|
FAQ Section
Provided for your convenience is the following information and terms to frequently asked questions about Noah Webster Academy.
General
Academy Defined
Answer: Michigan's charter school legislation was passed in December, 1993, creating an
opportunity for innovation and creativity to enter into the educational process. Governor Engler envisioned that charter schools would provide the opportunity for a school without walls. Noah Webster Academy was begun with a vision of taking the best of public school
systems, quality certified teachers and educational resources, combined witht he best of distance learning and parents committed to the responsibility of educating their children in the
principles established by the Founding Fathers of this country. On April 13, 1994, Noah Webster Academy became Michigan's first chartered Publich School Academy when the
Berlin-Orange School District granted our Charter according to Public Act 362, fulfilling the intent of both the legislature and Governor Engler for innovation in education.
Admission Policy
Answer: The Academy accepts students for enrollment and provides for the education of its
students without discrimination as to religion, creed, race, color, national or ethnic origin. The Academy does not discriminate on the basis of intellectual or athletic ability, measures of
achievement or aptitude, status as a handicapped person, or any other basis that would be illegal if used by another public school. The Academy may limit admission to pupils who are
within a particular age or grade level or on any other basis that would be legal if used by another public school. Except for foreign exchange students, the Academy does not enroll
pupils who are not residents of Michigan. Enrollment is open to all pupils who reside within the State of Michigan.
Alyeska Precedent
Answer: Alyeska Central School, a public school for the State of Alaska, has used distance
-learning for more than 50 years setting a precedent for Noah Webster Academy. Over the past 10-15 years, Alyeska has written its own curriculum and lesson plans specific to the
distance-learning environment. The achievement test results and skill assessment levels place Alyeska students far above the national average. Also, Alyeska recently received international
recognition for its reading program. Like Noah Webster Academy, the school promotes the positive values that families want to encourage.
Attendance
Answer: All students are required to attend 181 days and 995.5 hours of schooling during the
school year. For graduating seniors, attendance requirements must be met by May 31.
Board
Answer: The President of the Board, Paul Wieland (M.A. in education administration from
Northern Illinois University), has more than 30 years of educational experience. He began teaching in a Michigan public school, served for 14 years as Director of Moody
Correspondence School, and has actively promoted ther personal values advocated 150 years ago by the Schoolmaster of America, Noah Webster. Harmon Cropsey, Treasurer, has
served as a local school board member, intermediate school district board member, private school board member, State Representative, and State Senator. While in the State Senate, he
served as Vice-Chairman of the Education Committee. He has been the foremost advocate in Michigan for local and parental control of education for more than 30 years. Because of his
years of hich school teaching, Dean Troyer, Secretary, also understands the importance of education and the necessity of instilling character and integrity in young people. Robert
Johnson, Technology Advisor and member at large, has instructed community education classes for Lakewood Public Schools, various corprate training programs, Local Area
Networks for Central Michigan University Health Services staff as well as Indiana Unversity Purdue University at Indianapolis. His quest for life-long learning has included distance learning
from Baker College and Indiana Wesleyan University.
Communication
Answer: Parents, students and school personel communicate by audio conferencing, by mail,
facsimile machine, and email. Our hope is to provide a link between the parent, student, and teacher via the computer and Internet.
Curriculum
Answer: Noah Webster Academy believes in the fundamental right of parents to direct the
education of their children. Because parents had the choice of any curriculum that met state law requirements during our first year of operation, the staff had to accommodate more than
40 different curricula. During the first year, staff members produced a curriculum that serves as a guideline for textbook purchases. For new families who join us, we encourage parents to
choose textbooks and programs that match the scope and sequence of our curriculum. The two most popular that we have qualified are the Calvert School program (301-873-6030
[grades K-8]) and the Unveristy of Nebraska-Lincoln's Independent Study High School (402-472-4321 [grades 9-12]).
Electives
Answer: Students may take elective courses, such as driver education, shop, drafting, home
economics, vocational education, art, languages, and business. These may be taken from organizations in the business sector, correspondence schools, and/or local school districts by
pre-arrangement with Noah Webster Academy.
Learning Experience
Answer: Noah Webster Academy plans to provide field trip opportunities for students,
parents and teachers to encourage hands-on learning opportunities; provide school camp experiencesp; plan social interaction opportunities; and apprentice, internship and school-to-work opportunities.
Legal
Answer: The Academy has contracted with attorney David A. Kallman to represent its
students and their parents in case they are prosecuted with regard to the compulsory attendance law, the probate neglect code, or administrative hearings which may arise.
Pupil Assessment
Answer: Any student desiring a diploma endorsed by the State of Michigan may take the
Michigan Education Assessment Program (MEAP) test. All students, however, will take the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills, a nationally normed achievement test upon entry and also in May.
Records
Answer: Noah Webster Academy is required to maintain records for all students enrolled in
the school. Student records retained at the Academy are confidential and protected under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. Such information cannot be released without the
express written permission of the parent. Parents need to send in academic and attendance records each academic quarter in order for the Academy to keep the files current.
Religion
Answer: Noah Webster Academy is a Public School Academy. The Academy has not been
organized by any church or other religious organization. To the extent disqualified under the state or federal constitution, the Academy shall not have any organizational or contractual
affiliation with a church or other religious organization.
Mission
Noah Webster Academy's parents, administration and staff desire to provide the opportunity and motivation for every student to develop life-long principles of academic excellence,
physical well-being, social responsibility and personal virtue by combining traditional character development with the latest advances in distance-learning technology.
|
