Outlined clearly in A.R.S. § 15-181, the fundamental purpose of charter schools is to “increase student achievement.” Keeping that in mind, Pensar Academy has constructed a Program of Instruction that will maximize student achievement through:
Individualized education. Each Pensar Academy student is placed on an Individual Growth Plan that is tailored to measure student growth in math, reading, and writing. A monthly report is shared with the student and family to keep track of each student’s progress to ensure that every student at Pensar is pushed to his or her potential.
A challenging core curriculum. The Arizona College and Career Readiness Standards (ACCRS) provide the baseline academic skills and content each Pensar Academy student must possess to be grade level proficient. However, at Pensar, the state standards are viewed as a floor, not a ceiling to student learning. This means that students are constantly pushed to continue growing academically organically, not based solely on age equivalent prescriptions.
A staff of career teachers. Pensar Academy believes that the classroom teacher is the single most influential factor of student achievement, which is why we only recruit Highly Qualified, state certified career educators to teach our students. The teaching staff at Pensar must have a proven track record of student success along with a minimum of 3 years of teaching experience.
A blended learning model. The Pensar Academy student body is diverse, so our teaching model is just as diversified to keep students engaged and learning. Each Pensar Academy student will participate in traditional direct instruction, computer based learning, intervention or extension classes, and project based learning.
A culture with a post-graduation mindset. The Pensar Academy culture is based upon the importance of success in a 21st century society. Our elective classes were intentionally selected to advance student interests, while giving them the necessary background and knowledge to plan their futures through such courses as Career Prep, Financial Prep, Education Prep, and Life Prep. All Pensar Academy students will also partake in Physical Education classes and Chess class.
Pensar Academy 