We are based on the philosophy that children learn best when in a small group environment. Boys in particular respond well to the hands on learning which is facilitated in this type of classroom. The program is designed as follows:

• Five to seven students of the same grade level in each classroom

• A  “Master Teacher” who has the primary responsibility for designing the school day, putting in place effective classroom management policies, directing and guiding the graduate students and teaching the core subjects of math and reading.

• Each Master Teacher will be responsible for overseeing two classrooms of five to seven students each, for a total of ten to fourteen students that he or she will be responsible for .

• There will always be a graduate student in the classroom working with the students and carrying out the individualized lesson plans designed by the Master Teacher and the graduate students.   

• Students in California will follow the California Virtual Academy (“CAVA”) curriculum using the materials, lesson plans and other materials provided by CAVA and other materials as supplemented by the Master Teacher.

• The CAVA curriculum will be supplemented by additional materials, as needed and as determined by the Master Teacher, particularly in the areas of History and African American History.

• The school will be located at the Boys & Girls Club of Hollywood facility and we are partnering with them as part of the pilot Program.

• Graduate students will be involved as part of an ongoing research program with UCLA’s Graduate School of Education and the Black Male Institute, with other graduate students whose goal it is to be classroom teachers working in the classroom as Teaching Assistants to the Master Teacher. .

• The initial semester which will begin on January 9, 2012, will consist of up to five students who are currently  in the Second Grade and up to five students who are currently in the First Grade.

• One to two grades will be added each year through the fifth grade.