Welcome
Thank you for taking time to learn more about the 8 Points Charter School Initiative. We hope you find a wealth of useful information and we encourage you to contact the Design Team with any comments or questions.
Mission
The mission of 8 Points Charter School is to prepare students academically, socially and emotionally to succeed in college preparatory classes at the secondary level.
Purpose
8 Points Charter School is a no cost, public school option for middle school level students in grades 5th through 8th. As a charter school, 8 Points Charter has increased autonomy and flexibility to implement curriculum, instructional approaches, the school schedule and calendar and other aspects of the school's organization and academic program that are specifically tailored to the unique needs of its student population. In exchange for this autonomy, the school is accountable to District 117 and its community for meeting the academic and operational goals.
Core Values
Literacy Acquisition
Academic Excellence
Family Involvement
Individual Responsibility
Goals Attainment
Community Awareness
Leadership Development
Technology Immersion
Academic Excellence
Family Involvement
Individual Responsibility
Goals Attainment
Community Awareness
Leadership Development
Technology Immersion
How 8 Points Charter is Different
Charter schools across the nation and Illinois share great success largely due to their freedom to try newly research-based instructional approaches, allocate funds flexibly to meet student needs, extend calendar years and daily schedules, and encourage family to school cooperation. In exchange for this increased autonomy, 8 Points Charter School will have increased accountability as well. The charter school will be accountable to the local school district, District 117, to the Jacksonville community, and most importantly to the students and families in which it serves. Here are some ways in which 8 Points Charter plans to exercise its increased autonomy while upholding its mission and meeting high standards of excellence:
1. Emphasis on Literacy - One's ability to read, write and communicate effectively is vital to his or her future successes. When young people begin to fall behind on their literacy skills it becomes clear that both academic and daily endeavors become increasingly difficult. Recognizing that both local, state and national literacy rates are in dire need of improvement, 8 Points Charter has taken a strong approach. Students who attend 8 Points Charter would attend English/Language Arts classes for a total of 150 minutes daily where a variety of 21st Century tools would be employed. Furthermore, students will participate in a universal environment where active student learning will replace the traditional passive model. Ultimately, students will take their learning outside of the classroom walls and create a learning environment that involves both local and world communities.
2. Co-Teaching - It is important that each and every student has the opportunity to learn and through the co-teaching model in both mathematics and science, 8 Points Charter will drop student to teacher ratios by 50%.
3. On-Site Family Advocacy - Achieving academic excellence and developing leadership abilities is an on-going process where both the school and family must work together to facilitate the success of each student. One of the most unique qualities of 8 Points Charter both as a public school and as a charter school, is that it will house a full-time Family Advocacy Center. Where at least one full-time family advocate will be employed, the Family Advocacy Center will serve the needs of the students as much as it serves the needs of each immediate family member associated with 8 Points Charter through an actively enrolled student. The full-time family advocate will serve as a liaison to both 8 Points Charter as well as the Jacksonville Community and its abundant resources and opportunities.
4. Daily Leadership Development - As it aligns with the mission and vision of 8 Points Charter, students who attend and are promoted from 8 Points Charter will develop into Academic Leaders. Daily leadership classes incorporate the Social Emotion Learning Standards and provide an oppotunity for students to actively engage in their local and global community.
5. Enrichment Courses - During the middle school years it is important that young people have the opportunity to learn about a variety of topics and explore unchartered academic areas. As a means for allowing all students who attend 8 Points Charter to participate in these enriching experiences, 8 Points Charter will hold two enrichment courses daily. Some of these courses may include: fine arts, journalism, marketing, gardening, American Sign Language, Web design and fitness for life.
6. 21st Century Technology Integration - Technology is ever-present in the lives of the global community and it imperative that the future generations are prepared to communication, collaborate and compete on a global technological platform. 8 Points Charter will prepare each one of its students using a variety of technological hardware, software and Internet tools. Students will participate in daily instruction employing technology while being challenged to create and develop academic products using an electronic platform (including the use of Web 2.0 applications). Furthermore, students enrolled at 8 Points Charter will be responsible for developing a cumulative digital portfolio illustrating continued progress in academic challenges.
7. Increased Professional Development - While still exceeding the average minutes of instruction for many schools in the surrounding area, instructional staff will participate in a minimum of 2 hours of professional development scheduled on every Friday. This will allow for increased collaboration, frequent data analysis and continued learning.
8. Accountability - 8 Points Charter's autonomy will allow for academic instruction that is truly tailored to the specific student needs and learning styles. In return, the school's instructional team will be held highly accountable to the students and families it serves, the community of Jacksonville, in addition to the District 117 Board of Education. On-going assessments will be conducted as a means for illustrating to stakeholders how the school will achieve goals in areas including, but not limited to academics, social and developmental growth. Through scheduled reports submitted to District 117 and continued communication with families and the community, 8 Points Charter will share this assessment data.
1. Emphasis on Literacy - One's ability to read, write and communicate effectively is vital to his or her future successes. When young people begin to fall behind on their literacy skills it becomes clear that both academic and daily endeavors become increasingly difficult. Recognizing that both local, state and national literacy rates are in dire need of improvement, 8 Points Charter has taken a strong approach. Students who attend 8 Points Charter would attend English/Language Arts classes for a total of 150 minutes daily where a variety of 21st Century tools would be employed. Furthermore, students will participate in a universal environment where active student learning will replace the traditional passive model. Ultimately, students will take their learning outside of the classroom walls and create a learning environment that involves both local and world communities.
2. Co-Teaching - It is important that each and every student has the opportunity to learn and through the co-teaching model in both mathematics and science, 8 Points Charter will drop student to teacher ratios by 50%.
3. On-Site Family Advocacy - Achieving academic excellence and developing leadership abilities is an on-going process where both the school and family must work together to facilitate the success of each student. One of the most unique qualities of 8 Points Charter both as a public school and as a charter school, is that it will house a full-time Family Advocacy Center. Where at least one full-time family advocate will be employed, the Family Advocacy Center will serve the needs of the students as much as it serves the needs of each immediate family member associated with 8 Points Charter through an actively enrolled student. The full-time family advocate will serve as a liaison to both 8 Points Charter as well as the Jacksonville Community and its abundant resources and opportunities.
4. Daily Leadership Development - As it aligns with the mission and vision of 8 Points Charter, students who attend and are promoted from 8 Points Charter will develop into Academic Leaders. Daily leadership classes incorporate the Social Emotion Learning Standards and provide an oppotunity for students to actively engage in their local and global community.
5. Enrichment Courses - During the middle school years it is important that young people have the opportunity to learn about a variety of topics and explore unchartered academic areas. As a means for allowing all students who attend 8 Points Charter to participate in these enriching experiences, 8 Points Charter will hold two enrichment courses daily. Some of these courses may include: fine arts, journalism, marketing, gardening, American Sign Language, Web design and fitness for life.
6. 21st Century Technology Integration - Technology is ever-present in the lives of the global community and it imperative that the future generations are prepared to communication, collaborate and compete on a global technological platform. 8 Points Charter will prepare each one of its students using a variety of technological hardware, software and Internet tools. Students will participate in daily instruction employing technology while being challenged to create and develop academic products using an electronic platform (including the use of Web 2.0 applications). Furthermore, students enrolled at 8 Points Charter will be responsible for developing a cumulative digital portfolio illustrating continued progress in academic challenges.
7. Increased Professional Development - While still exceeding the average minutes of instruction for many schools in the surrounding area, instructional staff will participate in a minimum of 2 hours of professional development scheduled on every Friday. This will allow for increased collaboration, frequent data analysis and continued learning.
8. Accountability - 8 Points Charter's autonomy will allow for academic instruction that is truly tailored to the specific student needs and learning styles. In return, the school's instructional team will be held highly accountable to the students and families it serves, the community of Jacksonville, in addition to the District 117 Board of Education. On-going assessments will be conducted as a means for illustrating to stakeholders how the school will achieve goals in areas including, but not limited to academics, social and developmental growth. Through scheduled reports submitted to District 117 and continued communication with families and the community, 8 Points Charter will share this assessment data.
