Marlene Kaye
As School Leader of Advance U, a neighborhood charter school located in South Phoenix serving children in pre-Kindergarten to second grade, I have been extremely privileged to be able to provide a second choice of education for students in this part of the valley. I have found it very important to make sure this was a place for the community no matter what ethnic or economic background our students or families have. Advance's mission is to develop each child's unique learning potential through a partnership between the school and home. We are proud to have small-size classes, which help our teachers-the majority bilingual, establish a more personal and supportive relationship with our students and parents. We currently have 43 students enrolled in kindergarten through 2nd grade and 30 students enrolled in our pre-kindergarten program. According to a Parents Across America Study, states throughout the country have shown that students who are assigned to smaller classes in grades K-2nd do better in every way that can be measured: score higher on tests, receive better grades, and exhibit improved attendance. With small-size classes come other opportunities like the integration of technology in the classroom. Advance U provides access to computers and iPads to our students, which we firmly believe help them develop important skills in today's ever-changing world. At Advance U, we also stress the importance for parents and grandparents to know that they have a choice in where to send their children and grandchildren to school, whether they live or not in an area close to the school. Mrs. Kaye School Leader |