The American Academy

Last week we celebrated the first official day in spring, the harbinger (English students, add that to your vocabulary lists!) of longer days, warmer temperatures, and ...the scramble to make up credits or make room for next year's band class!

This year, we put together a program designed specifically for our "summer school" learners. We know you want to finish your courses as quickly as possible so you can enjoy as much of that precious sunshine as possible. (I'm with you on that!). The theme for our summer school program is "Get in, get out, and get on with it!"

And how are we going to help you do that? Well, check out our new Summer School Program page for details! Okay, I'll give you a preview here: our program is all about support, both academic and motivation. You'll have access to a licensed instructor to answer your questions AND to a professional online tutor available on-demand, any time, day or night. We have a study log to help you see your time add up, a podcast to help you get started on the right foot, and a Online Summer School newsletter to keep you going throughout the summer.

Did we miss anything? Students, I invite your feedback! Good luck, all!

School choice could soon be a reality nation-wide if President Bush's plan to offer Pell Grants to k12 students turns into a reality.

"In his State of the Union Address, the President proposed $300 million in a Pell Grants for Kids program to help the parents of poor children in underperforming schools afford the schools of their choice.

Social networking tools like Facebook and MySpace make the world a smaller place. But did you know that your academic and social worlds could collide there, too? According to a recent survey of post-secondary admissions counselors, approximately 21% of them screen student applications by checking out their profiles on social networking sites!

Link to the full article is here: http://www.daytondailynews.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/11/25/...

It's now on my list of recommended reading.

The Old Oquirrh School House (est 1896) was an auspicious cradle for The American Academy's first few months. Now that it is returning to its roots (it will be renovated beginning in January and turned back into a school), The American Academy will start it's adolescence in the historic and newly renovated Walker Center. The Salt Lake Tribune recently highlighted the history of our new home:

http://www.sltrib.com//ci_7477203?IADID=Search-www.sltrib.com-www.sltrib...

A researcher at Johns Hopkins University published a report last month that showed that in 1 in every 10 schools less than 60% (that's 3 in 5) graduate. In 2000 schools more students drop out than finish high school!

Utah was the only state in the country that did not have a so-called "dropout" factory. This commitment to helping students complete school is one of the cornerstones of our partnership.

The American Academy, the premier solution to the dropout crisis gripping the nation, offers courses aligned to the Utah state standards and utilizes Utah-licensed teachers.

Bill Gates retired from running his software empire in order to co-chair his education foundation. He recently spoke about the "social costs" of dropping out. Here's what he had to say:

More teens than ever quit high school; future doesn’t bode well for most

By Josh Perkins, Class of 2009
SpiderWorld Online
Concord (NC) High School

POSTED: Oct. 26, 2007

Did you know that about 2,500 American high school students drop out every day? Did you know someone with a high school diploma will make about $10,000 more per year than someone without a diploma?

I just returned from a few days in Kentucky attending the Virtual School Symposium. Each year, they put together a panel of online students to tell us about what works and what doesn't.

Here's what I learned:

One of the most important resources we, as a school, have is your feedback. Students, I want to hear from you! Please email me anytime - principal@taaschools.net. Tell me what's on your mind; I promise I'll reply!