Urban Academy

CHARTER SCHOOL EDUCATION FOR STUDENTS IN GRADES PRE-K THROUGH 6TH.

URBAN ACADEMY PROVIDES A QUALITY EDUCATION FOR URBAN STUDENTS IN GRADES PRE-K THROUGH 6. WE BELIEVE THAT A QUALITY EDUCATION WILL LEAD TO A PRODUCTIVE FUTURE AND TO THE OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR CHILDREN TO END THE CYCLE OF POVERTY IN THEIR LIVES. WE ALSO BELIEVE THAT STRONG COMMUNITY-BASED VALUES HAVE BEEN LOST TO A NUMBER OF CHILDREN IN THE INNER CITY, AND URBAN ACADEMY WILL WORK TOWARD RE-INSTILLING SUCH VALUES AS NON-VIOLENCE, RESPECT, RESPONSIBILITY, ACCOUNTABILITY AND SOCIAL RELIABILITY TO OUR CHILDREN.THE URBAN ACADEMY BOARD IS MADE UP OF PARENTS, TEACHERS, AND PROFESSIONAL COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO HELP TO GUIDE URBAN ACADEMY IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. MEMBERS PROVIDE THE STAFF AND ADMINISTRATION WITH ASSISTANCE NECESSARY IN RESEARCHING THE STUDENTS' NEEDS. OUR FAMILY SPECIALIST MEETS REGULARLY WITH THE PARENTS AND PARENT COMMITTEES IN ORDER TO GATHER INFORMATION, WORK WITH VOLUNTEERS, AND RECEIVE FEEDBACK CONCERNING NEEDS PARENTS FEEL WE HAVE NOT SUCCESSFULLY MET, ALONG WITH IDEAS FOR IMPROVEMENT. GENERATING IDEAS FOR IMPROVEMENT FROM PARENTS ALLOW THEM TO FEEL OWNERSHIP FOR THE SCHOOL, AS WELL AS FOR THE PROGRAM.URBAN ACADEMY PROVIDES AN URBAN TEACHING STRATEGY, WHICH IS IMPLEMENTED WITH GUIDANCE FROM PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TRAINERS IN HIGHER EDUCATION (I.E. HAMLINE UNIVERSITY AND OTHER LOCAL HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTES). THE STAFF IS TRAINED IN THE URBAN LEARNER FRAMEWORK AND CURRICULUM RESPONSIVE TO URBAN LEARNERS. A REPRESENTATIVE FROM HIGHER EDUCATION IS INVITED TO ATTEND MONTHLY MEETINGS AND MAKE OBSERVATIONS TO REVIEW IMPLEMENTATION BY STAFF AND GIVE FEEDBACK ON THE CHILDREN'S PROGRESS. URBAN ACADEMY PROVIDES TRAINING FOR OUR TEACHERS IN THE AREA OF URBAN CULTURE TO ENABLE THE TEACHERS TO BE MORE SENSITIVE AND RECEPTIVE TO THE NEEDS OF THE URBAN LEARNERS.THE URBAN LEARNING EXPERIENCE IS A MULTICULTURAL CURRICULUM, WHICH IS THE CORE IN IMPLEMENTING THINKING SKILLS, CREATIVE THINKING, AND HIGHER ORDER OF THINKING. URBAN ACADEMY HAS DEVELOPED A UNIQUE, INTEGRATED CURRICULUM THAT IS BASED ON BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE MINNESOTA GRADUATION STANDARDS. OUR CURRICULUM IS ARTICULATED THROUGHOUT THE VARIOUS GRADE LEVELS TO PROVIDE A SENSE OF COMMUNITY AND CONTINUITY THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL. URBAN ACADEMY USES A COLLABORATIVE TEAM APPROACH TO ACHIEVE A CONNECTED CURRICULUM THAT RECOGNIZES AND CELEBRATES DIVERSITY. AUDIO/VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS CROSSING ALL CULTURES ARE A PART OF THE MAKE-UP OF THE SCHOOL. THIS IS IMPLEMENTED THROUGH OUR CURRICULUM PARTICIPATION IN MUSIC, PLAYS, CONCERTS, ETC. THAT GIVES OUR STUDENTS A THOROUGH KNOWLEDGE OF THE DIVERSE CULTURAL LANDSCAPE IN WHICH WE LIVE. OUR SMALL STUDENT RATIO DOES ENHANCE THE ABILITY OF THE TEACHER TO TEACH AND OF THE STUDENTS TO LEARN.LAST, BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, URBAN ACADEMY EMPLOYS CERTIFIED CLASSROOM TEACHERS AND PROVIDES THEM WITH THE ASSISTANCE THAT THEY NEED TO BE PRODUCTIVE EDUCATORS. THE EDUCATORS WE EMPLOY ARE ALL COMMITTED TO OUR PROGRAM AND MISSION, AS WELL AS TO OUR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES. WE LOOK TO HIRE THE BEST TEACHERS, WHO HAVE THE DRIVE AND THE COMMITMENT TO MAKE A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE IN URBAN EDUCATION.