Advanced Scholars Academy at
Riverbend:
Announcement re
Part-time Enrollment of Home Schoolers
The State Board of Education (SBOE) has
granted a waiver of State Board Rule
160-4-8-.12 ALTERNATIVE/NON-TRADITIONAL
EDUCATION PROGRAMS to allow elementary students to
pursue a high quality educational experience in multiple venues and in multiple
classroom environments so that they can progress with their education at the
point of readiness, without regard to traditional seat-time requirements. The Hall County Board of Education submitted the waiver request
on behalf of Riverbend Elementary School’s Advanced Scholars Academy (ASA), a
program of choice for academically advanced students. ASA will make available a
true “move on when ready” venue for qualified full-time students and now, as
part of the agreement with the SBOE, ASA will accept up to 20 part-time
students who are currently being home-schooled.To the best of our knowledge,
this is the first time in history such an opportunity has been extended
to elementary students.
ASA accepted 115
full-time students during its spring application period, and those children
began school on Monday, August 8th.
Now, with approval from the SBOE, ASA is willing to provide
flexible enrollment for home-schooled students. Parents
of selected home-schooled children will work with ASA staff to plan a rigorous,
highly personalized program of study to meet
the needs of their children though a combination of at-home and at-school
experiences. For example, some parents may elect to bring their children to
Riverbend for math and science instruction only. Others may want their children
to participate in writing and foreign language instruction at school while they
take primary responsibility for the other content areas. At-home studies will
be guided and supplemented through on-line communication with ASA teachers.
All ASA students,
whether enrolled full or part-time, will benefit from customized
schedules and instruction designed to challenge them at an accelerated pace and
appropriate academic level. The program will have a nurturing environment with
high expectations and will offer fluidity within and between grade levels in
the school.
Home-schooling parents who are
interested in ASA may read more about the program and download an application
on the Riverbend Elementary School website (http://www.hallco.org/RiverbendES/),
or they may go by the school to pick up a copy. Through the application
process, parents will need to submit evidence of their children’s advanced
academic achievement, outstanding communication skills, creativity, motivation
and ability to work independently and in small groups. The application deadline
for home-schooled students is August 26, 2011. Only twenty qualified part-time students
will be accepted, so interested parents should submit their applications as
soon as possible.
Riverbend Elementary School is located
at 1742 Cleveland Highway, Gainesville, GA 30501.
Visit Riverbend Website
ASA at Riverbend Media Release
