP SPACE NETWORK IN THE MOJAVE DESERT. SUCH PROGRAMS ARE ONCE IN A LIFE TIME OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE STUDENTS TO PERFORM REAL SCIENCE IN REAL TIME. THERE ARE MANY OTHER EXAMPLES OF THIS HANDS-ON INSTRUCTIONAL MODEL.

NORTON SCIENCE AND LANGUAGE ACADEMY OPENED IN AUGUST 2008. THIS SCHOOL IS LOCATED IN THE SAN BERNARDINO INNER CITY. BESIDES BEING MODELED AFTER THE ACADEMY FOR ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE, IT IS ADDITIONALLY UNUSUAL BECAUSE THE INSTRUCTION IS CONDUCTED AS DUAL LANGUAGE IMMERSION. IN THIS MODEL, CLASSES ARE CONDUCTED IN A LANGUAGE NOT USUALLY SPOKEN BY A MAJORITY OF THE STUDENTS (IN THIS CASE SPANISH) FOR THE GREATER PART OF THE CLASS SESSION AND ONLY IN ENGLISH FOR A SMALLER PART OF THE DAY. WHEN THE STUDENTS REACH FIFTH OR SIXTH GRADE THEY ARE INTRODUCED IN EXTRA ACTIVITIES TO A THIRD LANGUAGE. BY THIS PROCESS THE STUDENTS ARE FLUENT IN TWO OR MORE LANGUAGES BY THE EIGHTH GRADE. ATTENDANCE IS APPROXIMATELY 821 STUDENTS IN TK-8 GRADES.

THE LEWIS CENTER HAS CONDUCTED EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH AND PROVIDED EDUCATIONAL CURRICULA TO SCHOOLS WORLDWIDE. THE CAMPUS OWNED BY THE FOUNDATION CONSISTS OF 150 ACRES IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA THROUGH WHICH THE MOJAVE RIVER FLOWS. THE PROPERTY PROVIDES RICH OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS OF THE TWO CHARTER SCHOOLS AND OTHER LOCAL SCHOOLS TO VIEW AND INTERACT WITH NATURE. THERE ARE MANY ENDANGERED SPECIES WHOSE HOME HABITAT IS ON THE PROPERTY. THE PROPERTY ALSO CONTAINS THE SITE OF A 400 YEAR OLD NATIVE AMERICAN LIVING CENTER WHICH INCLUDES PETROGLYPS AND A BURIAL SITE. THE ORGANIZATION OPERATES AN EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH TO SCHOOL CHILDREN WHO VISIT THE CAMPUS ON FIELD TRIPS. THE FOUNDATION ALSO FUNDS SCHOLARSHIPS FOR FORMER STUDENTS ATTENDING HIGHER EDUCATION.