User:Carolinagirls226/sandbox

=Democracy Prep Charter School=

Democracy Prep Charter School is a structured and challenging school where students have the chance to learn Korean and take part in a variety of field trips. A charter school is a school which receives public funding but operates independently. Charter schools are an example of alternative education. This form of education includes a number of approaches to teaching and learning that is separate from what is offered by traditional education. Traditional education refers to long-established customs found in schools that society has traditionally deemed appropriate. Educational alternatives vary, but tend to emphasize small class sizes, close relationships between students and teachers and a sense of community similar to the ones at the Democracy Prep Charter Schools.

History
Democracy Prep Charter Schools were founded by Seth Andrews in August of 2006. Democracy Prep is Currently operating fourteen schools in New York, New Jersey, and The District of Columbia. Collectively Democracy Prep serves 4,416 scholars.

Mission/Civics
Democracy Prep emphasizes civic engagement and encourages students to reach their full potential. Democracy Prep has an extended day, strict rules and high expectations for each student. The mission of this charter network is to educate their students for success in college and a life of active citizenship. Democracy Prep was founded on the basis of “preparing our responsible citizen-scholars for success in the college of their choice and a life of active citizenship.”

Curriculum
Students at Democracy Prep are taught the civic content of knowledge necessary to understanding our system of government. Students are also provided with opportunities to engage in applied civic skills that the school feels are essential to becoming an involved citizen.

Advocacy
Students are given the opportunity to travel to City Hall, Albany and Washington D.C. to lobby Democracy Prep’s elected officials on issues ranging from funding to the DREAM act.

CitizenshipFirst
CitizenshipFirst is an organization housed at Democracy Prep that began in 2011. Its aim is to remind “educators, policymakers, and all Americans that the founding purpose of education was to prepare our nation’s young people for self-government.”

Approach
Democracy Prep is built on the practices of the “no excuses” model. According to Democracy Prep this model has proven for more than 20 years that “demographics do not determine destiny and that low-income students can be successful in the college of their choice.” This model provides students with “more time to learn, rigorous college-preparatory academics, data driven decision-making, structured and supportive school culture, and exemplary talent.” Democracy Prep attempts to enhance this “no excuses” model by adding three additional program elements. These elements include “authentic civil engagement, educating all students in all subjects, and running schools on public funds.” Democracy Prep strives to become a role model for what a public school could exist as across the nation by using this "no excuses" approach to learning.

Values
Seth Andrew, founder of Democracy Prep, believes that American schools would benefit from adopting these three key Korean educational values:

Teachers are golden
In South Korea being a teacher is very respectable. Students and parents address teachers more honorably in Korea than in the US.

Hard work leads to success
South Korea focuses on intense work ethic in schools and in life.

Education is the highest value
Education is the most important cultural value in South Korea.

Diversity
85% of students at Democracy Prep are eligible for free or reduced lunch, 18% of students are part of special education, and 99% of students are of color.

College Acceptance
At Democracy Prep public schools two college acceptances are required for graduation. Every scholar in their inaugural senior class was accepted to at least ten 4-year colleges in 2013 and in all, Democracy Prep scholars were accepted to 215 colleges and universities.

Schools
The school day is between 7:45 am and 4:15 pm, but many students stay until 6:15 for tutoring, extra curricular activities, study hall, and detention.

Middle school
Students take three hours of English, two hours of math, and one hour of social studies and science every day. Teachers guide students from one activity to the next and sometimes use a countdown during transitions. For the most part, desks are in pairs facing the front of the classroom. The curriculum for middle school students is traditional but students have the option to take nontraditional classes called “Find Your Passion.” These classes cover topics such as Tai chi and lacrosse.

High school
Students take three hours of English, two hours of math, and one hour of social studies and science every day, in addition to a Korean language and culture class. Classrooms are set up to encourage class discussion, and classes are less structured and more mature than the middle school classes.

The Dream Team
The school holds values summarized by the acronym DREAM, standing for Discipline, Respect, Enthusiasm, Accountability and Maturity. These values are posted throughout the school and are to be followed by students and staff. Students have the opportunity to earn and lose “DREAM Dollars” based on their behavior and academic performance. Students can use these dollars to participate in a variety of activities and field trips.

The Network Team
The Democracy Prep Public Schools network team supports all of the schools. The network team regularly visits all schools, to create a college-going culture. The College Board defines a college going culture as a culture that “builds the expectation of postsecondary education for all students- not just the best students.” According to Pathways to a College Network, schools should “expect that all underserved students are capable of being prepared to enroll and succeed in college.” This culture allows the school to stay connected with the students by creating measurable goals and standards for the school itself.

The Chief Executive Officer
Currently, in 2014, the CEO of Democracy Prep Public Schools is Katy Duffy. Duffy is in charge of the entire network, making sure to systematize the curriculum and culture while expanding the network to new regions using the grant from the federal department of Education. Duffy once said “We are thrilled to be given the opportunity to bring the Democracy Prep model of college prep and civic education to our Nation’s capital.” Duffy is a superlative leader at Democracy Prep. Prior to Democracy Prep, Duffy held leadership positions at Prep for Prep, The Women’s City Club of New York, and Harlem Day Charter School. Duffy earned a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy and Religion from Mount Holyoke College, a master’s degree in Educational Leadership from George Washington University and completed an executive education program at Columbia Business School.

The Founder
Seth Andrew’s commitment to education reform was established while he was attending Brown University. Andrew began his career as a public school teacher and strived to create an environment for his students to be successful in college and citizenship. Andrew’s goal was to have a school become proof for what was possible for urban students and serve as a counter-factual example against the doubts for his student’s abilities and the critiques of for public charter schools in general. In 2005 Democracy Prep Public Schools were created with the goal of making sure every students would “work hard, go to college, and change the world.”

Enroll
Admission is decided through lottery with priority to students from District 5 and to siblings of enrolled students. Most students are admitted in the 6th grade, but students can be accepted at every grade level depending on how much space is available.

Student Advocacy
Democracy Prep believes that public schools should place a focus on preparing scholars to become active citizens and leaders. Through “civic initiatives, community engagement, speech and debate, as well as authentic student and family advocacy, our scholars acquire the knowledge, skills, and attitude to change the world.”

Parent Advocacy
Parent advocacy is as important to Democracy Prep as student advocacy. Parents have their own organization to give them the tools they need to voice their opinions.

Support
Democracy Prep seeks to create options for parents without high-quality school options for their children that are not being given an opportunity to access a path to college success and active participation in the government’s democracy. Democracy Prep operates on public dollars to demonstrate what is possible for public schools across America. External funding allows for more schools to be built at a pace equal to the challenge of reforming public schooling in America. Donations can be sent by mail, online or through specialized giving.