An Educated Person. To be educated in the twenty-first century means to have an informed knowledge of the past and to be able to read and reflect on the best that has been written and said about the most important subjects. It implies the ability to express oneself through the written word with clarity and precision and to manipulate the languages of science and mathematics with reliability and validity. An educated person can both apply reason to current problems and recognize its limits. An educated person has at his disposal a broad array of important factual and conceptual knowledge as well as the skills to implement that knowledge successfully. Therefore, the Academy will offer a curriculum that includes a clear and specific core of important knowledge, concepts and skills that all students need to learn. This knowledge will facilitate learning in a full range of disciplines, including the humanities, mathematics, science, music, and the arts. The Academy’s clearly-defined mission of rigorous, content-rich college-preparatory education is complemented by a commitment to teacher autonomy. Our founding documents speak clearly to this commitment, under the heading of “Academic Freedom.” Our philosophy is based on the belief that academic excellence is to be found not in a specific curriculum, but in the hiring of qualified experts in their field of study, given the freedom to develop their own curriculum, based on their own strengths and professional judgment. Although each curricular area assumes the delivery of specific academic expectations, there is significant crossover among the disciplines. The Academy encourages all teachers, for instance, to integrate writing, research, and presentation and to teach and require correct research format. In addition, teachers often work together to develop interdisciplinary lessons, furthering this overlap and reinforcement. The Academy has a written policy statement concerning the selection of educational materials, which makes it clear that all curricular decisions are made by the individual teacher, as long as the teacher ensures that learning outcomes are achieved, Idaho Core Standards are exceeded, and school standards are met. The written curriculum exists primarily in the form of individual teacher syllabi. Departments are required to establish essential learnings for each class and grade level, but the design of lessons is left to the professional judgment of the teacher. The standards and scope and sequence are examined seve...
An Educated Person. Our society continues to evolve and transform, and an educated person in the 21st century will need to innovate continuously as new technologies and ideas will impact all aspects of the content of our society and world. Students at North Idaho STEM Charter Academy will design projects around rigorous and relevant standards-focused projects that engage students in authentic learning activities that teach 21st century skills, and demand demonstration of mastery. North Idaho STEM Charter Academy’s educational program will provide students the opportunity to develop his or her maximum potential academically and socially and to prepare them to be productive and successful citizens. The charter will determine the success of these goals by the continuing success of our students and by student scores on statewide evaluation tools. North Idaho STEM Charter Academy will serve children with disabilities by adopting the mandates of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), provide students equitable enrollment procedures under section 504, and use the Idaho Special Education Manual for identifying, evaluating, programming, developing individualized education plans, planning services, developing our discipline policy, budgeting, and providing transportation for special needs students, as necessary. The School Board of North Idaho STEM Charter Academy will adopt the Idaho Special Education Manual 2007 and all subsequent revisions. North Idaho STEM Charter Academy will not deny enrollment to a student with a disability solely because of that student’s need for special education or related services. Section 504 specifically prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability to public and private programs and activities that receive federal financial assistance. Students with disabilities have the same opportunity to enroll in the school as all other students. North Idaho STEM Charter Academy will provide special education and related services to eligible students in the Least Restrictive Environment as identified on each student’s IEP. Providing special education students services in the Least Restrictive Environment provides certain challenges. The project-based curriculum of North Idaho STEM Charter Academy is especially compatible for special education students. Project-based learning provides special needs students the ability to use and be appreciated for the strengths of his/her other intelligences besides the traditional linguistic and logical/mathem...
An Educated Person. An educated person is a citizen of the world, globally aware and respectful of unique cultural differences. He or she can do mathematics, read, write, speak and listen at academically exceptional levels, as well as analyze, interpret and synthesize information from a wide range of sources – skills crucial to success in the 21st century, global workplace. An educated person is able to identify, access and utilize appropriate sources of technology to support his or her learning and understanding of the world. He or she can think critically and problem-solve in a variety of situations and can apply knowledge, skills and awareness across disciplines for a variety purposes. An educated person is self-directed, persistent and knows how to work and learn both individually and cooperatively in collaborative groups. He or she is a leader and learner and can communicate effectively through oral and written communication. An educated person is curious, creative, imaginative and innovative. He or she strives to create meaning in their lives and in the world by constructing, testing and confirming how the world works. An educated person is a lifelong learner. The Academy will be an environment that excels at facilitating learning and growing students. Teachers will be equally as passionate about imparting knowledge as students naturally are about understanding the world they live in – and their role in it. The Academy believes that:
