Education Goals and Program

Bay County Public School Academy’s educational goal is to prepare students to be creative, intuitive, and analytical thinkers with a solid understanding of the history of ideas. The content-rich Paragon Curriculum will prepare students to solve problems both individually and collaboratively, using critical thinking skills and cultivated through comparative, interdisciplinary study. Extensive access to computer technology as an authentic learning tool will enable Bay County Public School Academy students to address unprecedented career challenges and global opportunities facing them in the 21st century.

Bay County Public School Academy’s objectives include higher standardized test scores, steady improvement in the quality of performance-based assessments, improved student attendance, higher graduation rates, superior teacher training, as well as enhanced motivation, satisfaction and morale on the part of students, teachers, parents, and community members.

The school day and academic calendar will be extended resulting in more than five additional years of instruction over the K-12 sequence. Increased learning time allows for greater mastery of curriculum content and for increased exposure to engaging enrichment programs that develop the whole student. Students who are having difficulty keeping up with their classmates will be provided intensive tutorials before and after school to keep them on a “level playing field” with their peers. Multiple assessments also encourage students to learn in ways consistent with their individual learning styles, which increase learning opportunities.

Education Program

Explicit phonics instruction in conjunction with content-rich classic and multi-cultural literature in the morning session of core subjects.
Math and science taught as discrete subjects in the morning session to cultivate skills essential to academic success.
Full-day Kindergarten with teacher assistants in each kindergarten room.
1 to 3 ratios of computers to students. Technology application including CD-ROMs and Internet sites are woven into the fabric of the curriculum, instead of segregating technology into a separate once-a week computer class. Our classroom computers and strategic application of technology develop genuine computer literacy and allow students to experience the value of the computer as an integrated learning tool across the curriculum.
Integrated Paragon program in the afternoon, including social science, literature, philosophy, drama, music, art, science, history, math, geography, and character development through the hands-on study of “great ideas” in world culture.

Art and music for all students beginning in Kindergarten.
Approximately one hour per day more instruction time, before and after school childcare.
200-day school year.
Strong student accountability measured by a national standardized test and portfolio assessment. Individualized personal learning plan for every child.
After-school and summer tutorial programs.
Title 1 reading (Early Success) and math available.
Individualized computerized tutoring program (CCC) for all students.
Bay County Academy participates in mandated State Testing programs (MEAP).
All teachers and administrators are certified with the State of Michigan.
Current CAO and Assistant CAO have over sixty-five years of teaching and administrative experience.

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