Higher Learning Academy

1. Higher Learning Academy Building wealth, Owning our destiny, Taking the lead… Ronald King 4/15/11 Audience: Dr. Revilla 21st Century Schools

2. Model Features • African Centered Education • Certification Programs • Inclusion • Student Compensation • Ninth Grade Academy • Family Support • Non-Cognitive Assessment • Holistic Economic Development • Character Education • Extended Day and Year round function • Teaming

3. Pedagogical Theories • Multiple Intelligences Theory • Double Loop Learning Theory • Experiential Learning Theory • Cognitive Load Theory • Constructivist Theory

4. Research Based Approach Researched based strategies that are geared towards African American males Learning preferences found in AA males: • Emphasize group cooperation • Value harmony with nature • Accept affective expression • Tend to be holistic or Gestalt Thinkers (sum of all parts make up the whole) • Perceive the field as responding to the person and as possibly having a life of its own • Use strong colorful expressions • Require that relevant concepts have special or personal relevance • Use language that is dependent upon unique context and many interactional characteristics of the communicants time and place, on inflection, muscular movements, and non-verbal cues • Prefer learning material that has a human social content and is characterized by fantasy and humor • Perceived conceptual distances between the observer and the observed

5. Curriculum Components Black male success has been found more accurate with the following predictors in this order: • Leadership • Academic Organization • Long range goals • Racial Homogeneity – Negotiating the system and dealing with racism

6. Pedagogy • Multi-age Grouping • Teaming • Cooperative Learning • School Projects • Skill Certification Programs • Career Exploration • Holistic Economic Development

7. Subjects Upper Classes (10-12) 9th Grade Academy • Geometry, Algebra 2 • Biology, Chemistry, Physics • Legal Environment • Health/Exercise • Money Management (Advanced) • Character Education • Real-estate • Civic Engagement • Auto Ed • Technology • Business Management • Elective 1 • Critical Race Theory • Psychology • Sociology • Pre Algebra/Algebra • Reading Comprehension, Writing Mechanics • Skill Certification 1 and 2 • Research • Internship • Money Management (Beginner or Intermediate) • Technology • Civic Engagement – Summer Project • Real-estate • Auto Ed • Health/Exercise

8. 9th Grade Academy • Special Block Periods with Reading Comprehension, Writing Mechanics and Research 60-90 minutes • Emphasis on projects rather than core subjects • Strong holistic advising for effective goal planning • Skill Certifications • Tech Ed • Career Exploration • Internship/Employment • Community Summer Project

9. African Centered Education • Skin recognition includes heritage as well as color that distinguishes one as a person of African descent. • Environmental recognition which raises awareness of ones race discrimination and abuse within one’s environment attributes to one’s skin color or heritage. • Personality awareness pillar that makes individualized distinctions of a students preferences related to one’s heritage. • Interest concern demonstrates concerns about issues and solutions for people of African descent. • African centeredity is a phrase that again, raises awareness of collective and conscious will.

10. Critical Race Theory • Counter story telling - Historical accounts that convey stories of struggle and discrimination which are often not validated by the mainstream. • Micro-aggressions - Acts of disregard that stem from unconscious attitudes of white superiority and constitute a verification of black inferiority. • Interest convergence - Gains for blacks coinciding with whites self-interest and materialize at times when elite groups need a breakthrough for African Americans, usually for the sake of world appearances or the imperatives of international competition.

11. Character Education Character Education Must: • Have an adequate theory of what good character is – Knowing the good, desiring the good and doing the good • Must contain 6 moral qualities- Awareness of dimension of situation at hand; knowing what moral values and what it requires of us in concrete cases; Perspective taking; Moral reasoning; Thoughtful decision-making; self knowledge • Desiring the good- Moral education that is merely intellectual misses the crucial emotional side of character, which serves as the bridge between judgment and action. The emotional side includes these qualities: Conscience, self respect, empathy, self control and humility. • Doing the good-Moral action draws upon 3 additional moral qualities: Competence, will and moral habit

12. Holistic Economic Development (HED) • One of the central focuses of HLA is to ensure wealth building assets are made available for graduating students • Home ownership • Vehicle • Enterprise • Post Secondary Education

13. Non Cognitive Assessment • William Sedlacek’s Non-Cognitive Questionaire (NCQ) contains 8 predictors for predicting retention, GPA’s, and persistence to graduation of a post secondary institution on which Ownership Education ensures it’s successful approach to educating African American males.

14. 8 Predictors • Positive Self Concept • Realistic self appraisal • Successful handling of the system (formerly “racism”) • Preference for long range over short term goals • Availability of a strong support person • Successful leadership experience • Demonstrated community involvement • Knowledge acquired in a field

15. Community/Family Engagement • Parental and Family Services after traditional school hours • Community oriented projects that students have to coordinate in their assigned teams throughout the extended year • Open door policy for parents to speak to faculty and leadership about any issues affecting them or their child

16. School Structure/Management • Students will be divided into two large multiage teams led by a senior teacher operating in separate wings of the school. Under the senior teacher • 5 Teachers • 5 Volunteer Advisors • 1 Special Ed Teacher • Upper classman (approx. 20-30) • Lower classman (approx. 20-30) • Students will use three teachers as their chain of command for any issues that may arise privately or academically • First line - scheduled teacher • Second line - special ed. teacher/advisor • Third line – senior teacher • Fourth line - Principal

17. School Management • Open until 6pm for the extended day • No more than 3 days off for traditional holidays for students • Most faculty will have no more than 2 weeks off at a time for traditional holidays and summers • Advisors will be more involved in academic enhancement/community projects • Students will be assigned employment, internship and special training opportunities for traditional holidays and summer vacations

18. School Management • Block Preparation for teachers • Rotating days for special activities • Advisors can be used as aids • Recruit from local colleges and universities • Retired executives, CPA, lawyers, bankers etc.

19. Professional Training • Teachers will be trained in pedagogy, student culture, community organization, and professional expectations/school culture. • Teachers will be expected to participate in the development of the school in all aspects of management • Senior teacher advisors will be teamed with educators. • Senior teachers will conduct career advisement meetings to gauge leadership qualities early in their teams respectively. • Senior teachers will also meet privately with the executive leadership to discuss emerging leaders and overall school management /structure.

20. School Operational Cost • First Year • Building Purchase – 2.4m • Renovation • Annual Operating Expenses • Curriculum and Materials – 250k • Technology • Meals • Books • Office and School Supplies • School Activities • Professional Training • Family Support • 10 Volunteers /Advisors – 120k • 12 Teachers – 840k • 3 Administrators – 170k • 50 Student Compensation Plan – 1.15m Total = $4,936,000.00

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