Thunderbird Early College Charter School, a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math) Focused Grade 5-12 Small Public School is Proposed in Wasilla, Alaska

Wasilla, Alaska, 23, June, 2009 Thunderbird Early College Charter School, Inc (TECC). is proposed to utilize current research and technology in curriculum, teaching methods and assessment designs. By providing a virtual "school within a school" and face-to-face learning opportunities in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) and the Humanities we hope tp inspire global awareness and leadership qualities, help students understand their civic duty, and provide clear well lit pathways to college. Qualified students will be provided the opportunity to simultaneously complete high school and post secondary coursework at regionally accredited college and universities thereby encouraging them to excel and help shape the future of our world.

TECC, www.tecc-alaska.org, proposes to open in Matanuska Sustina Borough School District, in July 2010. An innovative school model of individuality, differentiation and interventions, within the bounds of the core principles the school proposes to grow scholars. Continuous program refinement is proposed to include innovation, civic engagement, enhanced parental options, and strong educational accountability. An important goal is to remain committed to a rigorous approach to school reform.

Partnering with regionally accredited colleges and universities and other experts from their fields, the school shall provide integrated educational opportunities in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) and the Humanities under the umbrella of school wide United Nations Simulations.

Teacher's Circles will explore and use current research in the proposed school and will design, and continuously refine facility-based instructional programs as well as, a virtual 'school within a school'. Instruction shall by guided by; current research in psychology and neuroscience on how the brain learns, Differentiated Instruction and Understanding by Design (Wiggins & McTighe,2005) and 'thinking routines derived from the research of Harvard Graduate School of Education, Project Zero.

Authentic assessment data will drive the proposed school's curriculum and instruction. Learning opportunities shall be designed to nurture students' critical thinking skills, creativity , curiosity and literacy across the curriculum. Courses, Intensives, Units and lesson plans shall include student research, synthesis, reflections and authentic demonstrations of their learning. Online and face-to-face units, peer-to-peer learning opportunities, trade book use, virtual labs, e-museums visits and field trips, student internet research and reflections, and other resources will be deliberately selected to help students reach specific goals - curriculum will not be limited to textbooks only. When learning objectives are carefully crafted and met by students, then, curriculum has quality.

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