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Record Number of Students Attend Charters

Post author By acs@@dmin
Post date December 13, 2016

New data demonstrates Arizona families are choosing charters in greater numbers

Public charter schools are increasingly the preferred choice among Arizona families, according to new 2016-17 student enrollment data.

A record 180,000 students currently attend 547 Arizona charter schools, an increase of nearly 10,000 students – or 5.8 percent – over the 2015-16 school year. By comparison, year-over-year enrollment in Arizona district schools grew by just 4,000 students – an uptick of less than half a percentage point.

“Public charter schools are fundamental to Arizona’s K-12 landscape,” said Eileen Sigmund, President and CEO of the Arizona Charter Schools Association. “For the last two decades, charters have been changing lives for the better and become a preferred choice for families and students seeking a high-quality public education. The reason is clear: charter schools serve a diverse student population and generate better student outcomes across all demographics.”

Association Blog

Charter Makes History with Football Win

Post author By acs@@dmin
Post date December 13, 2016

American Leadership Academy Becomes the First Charter to Win an AIA State Football Championship

Arizona’s charter movement hit another milestone this year, as American Leadership Academy Queen Creek became the first charter school to win an Arizona Interscholastic Association state football championship.

The East Valley high school earned the distinction after its football team won the State 3A championship, beating Tucson’s Sabino High School 31-14 on Nov. 26.

“Arizona charter schools have been part of the fabric of Arizona’s public school landscape for over 20 years,” said Eileen B. Sigmund, President and CEO of the Arizona Charter Schools Association. “ALA Queen Creek’s success shows that charter students can receive top marks in the classroom and also be competitive on the field.”

This was only the ALA Patriots’ third year in the AIA. Last year, they lost in the state semifinals.

“This win means a great deal to us. We have had unbelievable support from our students, administration and families, and to win this for them is very satisfying,” said Head Coach Rich Edwards.

Although ALA is talented, passionate and has added a championship to its trophy case, the school isn’t solely focused on becoming a football powerhouse.

Education Blog

EVER SINCE FLORES: THE HISTORY OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS IN ARIZONA

Post author By acs@@dmin
Post date December 1, 2016

A TWO-PART LOOK AT THE DATA BEHIND ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS IN ARIZONA

Eleven years ago, nearly 20 percent of Arizona’s public students were not proficient in English – meaning their primary language was non-English. Today, between 4-7 percent of our students are classified as not proficient in English. These statistics seem puzzling, given Arizona is a border state, has an increasing K-12 population and is commonly thought of as growing in diversity. Either the data is askew or our rapidly rising K-12 population has a lot more English speakers than it once did.

Tags ELL, English Learners

Charters Changing Lives

Carl’s Story

Post author By acs@@dmin
Post date November 30, 2016

Carl Vasil followed his calling when he enlisted in the U.S. Army as an Airborne Ranger. After his discharge from the military, Vasil now serves his community as a highly respected teacher at BASIS Goodyear. Find out how Vasil combines the leadership skills learned in the military with his passion for Physics to reach students at the Arizona charter school.

Education Blog

ARIZONA SCHOOLS LEAD THE NATION IN GROWTH ON NATIONAL SCIENCE EXAM

Post author By acs@@dmin
Post date November 3, 2016

Arizona’s fourth grade students led the nation in points gained on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) science exam, according to results released this week by the National Center for Education Statistics.

While we found good news: Arizona is leading the nation in growth and reduction in the achievement gap between white students and Hispanic students, we also learned Arizona’s proficiency scores are still near the bottom in comparison to other states.

In looking at the Nation’s Report Card for Science, the Association examined the data in three important ways: overall growth from 2009 to 2015, the NAEP achievement gap, and national comparisons of proficiency.

Tags NAEP, NAEP Science, Test Data

Press Releases

Arizona Charter Students Top Nation’s Report Card in Science

Post author By acs@@dmin
Post date October 27, 2016

Arizona charter school students registered substantial gains on the 2015 National Assessment of Educational Progress science assessment, and results show charter students significantly outperforming district peers across the state.

For the fourth-grade NAEP exam, scores for Arizona charter students increased an astounding 21 points since the last time the test was given in 2009; scores among eighth-grade charter students increased 18 points.

“Arizona’s charter model continues to set a national example of excellence,” said Eileen B. Sigmund, Arizona Charter Schools Association President and CEO. “Strong science education is vitally important for the future of our country and our economy. These results are a direct response to the excellent teachers and leaders supporting Arizona’s charter students.”

For the sake of comparison, if Arizona charter students were isolated and measured as their own state, their scores on the 2015 NAEP science test would rank among the top states in the country. On the eighth-grade science test, Arizona charter students would rank as the fourth highest-scoring state nationally, trailing only Utah, New Hampshire and Vermont. For fourth-grade science, Arizona charter students would rank eighth in the country.

Association Blog Charters Changing Lives

Sun Valley’s Story

Post author By acs@@dmin
Post date October 25, 2016

How a Mesa Charter School Renewed the Hope in its Students’ Lives

While some say Sun Valley High School is a place for “bad kids,” the real story of the school and its students is one of revived hope.

It’s a place where students who were once on the verge of dropping out are now making the honor roll and joining the National Honor Society.

It’s a place where students who were once bullied for their appearance and lifestyle have now found acceptance, gained confidence and overcame anxiety.

Many of these students have been cast aside as they struggled with homelessness, teen parenthood, adjudication, working to support their families or just not being able to adjust to a traditional large high school.

But they’ve now found teachers and staff at their East Valley charter school who push them to succeed, show genuine concern for their lives, and accept all students, no matter their circumstance.

Association Blog

Richelle Lewis

Post author By acs@@dmin
Post date October 12, 2016

Richelle Lewis’ approach to teaching at American Leadership Academy-Queen Creek Elementary extends beyond curriculums, lesson plans and even the classroom.

Lewis, a third-grade teacher, takes a personal approach to her students’ learning, which includes regularly attending events outside of school, such as their baseball games and baptisms, to show encouragement.

Inside the classroom, she relies on data, goal-setting, individualized learning and student engagement, combined with positive reinforcement, personal examples from her own life and even love for her students to foster an emotional connection.

As a result, Lewis’ students are consistently high-performing and her indelible impact is evident as many of her former students return to visit.

Lewis’ dedication to her students, their high academic achievement and care for their personal well-being are among the reasons for her selection as the Arizona Charter School Association’s 2016 Teacher of the Year.

Association Blog

Betsy Rosenmiller

Post author By acs@@dmin
Post date October 10, 2016

For Betsy Rosenmiller, the worlds of business and art are intertwined.

Rosenmiller is the finance director for Metropolitan Arts Institute in Phoenix, where she oversees all of the school’s budget, vendor contracts, audits, human resources procedures, and compliance with state and federal requirements.

But her passion for the school goes beyond finance. Rosenmiller is an accomplished ceramics artist who has shown her work nationally and internationally, she is also a jeweler and a former art gallery director.

As a result, she views her job at the school as more than inputting numbers on a spreadsheet, signing paperwork or ensuring the school’s audits are complete.

There’s a personal connection on every transaction for Rosenmiller.

Rosenmiller transformed the small charter school’s front office, which serves about 250 students in grades 7-12, after years of constant transition and helped the school regularly achieve perfect audits. Always looking for to put more money in the classroom, Betsy is constantly researching new vendors and improving efficiency.

Her impeccable business office support and her devotion to the students, faculty and the school’s mission have led to her selection as the Arizona Charter School Association’s 2016 Business Leader of the Year.

Association Blog

Valerie Merrill

Post author By acs@@dmin
Post date October 7, 2016

It’s not uncommon to see Legacy Traditional School – Gilbert Principal Valerie Merrill sitting on the grass with her students during a football game or spending her Saturday cheering for the school’s cross country team during a meet.

Merrill is probably the most visible people on campus, whether she’s encouraging students at a sporting event, speaking with parents in the front office or working the register in the cafeteria because the cashier is sick.

Her ability to interact with students, teachers, parents and the surrounding community has spurred a culture change at a school that was in need of strong direction, attention and Merrill’s own personal touch.

In two years, Legacy Gilbert has added 300 students, increased parent and teacher satisfaction, and transformed the school into a family friendly place that engages families and the rest of the community.

These dramatic changes have led to Merrill’s selection as the Arizona Charter School Association’s 2016 Transformational Leader of the Year.