Two new Delaware Charter Schools propose single sex programs.

Prestige

Prestige Academy, an all-boys middle school in the Red Clay Consolidated School District, would model some of the principles of KIPP, the Knowledge Is Power Program, a national network of free college-preparatory public schools in under-resourced communities.
KIPP officials, who had a school approved to open this year in Red Clay, have delayed its opening by at least a year as they continue their search for a school leader.

Prestige would have a longer school day and year and double periods of math, reading and writing to help children who are behind in those areas.

With a concentration on remediation, the school also would offer after-school tutoring and homework support, Saturday learning opportunities and a "strict culture of accountability," said Jack Perry, who would serve as executive director.

The school would open with 100 fifth-graders and add a 100-student grade each year until reaching the eighth grade with 400 students.

"We want to remain small. We want to remain an intimate environment where every teacher knows every student," Perry said.

A location hasn't been chosen. Perry said leaders hope to find a building in Wilmington.

REACH

REACH Academy for Boys and Girls is proposed for the Glasgow area. Boys and girls would learn in separate parts of the school but come together for some social functions.

Like Prestige's, REACH leaders point to some studies showing children learn better in single-gender classes, where they may not feel distracted or intimidated by the opposite sex.

The school would open as a K-3 school with 346 students but grow to eighth grade by its fourth year, with a final enrollment of 600, evenly split among boys and girls.

REACH students will create a personal goal chart each year focusing on five areas: life skills, such as leadership, image and self-esteem; physical well-being; aspirations and interests; family and community; and academics.

Update on Urban Update

The Ron Walker and Jackie Jenkins Scott segment on Urban Uodate was preempted last week. We anticipate it will appear tomorrow January 7, 2007 at 11:30 on channel 7.
Reset your TIVO's or alarms to hear Ron and Jackie describe how the seminars on Black Male Youth moved from thought to reality.

Final Session

The Education of Black Male Youth Lecture Series

Wednesday January 10, 4:00-6:00 p.m. Lucy Wheelock Auditorium 201 The Riverway
Leadership Perspectives in Confronting the Disproportionate Representation of Black Males in Special Education, by Dr. Gwendolyn Webb Johnson, College of Education, Texas A & M University, and Dr. Ronald Rochon, School of Education, Buffalo State College

Atlas Leadership Seminars

Leadership Perspectives in Confronting the Disproportionate Representation of Black Males in Special Education

Thursday January 11, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. 43 Hawes Street Brookline-Wheelock Brookline Campus
Speaker: Dr. Gwendolyn Webb-Johnson

Dr. Webb-Johnson is assistant professor for the Department of Educational Administration and Human Resource Development at the College of Education at Texas A&M University.

Register Online