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Launching Your AdvancePath Academy

AdvancePath Academics has pioneered an innovative partnership approach with school districts to create a new response for the high risk and disenfranchised students. Enrolling students enter a technology-rich "internet cafè"-like environment supported by teachers who have been specially trained to work with non-traditional learners. Each Academy operates as a School District program (not a charter school) and every student receives an Individual Learning Pathway and timeline based on state and district requirements for earning their high school diploma.

Academy costs are paid for with funding that states apportion directly to the students on either a per student enrollment or per student attendance (ADA) basis. This funding model ensures partner districts incur no additional cost above and beyond what states already apportion directly to students. In fact, school districts will typically retain a portion of their general funds. Meanwhile, AdvancePath pays for all operating costs in the Academy (including teacher and staff compensation, as well as Academy provisioning, infrastructure, curricular, and other ongoing costs), and bears the responsibility for recovery of returning students.

In launching your Academy, AdvancePath will:
  • Fully Align all content to State and District Standards
   
  • Compensate teaching staff per your policies and union rules
   
  • Purchase all necessary software licenses and instructional materials
   
  • Provide On-going Professional Development for all Academy Staff
   
  • Implement student performance assessments per the District calendar
  • Provide the capital investment to purchase the furniture, carpeting, and technology to establish the right learning environment for Academy operations
   
  • Define and mange the day-to-day operational workflow
   
  • Provide Academy Job Descriptions and coordinate hiring with District HR
   
  • Provide a Community Outreach Director to lead dropout recovery efforts
90-Days to Implementing Your AdvancePath Academy

Week 1: Superintendent and Cabinet meet with AdvancePath executive to review the partnership and agree on the milestones for evaluating participation.
Week 2: AdvancePath specialists conduct departmental surveys to gather required planning information, evaluate facility options, answer questions and layout draft plans.
Week 3: AdvancePath team presents Academy operational plan to Superintendent and Cabinet for review and approval.
Week 4: If Academy plan is approved by Cabinet, Superintendent presents Academy operating and budget plan to Board for approval.
Week 5-6: With Board approval, contract executed, facility upgrades initiated, furniture, carpeting, computer technology, and instructional resources ordered. Curriculum Alignment work begins and staff positions advertised.
Week 7-9: Facility infrastructure work completed and furniture delivered and installed. New staff hired. Student recruiting begins.
Week 10: Computer technology delivered, tested and certified.
Week 11-12: Staff training, initial student assessments and community orientation.
Week 13: Full operation.