1. High Academic Standards Emphasizing a Strong Student Work Ethic:Although less time is spent in school, a University-Model School is still a full-time program, and high standards must be set to encourage the development and maintenance of a strong work ethic among students.
2. Low Student/Teacher Ratio:Low student/teacher ratios provide for greater instructional effectiveness and thus better use of limited classroom time. The recommended maximum student/teacher ratio limits for a University-Model School are set at 12:1 for Kindergarten; 16:1 for Elementary; 18:1 for Junior High; 20:1 for Senior High.
3. Professional and Local Management:A University-Model School must be directed by professionals and governed at the school-level by participating parents.
4. Admission Policies that Consider Student Supervision:
Since students participating in a University-Model School will spend less time in the central classroom at school, a University-Model School must have admission policies that consider the adult supervision of minors while students are in the satellite classroom at home.
5. Technical and Educational Resources:
A University Model School must have access to sufficient technical and educational resources to support a well-rounded educational program.
6. Semester-by-Semester Admission and Registration:
Students must enter courses only at the beginning of a semester, not while the semester is in progress.
7. Semester Length:
Given that classroom instructional time is decreased significantly in this model, the regular semester length for a University Model School must be no less than 16 weeks in duration, and major interruptions of instructional time (e.g., for achievement testing) must be set-up as additional time.
8. Single Subject (and Grade Level) Classes:
All academic classes must be offered as single subject (or grade level) classes to best utilize available instructional time.
9. Course Prerequisites:
Course prerequisites should be established to provide the professional teachers with a clear starting point for course instruction.
10. Flexible Course Level Registration:
Course registration at a University Model School should be flexible enough to allow students to advance by individual course rather than by complete grade-level to ensure mastery of all subject matter in a given course sequence. |
