Pathways In Education™, Premiere Alternative Charter School Gets Approved in Chicago, Expanding Options to Graduate for At-Risk Students
Chicago, IL (PRWEB) July 10, 2013 -- Pathways In Education (PIE), the premiere alternative charter school model for under-served students in Illinois, has been approved to expand its current contract with Chicago Public Schools (CPS), and to establish a stand-alone charter starting in 2014. This year, the contract sites have the potential to give more than 600 students a chance to catch up on classes, try out an innovative school model, or graduate on time.
“We will not give up on any student. Doubling the number of quality options and alternative pathways to nontraditional learning environments allows us to help our hardest to reach children and provide them a chance to succeed,” said CPS CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett in a news release.
PIE’s educational model emphasizes personal responsibility. To avoid boredom and frustration, PIE teachers and advisors involve the students in the planning and implementation of their own program, guiding the students as they choose their graduation strategy, coursework, and scheduling. Students meet one-on-one with PIE teachers for three days per week while completing the majority of coursework outside of the learning centers. All credits earned at PIE count toward CPS graduation.
“By approving the PIE charter model, Chicago has proven that our city cares about each student’s success,” said Marty McGreal, PIE regional supervisor. “Many of our students show incredible courage to persevere through challenges at home and at school. Given the flexibility and support we can provide, our students find new levels of confidence, growth, and opportunities for a successful future.”
In addition to the 600 students PIE can serve starting this fall, PIE will open ten charter locations in five years, starting in fall 2014, with a maximum of 1875 students within the next five years. The school’s track record since its first CPS contract in 2006 has shown consistent improvement every term, while returning and graduating 100 students per year to Chicago public schools since 2010.
“We are all about building community,” said Joe Zotto, principal of PIE. “Our team is from Chicago, we hire local teachers, and we wake up every day ready to improve the lives of neighborhood students.”
There are currently 60,000 Chicago-area students who are either not enrolled in school or who are at risk of not graduating due to lack of credits. A 2006 study by the Consortium of Chicago School Research found that 3 in 100 black or Latino men would earn a bachelor's degree by age 25. According to director of the Center for Research on Education Outcomes at Stanford University (CREDO), charter schools like PIE are proven to particularly benefit low-income, disadvantaged and special-education students.
PIE locations can be found at http://www.makeupcredits.com.
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About Pathways in Education
Pathways in Education (PIE) is a model of innovation in the charter school industry to serve at-risk students with year round personalized study programs, one-on-one instruction, online courses, academic and life advisors, experiential learning, and a launch pad for life after high school. The PIE program strives to provide students and parents expanded educational choices within the public school system.
Since 1987, PIE and its related charter companies have given more than 340,000 students a second chance to achieve their educational dreams.
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Contact:
Mark Holley
MHolley(at)emsOFL(dot)com
626-921-8222
Mark Holley, [email protected], 626-921-8222, [email protected]
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