AdvancED’s district-wide re-accreditation will apply to all future charter schools operated by Mosaica, within the five-year period. This means new charters, will not be required to go through an accreditation process.

The AdvancED Quality Assurance Review Team also singled out Mosaica’s schools for special commendations on six different fronts:

• Passionate leadership, skill and expertise, which resulted in what AdvancED characterized as “a highly successful education management company”;

• The proprietary Paragon® curriculum and educational philosophy:

• An innovative operational culture that “values ‘edupreneurship’ and . . . innovation”;

• Acceptance of moral responsibility to students and staff for teaching and learning;

• The successful development of a scalable, sustainable model, as well as an organizational capacity for continuous improvement; and

• A demonstrated record of student achievement.

AdvancED is the world’s largest education community, serving more than 27,000 public and private schools and districts across the United States and in 69 countries that educate more than 15 million students.

Mosaica, which launched its charter schools on the vision of its co-founders, now operates 75 charter schools nationwide, including blended-model and online schools in Arizona and California, and it has expanded into global education, with 15 schools in the Middle East and plans to open more based on its acclaimed educational program.

Accreditation, significant for oversight and accountability purposes, includes a documented self-study and independent review panel of experienced educational professionals. This is designed to ensure compliance with legal and regulatory standards in the various jurisdictions where Mosaica operates.

At its core, Mosaica focuses on student achievement through the implementation of its proprietary Paragon® Curriculum.  Paragon® is a hands-on, inquiry-based Humanities program.

Dawn Eidelman, Ph.D., Mosaica’s co-founder and Paragon’s principal architect, noted that the college-preparatory program is specifically designed for 21st-century schools; it is delivered digitally and updated annually, with a focus on bringing together students, teachers, parents, and community partners to celebrate human excellence in a hands-on journey through the history of world culture.

“There is a palpable bond among the standing-room only crowds at Paragon Nights,” she remarked.

About Mosaica Education, Inc.
Mosaica Education, Inc. is a global education company that operates high-performing schools and provides related services in the United States and Internationally. Mosaica has educated over 45,000 children since its inception. The company currently manages 90 school programs in eight states, the District of Columbia and the Middle East. Mosaica-managed schools utilize a unique school design, which combines a proprietary curriculum Paragon®, with state-of-the-art technology. Paragon offers a hands-on approach focused on the multiple intelligences and individualized learning styles through a thematic approach of study that covers multiple subject areas.

About AdvancEd
AdvancED brings together more than 100 years of experience and the expertise of the two largest national accreditation agencies — the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement (NCA CASI), and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS CASI). The AdvancED accreditation process, is a clear and comprehensive program of evaluation and external review, supported by research-based standards, and dedicated to helping schools, districts and education providers continuously improve. It is the world’s largest education community, serving more than 27,000 public and private schools and districts across the U.S. and in 69 countries that educate more than 15 million students.

JoAnn Hipsher, the Chief Administrative Officer at Foundation is very excited about the growth. “We continue to grow,” Hispsher said. “I think parents and students are drawn to us, in part, because we have a good curriculum that includes integrated social studies and humanities.”

The construction for the building expansion is scheduled to be complete in mid-April; a ribbon cutting ceremony will be held in May.

Foundation Academy, a Kindergarten through 8^th grade public charter school located in Mansfield, OH and is managed by Mosaica Education, Inc. The academy implements Mosaica’s educational model which focuses on individualized instruction, technology in the classroom, parental involvement, community support, and the Paragon© Curriculum. Paragon© Curriculum offers a college liberal arts core education to students beginning in kindergarten. The student-centered, discovery-based, multi-cultural program is designed to addresses students’ multiple intelligences and individual learning styles.

About Mosaica Education:
Mosaica Education, Inc. is a global education company that operates high-performing charter schools and provides related services in the United States and Internationally. The company manages more than 90 elementary, middle and high school programs in eight states, the District of Columbia and internationally. Mosaica-managed schools utilize a unique school design, which combines a proprietary curriculum called Paragon©, with state-of-the-art technology.

About Foundation Academy:
Foundation Academy is a public charter school located at 1050 Wyandotte Avenue, Mansfield, Ohio. The academy offers an integrated program which includes; art, foreign language, individualized instruction, state-of-the-art technology and the Paragon© curriculum.

 Ask: What did you see on our walk that you would like to paint a picture of?
 
Provide your student with paints, brushes, and paper and have him or her use the same rich colors and broad stokes as O’Keefe did to create a painting. 
 
Paper Bag Princess, by Michael Martchenko.  This updated fairy tale celebrates a strong female character—a princess who uses her wits to conquer dragons and rescue her kidnapped prince.  After reading the story, ask your student to compare this story to other fairy tales s/he may have heard, such as Sleeping Beauty.  Create a two-column chart or Venn diagram on the paper so that your student can describe what is the same and different between each.  Encourage your child to describe and analyze the characters, the plot, and the ending.  Which story does your student like better?  Why?  You may have your student describe his or her feelings in a journal.
 
Current Events.  Women are making history everyday and are filling leadership positions faster than at any other time in history.  Share newspaper and magazine articles that feature strong, intelligent women in leadership positions.  For example, First Lady Michelle Obama is on the cover of many magazines; Hillary Clinton travels the world as Secretary of State; Nancy Pelosi was the first woman Speaker of the House and continues to serve as one of several women in Congress, and so on.  Worldwide, women are speaking out in increasing numbers, as well. For instance, Egyptian women had a strong voice during the recent political protests and change in their country.  Share the articles, discuss, and then create a bulletin board featuring all the accomplishments of women making history today. 
 
Writing.  Have your student create a small book about a woman in his or her life who is very special.  Provide 6 – 10 half sheets of drawing paper and colored pencils and/or crayons.  On each page, have your student write 1 – 3 sentences of text and draw accompanying illustrations.  Your son or daughter can then make a cover out of construction paper and bind the book with yarn.  Be sure to let your child share his or her book with the woman s/he wrote about!

Research.  Solid research projects begin with broad questions that lead to smaller questions, which ultimately lead to a tighter focus.  For example any of the following questions provide a broad base for beginning research:

• Why do we have Women’s History Month?
• When, why, and who started the women’s movement in the U.S.?
• Is there a women’s movement today?  Who are some key players and what issues are they working on?
• Are there any significant women’s organizations today and what are their histories?
• I’ve heard of Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony—what did they do, when, and why?    

Once the broad question is formulated, research may begin.  Through the process of research, the smaller questions will give rise to well-defined objectives.  For example, the broad question, “When, why, and who started the women’s movement in the US?” may lead to a research project on Elizabeth Cady Stanton.
 
Together with your student, formulate 3 – 5 broad research questions that pertain to Women’s History Month.  Through research, narrow the focus, identify objectives, and work together on a paper about your selected, focused topic.  Any of the websites listed below are a good starting point: 
 
National Women’s Hall of Fame
http://www.greatwomen.org/

NOTE: This site is currently undergoing upgrades, and will restart on March 8, 2011, the day new Inductees to the National Women’s Hall of Fame are to be announced.

National Women’s History Project
http://www.nwhp.org

The National Museum of Women in the Arts
http://www.nmwa.org/

International Museum of Women
http://www.imow.org/home/index

Comparing & Analyzing Quotations.  Have your student read the two quotations below, both by First Ladies—one by Abigail Adams in 1776 and the other by Hillary Clinton in 2008.  How do these two quotes relate to one another?  Did Abigail Adams’ prediction come to pass?  Did women “foment a rebellion”?  How did Hillary Clinton’s quotation affirm what Ms. Adams said?  How do you think Abigail would feel about Hillary’s accomplishment?  Does your student think we will have a woman President in his or her lifetime?  Why or why not?        
 
“If particular care and attention is not paid to the ladies, we are determined to foment a rebellion and will not hold ourselves bound by any laws in which we have no voice or representation.”
-          Abigail Adams, U.S. First Lady, 1776
 
“Although we weren’t able to shatter that highest, hardest glass ceiling this time, thanks to you, it’s got about 18 million cracks in it.  And the light is shining through like never before, filling us all with the hope and the sure knowledge that the path will be a little easier next time.” 
-          Hillary Clinton, 2008
 
 
We hope you and your student enjoy Women’s History Month and that students broaden their perspective and understanding of the great strides women have made to achieve their dreams.  We hope, also, that in their study of women’s history, all students will see a connection between women’s struggles and achievements and their own abilities to succeed in whatever they try!
 

Dawn D. Eidelman, Ph.D.

Chief Education Officer

Mosaica Education, Inc.

Frazier Preparatory Academy, a Kindergarten through 8^th grade Chicago Public Schools contract school, is managed by Mosaica Education, Inc. The academy implements Mosaica’s educational model which focuses on individualized instruction, technology in the classroom, parental involvement, community support, on-going professional development and the Paragon© Curriculum. The Paragon© Curriculum offers a college liberal arts core education to students beginning in kindergarten. The student-centered, discovery-based, multi-cultural program is designed to address students’ multiple intelligences and individual learning styles.

About Mosaica Education:
Mosaica Education, Inc. is a global education company that operates high-performing charter schools and provides related services in the United States and Internationally. The company manages 90 school programs in eight states, the District of Columbia and the Middle East. Mosaica-managed schools utilize a unique school design, which combines a proprietary curriculum called Paragon®, with state-of-the-art technology.

About Frazier Preparatory Academy:

Frazier Preparatory Academy is a Chicago Public Schools contract school located at 4027 W Grenshaw Chicago, IL 60624. The academy implements a thematic, interactive program incorporating multiple learning styles. The core curriculum includes top rated, phonics-based Open Court Reading, SRA Math, Harcourt Brace Science, and Spanish.

Join us as we celebrate the great work and accomplishments of our students, parents, teachers and administrators. Improving the nation’s public education system is not an easy task, but together we can make great strides.  Help us keep the momentum going by getting involved in your community.  Here are some ways you can support charter schools in your community.

• Make a tax-deductible donation to a school in our network— Every dollar counts (Click here to find a school in your community)
• Plan a charter school tour with local political and business leaders. (Click here to find a school in your community)
• Host a lecture by a prominent speaker on a key educational issue.
• Talk to your friends, families and social networks about the benefits of public charter schools
• Become a Fan of Mosaica Education, Inc. on Facebook (Click here)
• Send postcards and emails  to key constituents in your community announcing National Charter Schools Week 2010

Gene Eidelman

President

Mosaica Education, Inc.

The CDE identified Mosaica Education to provide support in the areas of academics, learning environment, leadership and planning. Following an extensive application process, the CDE only selected nine service providers to provide assistance in each of these four categories. An additional ten providers were approved for more limited service support.

Mosaica provides comprehensive school services in more than 75 school programs in the United States and internationally and has extensive experience in restructuring and turning around failing schools.

School improvement is required for chronically low-performing schools in Colorado under both federal guidance and state law. Federal guidance for Title I School Improvement Grants requires recipients to implement one of four school intervention models: (1) turnaround model (2) restart model, (3) school closure, or (4) transformation model.

Michael J. Connelly, CEO of Mosaica Education said, “Mosaica is proud to have been selected as an educational services provider in this critical area of work. We understand the challenge presented by these schools and we are well-prepared and very much looking forward to working with our colleagues in Colorado to identify, implement, and monitor viable solutions.”

According to Connelly, “Mosaica brings a strong track record of improving student academic performance in the schools in which it works. It does so by planning carefully, implementing aggressively, and holding everyone involved accountable for results. Mosaica’s experience working with low-performing schools has taught us that every school community is different – and we tailor our approaches to meet each community’s specific needs. The only workable, long-term and sustainable solutions are solutions customized to the unique set of circumstances in each school,”

Mosaica’s work with schools is driven by research-based interventions that become imbedded in the daily life of the schools. “We use innovative, effective instructional methods to include all students. Our hands-on approach supports the development of strong instructional leaders at the school level and includes the involvement of the community in the growth and development of the school”, said Mr. Connelly.

The providers identified in the department’s initial list will focus primarily on school turnaround and transformation efforts, but also may assist with more intensive interventions.

“We strongly encourage schools to avail themselves of the providers and the research-based, proven methods they offer,” said Commissioner of Education Dwight D. Jones. “The department is committed to partnering with schools and districts in the development of comprehensive turnaround plans and to assist in the effort to improve student achievement for all. This is urgent work.”

Consistent with federal guidance, the CDE has identified Colorado schools for intensive intervention based on data on student growth, achievement and graduation rates.

For more information
Contact:
Terry Gogerty
tgogerty@mosaicaeducation.com
720-838-4127