Family Visitation Day

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• Family Visitation Day
• March 28, 2009

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WSECP Charter School

• Where Students Succeed
• In School
• In College
• In Community
• In Life

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Mission Statement

• West Sacramento Early College Prep (WSECP)
  Charter School is designed to provide an
  exceptional education that will empower students
  to excel inside and outside of school. By
  preparing all students to succeed in college and
  beyond in an increasingly global workplace, WSECP
  Charter School aims at creating a community of
  motivated, educated life-long learners.

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Agenda

• What is a charter school?
• WSECP Mission
• Program Design
• Graduation Requirements
• Code of Ethics
• Admissions Policy
• School Tour

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What is a Charter School?

• Charter Schools
• Are open to the public
• Are tuition-free
• Participate in state tests
• Employ credentialed teachers for core subjects
• Do not discriminate

Charter schools are public schools that are
responsive to students needs and are held
accountable for improved student achievement.
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The Early College High School Initiative

• Creates partnerships between schools and colleges
  in order to collaborate to increase the goals and
  success of students
• Challenges students, teachers, families, and
  community members to expect more academically,
  resulting in higher academic achievement
• Gives students the opportunity to save money by
  taking college courses while still in high school

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Our Community

• Parents were interested in an alternative for
  students who have traditionally struggled in a
  conventional school setting
• The WUSD was interested in the opportunity to
  provide an innovative and flexible way to meet
  the needs of students in the community and a new
  paradigm for ensuring more district graduates are
  eligible for college
• UC Davis and Sacramento City College were looking
  for promising educational practices and
  conditions that bring opportunities for
  underserved learners

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West Sacramento Early College Prep Charter School

• Creates a strong college-bound culture with high
  expectations for all students
• Provides a rigorous single track college prep
  curriculum designed to fulfill A-G requirements
  for UC/CSU
• Offers an array of academic supports for
  struggling students tutoring, mentoring, and
  counseling

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West Sacramento Early College Prep Charter School

• Helps students identify and pursue their
  intellectual passions and develop their
  individual learning styles
• Focuses on project based learning that is
  engaging and meaningful
• Recruits dynamic, innovative teachers who foster
  individual growth within the context of a small,
  nurturing community

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Why WSECP is Different?

• Small school When at full capacity, we will
  have 420 students in grades 6-12
• Innovative teaching staff and strategies
• Students and families are known personally by
  teachers and staff
• Personalized learning opportunities
• Strong connection to UC Davis and Sacramento City
  College

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Program Design

• Each student will have their own workstation in a
  multi-age classroom
• Students will have access to a durable laptop
  computer to use at school
• Digital textbooks and computer based learning
  will be used whenever feasible
• Teachers will teach in multi-disciplinary teams
  and rotate to the multi-age classrooms
• This will allow for specialized field trips for
  small groups of students in their area of
  interest
• Our goal is to have the adult to child ratio at
  20 to 1

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Project Based Learning

• Our faculty works collaboratively with UC Davis
  to develop a program design that engages students
  and meets the goals of our charter. Project Based
  Learning (PBL) that is standards based will be
  the primary method of instruction.
• PBL allows students to
• Ask questions or pose a problem that they are
  interested in answering
• Engage in hands-on experiences
• Investigate issues and topics in real-world
  problems
• Fosters abstract, intellectual thinking to
  explore complex issues

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Benefits of Project Based Learning

• Helps students differentiate between knowledge
  and thinking, by requiring students to both
  "know" and "do."
• Supports students in learning and practicing
  skills in problem solving, communication, and
  self-management.
• Encourages the development of habits associated
  with lifelong learning, civic responsibility, and
  personal or career success.
• Integrates curriculum areas, thematic
  instruction, and community issues.

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Benefits of Project Based Learning

• Assesses performance on content and skills using
  criteria similar to those in the work world, thus
  encouraging accountability, goal setting, and
  improved performance.
• Creates positive communication and collaborative
  relationships among diverse groups of students.
• Meets the needs of learners with varying skill
  levels and learning styles.
• Engages and motivates bored or indifferent
  students.

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Graduation Requirements
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Promoting Positive Behavior

• Students, staff and families are expected to
• Treat one another with respect
• Promote a college going atmosphere
• Be accepting of one another's differences and
  challenges
• Work as a team to achieve the goals and mission
  of our school

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Promoting Regular Attendance

• Students, staff and families are expected to
• Make attending school the highest priority
• Arrive on time each day
• Only stay home when absolutely necessary
• Plan family vacations around the school calendar
  whenever possible
• Call the office to report an absence

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Promoting Excellence in Academics

• Students, staff and families are expected to
• Actively participate in the learning process
• Perform at their highest capability at all times
• Support one another in achieving academic success
• Strive to examine community centered problems as
  real scientists, historians, mathematicians, and
  writers

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Student/Parent/School Contract

• Students contracts will be revoked for the
  following reasons
• Receiving more than 3 unexcused absences (3
  tardies 1 unexcused absence)
• Falling below a 2.0 for more than one grading
  period during the school year
• Accumulating more three days of suspension

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School Dress Policy

• WSECP is a place where students come to work
• Our school dress policy encourages students to
  dress as they would in a professional setting
• All shirts must have a collar and be free from
  writing (Ties optional)
• Slacks or Skirts

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School Calendar

• High school students will begin the school year
  two days prior to middle school students and will
  end a week later
• This will allow us to meet with our high school
  students to
• Set academic goals one on one
• Provide leadership training so they can serve as
  positive role models to our younger students
• Outline project expectations
• Explore college and career interests in small
  groups

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Extracurricular Activities

• As our program continues to grow, depending on
  student interests, we hope to offer
• Student Leadership
• Clubs
• Student Competitions
• A variety of physical activities during the
  school day

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Student Admissions Policy

• Applications are due to our office Monday, March
  30th by 500 p.m.
• If by the due date, more applications are
  received than there are vacancies, preference
  shall be given to students who
• Are siblings of current WSECP students
• Reside in the WUSD attendance area

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Lottery Procedures

• A public random drawing will be held in the
  school office on April 14th at 400 p.m.
• Families will be notified of acceptance or their
  childs place on the waiting list
• As vacancies arise throughout the year, students
  will be invited to become part of the WSECP
  family in wait list order

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Questions?