A: Academies of Excellence, Inc. is a nonprofit organization developed for the purpose of creating learning environments with innovative, alternative approaches to education. Academies of Excellence is operated via a collaborative approach from among a number of gifted and dedicated educators who want to make a difference in the lives of Florida children. Academies of Excellence is focused on the east coast of Florida, centered around the Daytona Beach area. A sister organization, Academies of America, is focused on the west coast of Florida, centered around Tampa Bay.

Q: How does the Academies of Excellence select a certain district for a Charter School or Schools?

A: We simply believe that schooling is a matter of choice. We would like to add to the choices that families in a selected district could make. We choose some districts based on selected growth in certain areas; some are selected to add some specific initiative that supports district goals. After you learn about Academies of Excellence, you will see that we have the same interests and values that you do – just a slightly different way of achieving them.

Q: How does a Charter School differ from a Public School?

A: A Charter School is a Public School. Charter schools are initiated to provide more innovative and individualized academic programs. Charter schools have more flexibility in how they deliver the curriculum. There is no cost to attend a charter school. We believe charter schools have a number of advantages, and we'll point these out in our FAQs

Q: What experience do you bring to this endeavor?

A: Our first charter schools will open in August 2004. Although this will be the first charter schools under our Academy, our management team has a wealth of experience in the area of education. Our board members are extremely well qualified and have been involved in creating and operating successful charter schools.

Q: What makes your Academy unique and distinctive?

A: We bring a number of benefits to the area. Our classes will be small as will be our schools. Research has shown the benefits of a small school environment in terms of student achievement. We expect to hire a motivated and talented faculty with demonstrated skills and enthusiasm who are employed based on performance rather than tenure. We will employ technology to a greater extent than any of our students have seen in a public school, using our superb expertise with enterprise systems. We will use an excellent software program, ActiveClassroom, that will synergize the teacher-parent-student relationship by providing a forum to exchange information on all facets of the learning process. Additionally, we will never loose sight of the fact that our students come by choice, which makes them and their parents already bought into our system, so we will ensure that our system is responsive to their needs and ambitions.

Q: What curriculum will you follow?

A: The educational program of the school will follow the curriculum incorporated in the Sunshine State Standards and National Educational Technology standards. The curriculum will be coordinated with the district curriculum. The school will follow the same school calendar year as the district. The school day will be the same length of day.

Q: How will students be evaluated?

A: The progress of students toward mastery of the standards and the curriculum will be monitored and evaluated using data derived from a variety of formative assessments. Our goal is an individual academic plan for all students; analysis of these data will guide both group and individual instructional planning. All students will take part in standardized testing to assist with evaluation of their strengths and areas of need.

Q: How will children be transported to this school?

A: We are contracting with the School District for this service, though there may be some specific transportation needs that we will meet with our own assets.

Q: How will children be fed at this school?

A: We are contracting with the School District for this service.

Q: What insurance will you carry?

A: We will carry the various and many forms of insurance coverage as required by the State of Florida.

Q: How will you accomplish the functions of Risk Management?

A: The School will undergo the safety and security certification process used by the County Public School District in order to comply with the SAFE Passage Act, as per FS 229.838. Faculty and administrators will be trained yearly in nonviolent crisis intervention procedures.

Our school will adopt and implement a comprehensive health, safety, and risk management plan. This plan will be developed in consultation with local law enforcement agencies, staff members, parents, community members, and the school's insurance carriers.
Students, staff, and parents will receive appropriate training to ensure its implementation. It will be reviewed and revised at least annually.

All employees of the school will be fingerprinted as provided in s. 231.01, and will acquire reports of drug testing with an outside organization. No person shall be hired without the school having made contact with two or more previous employers to review and verify employment history.

The school shall not allow any person (whether employed directly by the school or its governing body or by a contractor) to serve in any position requiring or involving direct contact with students who has been convicted of a crime of moral turpitude. The school shall not allow any person with a criminal conviction to serve in any capacity with the school or its governing body (whether employed directly by the school or its governing body or by a contractor without the written consent and approval of the Executive Board.

A: The State of Florida will provide capital outlay funding for the fourth year of operation. To overcome this lack of initial funding we will conduct a threefold approach:
We will initially collocate our elementary and middle schools and derived economies of scale from sharing some facilities.
We will approach developers in the areas of interest to secure land upon which to build. Many developers see the advantage of having a community school adjacent to their developments.
We will seek bond funding for the purchase of land, where purchase is the selected alternative. We have identified an investor experienced with the issue of bonds who can and will conduct a successful bond campaign. This funding option, as opposed to conventional funding, is more expensive in the long run by the cost of the bond issue, but it will carry us into the state funding time frame.

Q: How will you staff the school?

A: The Board of Directors of the Academies of Excellence will advertise the position and select the administrator whose philosophy, commitment, and experience will best further the mission of the school.

We will hire a diverse faculty composed of highly qualified teachers with enterprising spirits. Teachers with multiple certifications will be sought. This may include contacting the top graduate and education programs (local through international) and publicizing our school(s) to experienced teachers, leaders, corporate, and civic organizations.

Hiring criteria includes appropriate certification (State of Florida), an ability to work cooperatively, and a demonstrated willingness to assume responsibility and exercise leadership for the school as a community of learners. Multiple certifications and technological experience is preferred. Teacher qualifications will be made available to parents as part of the enrollment process as well as being posted in a publicly accessible location in order to demonstrate the excellence already completed in their careers as related to student achievement, professional accomplishments, and commitment to research and community service.

Clerical staff will also be included in various staff development opportunities as it relates to their responsibilities.

The salary and benefit packages offered by the School will be similar to those of the County Public School District. Hiring and dismissal procedures will meet State requirements. Some staff may be leased, depending upon school needs.

Q: Will you require school uniforms?

A: Uniforms are required for students in order to create a more cohesive, non-competitive atmosphere, and reduce discipline problems. The uniform will be such that no additional expenses are incurred by students or their families (for example, white shirt with tan slacks or skirt).

Q: How will you work to achieve a racial/ethnic balance reflective of the community it serves?

A: Efforts will be made to recruit students reflective of the diversity within the school district. A representative of the school will go to elementary schools and community centers within the area and request an opportunity to speak to parents and students regarding the charter school and its programs. Advertisements will be placed in the local newspapers and publications as appropriate. Representatives of the school will personally meet with leaders from the different communities and groups it hopes to serve.