A Unique Approach to Teaching and Learning
Ka'u Learning Academy (KLA) believes that, given the right opportunities, all children can and will learn regardless of their socioeconomic status. KLA will provide quality education that identifies and meets the needs of each individual child instead of using a one-size-fits-all blanket approach to education. Though our approach to education is rooted in standards-based, data-driven methodologies, it is enhanced by our proprietary method that has been implemented in the classroom and PROVEN far more successful than the current "assembly line" approach to education that has reached an achievement plateau nationwide. As part of our overall vision, KLA promotes a safe, orderly, caring and supportive environment where each student's self-esteem is fostered by positive relationships with students and staff. We strongly encourage active community participation and offer training and support to parents so they can be more effectively involved in their children's education.
Academic Plan Overview and Academic Philosophy
KLA uses a blended-learning approach to educating students combining online learning with individualized education plans at a “brick and mortar” campus. The majority of our students participate in our blended-learning approach on campus, but we also accommodate families who prefer having their students work at home most school days by providing a blended learning program where the majority of the work is completed off campus. These students are required to be on campus or meet with their teacher at least once per week. KLA's blended-learning model identifies and meets the needs of each individual child. Our approach to education is rooted in standards-based, data-driven methodologies supported by online and traditional curriculum enhanced by Contextual Foundation Learning techniques. Listed below are the critical elements of our academic plan and philosophy:
· High Expectations
According to the new Strive HI Goals and Annual Targets, the academic expectations for the district of Ka'u are the third lowest in the state of Hawaii. The new system sets separate standards for different districts based on past performances. KLA refuses to believe that the children of Ka'u are not capable of achieving at academic levels equal to or greater than other schools throughout the state. We still believe that it is important to hold high expectations for all students. Using techniques and strategies developed by our founder, the sixth grade math class at Na'alehu School scored 71% proficient (FAY students) on the state standardized test in math compared to 35% proficient under the school's current educational consulting firm and leadership. We KNOW our students are brilliant, and we believe we have the key to unlocking their fullest academic potential. Instead of lowering student performance expectations, KLA will provide relevant staff development and feedback that keenly attunes our teachers to the individual needs of our students.
· Individual Education Plans
Ka'u Learning Academy believes that every child is unique and requires his/her own individual education plan. When students are working according to their own ability, they are engaged in learning. Student engagement is a critical element in reducing discipline problems and drop-out rates, and increasing academic achievement.
One of the greatest challenges to developing individual education plans in the classroom is that it can take months to identify the needs of each individual child. Consequently, teachers often teach using an approach that is focused on the learning objective, but it is often done with a one-size-fits-all system. Teachers hope that all students will grasp the concepts, but in reality, only a small percentage of students actually benefit from the instruction. Instead of students being challenged at their OWN level of proximal development, low-needs students often master the material quickly and become disengaged while high-needs students are left behind, because they do not have the necessary contextual foundation to understand grade-level concepts. As a result, standardized test data indicates that only about one-third of the children in Ka'u classrooms are able to reach proficiency in math, reading, and science.
Using standards-based, data driven instructional practices supported by online curriculum and enhanced by our own proprietary Contextual Foundation Learning program, we give teachers the training and tools they need to quickly and continually assess the strengths and weaknesses of each individual child. Students are grouped accordingly, and instructional methods are tailored to fit their individual needs and learning styles. Our instructional tools include comprehensive preliminary and monthly benchmark assessments that are designed to identify each student's foundational strengths and weaknesses.
The process of developing individual education plans through our program involves working with students, teachers, parents and assessment specialists. We believe that communication is a critical part of quickly and efficiently assessing students' abilities, needs, skills, and learning styles.
· Aligning curriculum and instruction to Common Core Standards
One of the top indicators of effective schools is that the school's curriculum is aligned to state standards. KLA educators have a thorough knowledge and understanding of the Common Core standards in the subject area and grade level in which they teach. They are also thoroughly familiar with the standards in earlier grade levels. This familiarity of earlier grade-level standards is an integral part of our program. Teachers must understand what students should know before reaching their current grade level. Without this thorough knowledge and understanding, it is impossible for them to effectively identify their own students' strengths and weaknesses. KLA's standards-based assessments are aligned to Common Core and designed to help teachers accurately identify the missing scaffolding in each student's educational history so they can tailor instruction accordingly.
· Efficiently and thoroughly interpreting and utilizing achievement data
KLA believes that in order for teachers to be most effective, they must know the strengths and weaknesses of each student; therefore, teachers at KLA use data acquired from monthly and quarterly standardized benchmark assessments, online curriculum, teacher devised authentic assessments, longitudinal testing (pre-tests, post-tests, etc.) and state standardized tests. Teachers are allowed sufficient prep time to analyze data and maintain thorough records of individual student progress that is recorded and tracked using an effective data analysis system. This information is used to develop individual education plans for each student, and to drive instruction accordingly.
· Focus on high-quality teachers
The most important school-based factor in a child’s success is the effectiveness of that child’s teacher. KLA places high-quality first and foremost when we recruit staff, make hiring decisions, oversee teachers, give feedback and make decisions about promoting and retaining staff. KLA begins improving teacher practice before the academic year even begins, with an intensive series of professional development activities. All teachers participate in professional development workshops throughout the school year. Throughout the week, teachers receive targeted professional development, including internally created workshops, presentations by consultants, coaching by content specialists, peer development of instructional strategies, and modeling of instructional techniques.
· Promotion of collaborative learning
All KLA student (including virtual) demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of learning goals by completing a collaborative quarterly project. Students, parent partners, and teachers work together in a mutually supportive manner to complete these projects. These projects are fun and engaging and build a sense of community in a non-competitive environment. Examples of projects: design and build a garden, or hydroponic garden, create and run a business, etc.
Focus on relationships
KLA believes that parent involvement is critical to the education process, and we seek out creative ways to connect parents with their child’s education on an ongoing basis. Frequent calls home, progress reports to parents every Friday and an open-door policy contribute to a strong bond between the school and its families. KLA promotes parent involvement through regular Family Academic Nights and open houses where students and parents work together on academic activities. Finally, parents are encouraged to attend all student performances and sports games, and to volunteer to chaperone class trips and assist in the classroom.
· Critical thinking, Creativity, and Independent Learning
Our learning events are designed to encourage children to use their minds to think creatively, to examine contrast in viewpoints, and to solve problems in different ways. Students are taught skills necessary for independent work as our teachers move increasingly towards the role of facilitator guiding students towards their personal educational goals.
KLA uses a blended-learning approach to educating students combining online learning with individualized education plans at a “brick and mortar” campus. The majority of our students participate in our blended-learning approach on campus, but we also accommodate families who prefer having their students work at home most school days by providing a blended learning program where the majority of the work is completed off campus. These students are required to be on campus or meet with their teacher at least once per week. KLA's blended-learning model identifies and meets the needs of each individual child. Our approach to education is rooted in standards-based, data-driven methodologies supported by online and traditional curriculum enhanced by Contextual Foundation Learning techniques. Listed below are the critical elements of our academic plan and philosophy:
· High Expectations
According to the new Strive HI Goals and Annual Targets, the academic expectations for the district of Ka'u are the third lowest in the state of Hawaii. The new system sets separate standards for different districts based on past performances. KLA refuses to believe that the children of Ka'u are not capable of achieving at academic levels equal to or greater than other schools throughout the state. We still believe that it is important to hold high expectations for all students. Using techniques and strategies developed by our founder, the sixth grade math class at Na'alehu School scored 71% proficient (FAY students) on the state standardized test in math compared to 35% proficient under the school's current educational consulting firm and leadership. We KNOW our students are brilliant, and we believe we have the key to unlocking their fullest academic potential. Instead of lowering student performance expectations, KLA will provide relevant staff development and feedback that keenly attunes our teachers to the individual needs of our students.
· Individual Education Plans
Ka'u Learning Academy believes that every child is unique and requires his/her own individual education plan. When students are working according to their own ability, they are engaged in learning. Student engagement is a critical element in reducing discipline problems and drop-out rates, and increasing academic achievement.
One of the greatest challenges to developing individual education plans in the classroom is that it can take months to identify the needs of each individual child. Consequently, teachers often teach using an approach that is focused on the learning objective, but it is often done with a one-size-fits-all system. Teachers hope that all students will grasp the concepts, but in reality, only a small percentage of students actually benefit from the instruction. Instead of students being challenged at their OWN level of proximal development, low-needs students often master the material quickly and become disengaged while high-needs students are left behind, because they do not have the necessary contextual foundation to understand grade-level concepts. As a result, standardized test data indicates that only about one-third of the children in Ka'u classrooms are able to reach proficiency in math, reading, and science.
Using standards-based, data driven instructional practices supported by online curriculum and enhanced by our own proprietary Contextual Foundation Learning program, we give teachers the training and tools they need to quickly and continually assess the strengths and weaknesses of each individual child. Students are grouped accordingly, and instructional methods are tailored to fit their individual needs and learning styles. Our instructional tools include comprehensive preliminary and monthly benchmark assessments that are designed to identify each student's foundational strengths and weaknesses.
The process of developing individual education plans through our program involves working with students, teachers, parents and assessment specialists. We believe that communication is a critical part of quickly and efficiently assessing students' abilities, needs, skills, and learning styles.
· Aligning curriculum and instruction to Common Core Standards
One of the top indicators of effective schools is that the school's curriculum is aligned to state standards. KLA educators have a thorough knowledge and understanding of the Common Core standards in the subject area and grade level in which they teach. They are also thoroughly familiar with the standards in earlier grade levels. This familiarity of earlier grade-level standards is an integral part of our program. Teachers must understand what students should know before reaching their current grade level. Without this thorough knowledge and understanding, it is impossible for them to effectively identify their own students' strengths and weaknesses. KLA's standards-based assessments are aligned to Common Core and designed to help teachers accurately identify the missing scaffolding in each student's educational history so they can tailor instruction accordingly.
· Efficiently and thoroughly interpreting and utilizing achievement data
KLA believes that in order for teachers to be most effective, they must know the strengths and weaknesses of each student; therefore, teachers at KLA use data acquired from monthly and quarterly standardized benchmark assessments, online curriculum, teacher devised authentic assessments, longitudinal testing (pre-tests, post-tests, etc.) and state standardized tests. Teachers are allowed sufficient prep time to analyze data and maintain thorough records of individual student progress that is recorded and tracked using an effective data analysis system. This information is used to develop individual education plans for each student, and to drive instruction accordingly.
· Focus on high-quality teachers
The most important school-based factor in a child’s success is the effectiveness of that child’s teacher. KLA places high-quality first and foremost when we recruit staff, make hiring decisions, oversee teachers, give feedback and make decisions about promoting and retaining staff. KLA begins improving teacher practice before the academic year even begins, with an intensive series of professional development activities. All teachers participate in professional development workshops throughout the school year. Throughout the week, teachers receive targeted professional development, including internally created workshops, presentations by consultants, coaching by content specialists, peer development of instructional strategies, and modeling of instructional techniques.
· Promotion of collaborative learning
All KLA student (including virtual) demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of learning goals by completing a collaborative quarterly project. Students, parent partners, and teachers work together in a mutually supportive manner to complete these projects. These projects are fun and engaging and build a sense of community in a non-competitive environment. Examples of projects: design and build a garden, or hydroponic garden, create and run a business, etc.
Focus on relationships
KLA believes that parent involvement is critical to the education process, and we seek out creative ways to connect parents with their child’s education on an ongoing basis. Frequent calls home, progress reports to parents every Friday and an open-door policy contribute to a strong bond between the school and its families. KLA promotes parent involvement through regular Family Academic Nights and open houses where students and parents work together on academic activities. Finally, parents are encouraged to attend all student performances and sports games, and to volunteer to chaperone class trips and assist in the classroom.
· Critical thinking, Creativity, and Independent Learning
Our learning events are designed to encourage children to use their minds to think creatively, to examine contrast in viewpoints, and to solve problems in different ways. Students are taught skills necessary for independent work as our teachers move increasingly towards the role of facilitator guiding students towards their personal educational goals.
