A group of teachers, curriculum specialists and Mosaica executives gathered for the Mosaica Math Summit on May 4 and 5. The summit focused on ways to increase math achievement at Mosaica schools around the world. Dawn Linden, Mosaica’s Director of Education explained the purpose of bringing these educators together: “Mathematics achievement is high on our list of priorities and we’re looking for innovative, effective strategies to increase conceptual understanding, and to ensure that we’re reaching each student every day.”

Referencing the Final Report of the U.S. Department of Education’s National Mathematics Advisory Panel (2008), summit attendees reviewed various math programs’ strengths and weaknesses and explored successful methods used in the United States and by countries that performed well on TIMMS, with the goal of adopting best practices from around the globe, raising math interest, and making math an integral part of school culture. Michael J. Connelly, Mosaica’s Chief Executive Officer, announced the rationale at the beginning of the summit: “Literacy and numeracy are the twin tools for international success on the global stage of the 21st century. Our schools are committed to high levels of student achievement and the development of life-long learners who are comfortable participating on that stage. Following our Literacy Summit, which launched our highly successful Literacy Initiative two years ago, this Math Summit is the both the culmination of years of research and planning and the beginning of the implementation phase.”

As a result of the decisions taken at the summit, Mosaica Education will implement a system-wide Math Initiative beginning in the fall of 2009. This initiative focuses on placing Math Coaches in every school, increasing the number of high-quality math teachers at every grade, exploring ways to offer alternative certifications to math teachers coming from science and industry, and bringing math specialists to upper elementary grades. The initiative will also adjust the daily schedule to allow for 90 minutes of uninterrupted math in all grades; provide additional professional development for teachers to cultivate confident implementation of the new program; develop math clubs and competitions in all schools; and – perhaps most importantly – ensure that learning math will be FUN!

Dr. Dawn Eidelman, Mosaica’s Co-Founder and President of its Paragon Division commented, “The beauty of our new initiative is that it will augment project-based learning by linking mathematics more integrally to the history of great ideas and great people in world culture through our Paragon curriculum. To innovate purposefully and to design the future, we must build upon the lessons from our past.”

Welcome to the Atlanta Preparatory Academy!

Mission Statement
We believe in our responsibility to partner with parents, creating a safe environment in which students from diverse backgrounds and of varied abilities:

• Strive for academic excellence
• Explore a culturally diverse curriculum
• Prepare to succeed in a global environment
• Provide service to a growing community
• Participate in character education, developing a respect for others through exemplary mentorship
• Experience cooperative educational communities in all content areas from fine arts to technology
• Develop into life long learners

Design: We will offer an extended school day and academic year to allow for true mastery rather than cursory coverage of the curriculum.

Curriculum: Atlanta Preparatory Academy’s curriculum will combine the rigors of solid skill building in the core content areas of English/Language Arts, Math and Science with our award winning, interdisciplinary humanities and social studies curriculum called Paragon. The core curriculum will include the nation’s top rated Open Court Reading, SRA Math, Harcourt Brace Science, and Spanish. Students will receive the rigor of core courses coupled with the “hands-on” approach of Paragon that enables them to practically apply what they learn in class.

Technology:
To master true computer literacy, students require hands-on access to computers as a tool for authentic learning. Atlanta Preparatory Academy will equip each classroom with computers and provide a laptop for each teacher and administrator.

Assessment:  The barometers that will gauge Atlanta Preparatory Academy’s success include higher student standardized test scores, market progress in the quality of performance-based assessments, improved student attendance, and retention as well as enhanced motivation, satisfaction, and morale on the part of students, teachers, and parents.

Secure Environment:
Safety is a top priority. Atlanta Preparatory Academy will provide an emotionally and physically safe learning environment. We recognize that effective instruction requires an orderly environment focused on learning and that the school must support parents’ efforts to teach their children the principles of excellence. We are committed to providing students with a sense of belonging and a feeling of significance so that they fell safe to learn, to grow, and to thrive.

Teachers: Atlanta Preparatory Academy is committed to hiring, training, and retaining star teachers and talented leaders in educational management. All teachers will be highly qualified, experienced individuals who have a strong sense of purpose and a willingness to challenge themselves as life long learners, as they would challenge their students. Our teachers will compel all students to excel by concentrating on engaging every child in learning and by holding students to high standards.

Parents: We believe that a close connection between home and school is crucial to student performance. Atlanta Preparatory Academy will expect parents to be actively engaged in their children’s education. Because every child needs stability, continuity and a champion who believes in his or her human potential, Atlanta Preparatory Academy will work to foster a close connection between home and school. Specifically, the school will work with parents and other adults with positive influence to improve attendance, to assist with homework, and to intercede at the first hint of difficulty.