Only 45% of Arizona youths detained by police last year were enrolled in school. (Juvenile Processed, 2002) “In 1990, minority youth were likely to have less favorable outcomes than Anglo youth that commit comparable offenses. In 2000, using reported data and a comprehensive qualitative process - where key stakeholders were interviewed and focus group sessions were held with individuals actively involved in the juvenile justice system - there is substantive agreement that minority youth are still over-represented when compared to their Anglo counterparts for comparable offenses.” (Commission, 2002)

Peer-community facilitators, as change agents, are rare in the development of alternative solutions to this growing problem: disenfranchised youth. Spectrum Academy is a potent answer to the current crisis facing our educational and juvenile systems today. It is a combination of a youth residential treatment center (RTC), charter school, and community technology center (CTC). This concept encompasses the value of education as emotional rips repair, because an emotionally unavailable youth cannot learn effectively. The community technology center promotes positive social interaction while facilitating the delivery of inexpensive e-curriculum to its patrons and to the vast array of charter schools that are struggling with the high costs of state-of-the-art education.

It seems our very survival, according to the analysis of socio-economic systems, depends on consumerism, cultural genocide, and environmental destruction for the sake of fossil fuels, fast foods, and corporate profits. This behavior affects our children immensely as they see no ‘common sense’ in our survival living styles. The old formulas simply do not work anymore; students are dull and listless in the classrooms, yet need healthy rites of passage. Emotionally and intellectually disenfranchised youth internalize their anger and act out in unprecedented violence toward self and others. Traditional education has not addressed the growing emotional and intellectual needs of our children; the connectedness of mind, body, and spirit. Currently, the situation regarding at-risk youth is cumbersome and oblique in regards to understanding the ‘big picture’ and the solutions necessary to empower our youth. A new myth is in process of creation and you can participate right now, today. Are you ready?

Opportunity Summary

Ted and Nancy Faust Sizer wrote in their book, The Students are Watching, “A student’s hope and sense of agency is often dependent on her sense that there is something that she can do which is valued by others”. Spectrum Academy’s unique program offers students structure to find success in new experiences and provide valuable work opportunities, reflecting increased personal value and self-esteem. Nurturing the individual is an important part of this plan. The disciplined structure provided some latitude and offered students the guidance to learn how to make positive choices in their lives.

Vision: Spectrum Academy, a proactive and progressive holistic educational environment, identifies and addresses the changing developmental and personal needs of challenged youths, empowering them to prepare for their journey toward successful community awareness and participation.

Holistic education is concerned with the growth of every person's intellectual, emotional, social, physical, artistic, creative and spiritual potentials. We are unique as a leader in the research, design, and implementation of holistic education using state-of-the-art technologies. Our collaborative alliances and partnerships with industry leaders bridge 21^st Century learners with 21^st Century technology and our emerging global culture.

Mission: Provide an alternative state-of-the-art holistic educational and living environment for youth 14 - 21 using peer-community development protocols, supportive of the community socio-economic structure, resulting in healthy and productive young adults who contribute to society.

We believe our first responsibility is to prepare the students to meet the challenges of the rapidly changing world around them. A holistic strategy in a peer-based community atmosphere facilitates students to perceive and understand the various contexts that shape and give meaning to life. Introducing students to a holistic view of the planet, life on Earth, the emerging world community, and the students’ interdependence demonstrates best practices of systems thinking. The environment and staff will nurture the development of emotional and multiple intelligences empowering each student’s personal growth. Engaging systems thinking requires student involvement in the research and design of their educational process, which creates ownership of learning. A collaborative approach toward problem solving develops critical interpersonal skills. Emerging technologies and their integration into our curriculum provide the students with real-time real-world experiences that prepare them for entering post-secondary life.

Imagine a fully integrated approach to inspiring and challenging our youth of today... aware of our problems and quickly focusing on creative solutions that empower balanced choice. Empowered adults now can empower our youth. The human race has entered a new era, an evolution in educational and social methodologies. Visionary perspectives lead to paradigm changes in society. Our world faces critical situations in developing our future society. Humanity is ripe for change. Primary areas of concern are commerce, education, administration of resources, and intense exploration into the depths of what keeps us afraid, angry, ignorant and immobile.

Key Recommendations

Spectrum Academy is a potential answer to the current crisis. It is a combination of a youth residential treatment center (RTC), charter school, and community technology center (CTC). Experience and research have shown that these three areas can indeed work as one, which is what we intend to demonstrate through the creation of such an environment. We call this environment Spectrum Academy. The charter school is our first order of business.

A healthy life includes several areas of mastery, which most adults still have difficulty achieving in their daily living and working experience. Youth today have an even more demanding scenario as the world around them is changing rapidly. These basic areas of focus include Work; Intellect; Life Planning; Fulfillment; Recreation; Motivations; Health; and Relationships. Be The Dream, a 501 (c) (3) educational corporation, has determined that the synergy of the residential treatment center, charter school, and community technology center is what will determine a successful endeavor as the process develops through best practices of pedagogy and management philosophy.

Key Financial Start-up Assumptions

Charter School

Start up - $300,000

Annual Budget – $1,200,000

Community Technology Center – e-Curriculum Data Center

Data Center start up – $430,000

Residential Treatment Center

Start up $71,000

20-bed annual budget $1,854,000

Land Purchase - Construction Costs $50,000,000

Forecasted Operational and Financial Results

150 students- charter school is financially operational beginning the third year.

Forecasts show the CTC/Data Center business unit reaches break-even in 6^th month of the second year.

Forecasts for the residential treatment center are being compiled.

Invitation

Imagine a fully integrated approach to inspiring and challenging our youth of today... aware of our problems and quickly focusing on creative solutions. The human race has entered a new era, a revolution in educational methodologies. We are unveiling the embryo of an integrated master plan that could solve our educational and behavioral difficulties- unifying youth and adults while building individual and community respect.

We need solutions to bridge concepts and creators, chaotic experiences with order and structure. Chaos is only the beginning of the process of establishing natural order. Conflict, used wisely, evolves into harmony. Can we acknowledge that we have been going in the wrong direction? Better yet, can we accept that we have done the best we could with limited information and resources and now have better information and greater resources to affect positive change? Spectrum Academy offers solutions today that will change the patterns of problems of today by offering habilitating healthy habits for tomorrow. Please join us in this endeavor to empower our youth, now and for future generations.

Situational Analysis

In our world today, children suffer. Across Arizona and America, the suffering continues and the complexity of the issues rise exponentially as the global village expands. Educational systems, family environments and welfare agencies, no longer nurture the creative spark in our children; the love and care every child deserves and needs. Children who overcame the myriad of abusive scenarios are teaching others, both young and old, of the necessity to love and be loved. Many youth are caught in a frustrating correctional system that is challenged to reduce recidivism. Repairing emotional rips and tears in the family unit, if there is one, challenges yet another overburdened system. The survivors are doing a fantastic job in nurturing those they can, sharing volumes of experience, harvesting their past and showing the rest of us the path to a new approach, which shares accountability and responsibility. A nurturing environment that provides emotional and intellectual freedom to respond and grow personally and socially demonstrates a caregiver community’s love.

Anyone who works with at-risk youth understands that much more can be done toward addressing his or her needs. In the U.S. alone, many are warehoused in group homes with little or no opportunity to develop the necessary life skills to survive and thrive in today's world. Job markets are shifting faster than academic programs can keep up. Rather than create environments that nurture multiple and emotional intelligences, we drug our youth into submission and wonder why they choose to self-medicate and defy the 'system' that holds them captive. Adaptive systems and 'wrap-around' models in social services still only address the problems and symptoms of this decay in moral servitude. Peer-community facilitators, as change agents, are few and far between in the development of alternative solutions to this growing problem. Developing a model community that demonstrates integrated solutions seems to be in order.

Strategic Objectives

Innovative Community and Student Support

Spectrum Academy involves recurring themes throughout successful educational and youth programs, which are intensive family involvement; peer mentorship; intensive psychological treatment that includes all aspects of their lives; the use of animals as metaphor and therapy; a return to nature; stringent structure; individualized programs; and the instruction of new coping and living strategies. Habilitation of our youth is a priority at Spectrum Academy. Developing a peer-based community that reduces recidivism through effective education of conflict resolution applied to individual and group environments is one of our primary goals.

	Strategic Goal #1- Internal To provide a measurably effective and appropriate public college preparatory and holistic life skills education to a diverse group of students.
	Key Components	Objectives
	1. Student Achievement Foster student achievement for diverse learners through the development and implementation of a program, which encourages individual strengths, expands each student's academic skills and content mastery and develops character.	Evaluate Spectrum Academy's curriculum in terms of our Mission and Charter; make any necessary recommendations for change Create flexible curricula (or multiple pathways) for all students to reach their highest academic potential. Improve test scores without compromising the educational mission of the school Understand and address discrepancies in student achievement Provide the services and support students with learning differences need to succeed Develop a consistent, school-wide plan for demonstrating student achievement using multiple assessments including standardized tests. Create a student achievement database and monitor student progress longitudinally Attract and support the success of African American, Latino, English language learner and learning disabled students
	2. Student Enrollment Enroll and improve the performance of a wide range of students, including those who have been typically underrepresented in higher education.	Continually evaluate the enrollment process Continue our efforts to attract "all kinds of minds" Attract and support the needs of African American, Latino, English language learner and learning disabled students Develop targeted outreach programs and increase awareness of Spectrum's mission among underrepresented populations
	3. Faculty & Staff Development Attract, retain, develop and support exceptional teachers and staff who are committed to the fulfillment of Spectrum Academy's Mission	Create a schedule that gives high priority to faculty collaboration and planning time Create a faculty/staff workload that is sustainable Establish priorities and create ongoing, coordinated faculty professional development plan* Maintain teacher: student ratios at 20 per classroom or lower per semester Prepare a plan for faculty retention Improve decision-making processes (in order to ensure effective use of faculty time) Develop opportunities for and evaluate performance of faculty and staff Develop faculty leadership opportunities
	4. Parent Involvement Involve parents in supporting their students' success and participating in the life of the School.	Increase parent involvement Support the development of a parent community Increase parents' understanding of and commitment to our Mission Provide parent education opportunities that are responsive to the needs of the Spectrum Academy parent community Encourage parent usage of Spectrum Academy's resources Encourage parent input
	5. Internal Communication Foster communication among students, parents, faculty, administration and Board in order to provide information and promote dialogue, involvement and support.	Provide regular multimodal communication with parents on school-wide news and events and student performance Provide regular communication with and between students, parents, faculty, administration and Board members Foster open communication and dialogue on issues of importance to the school and parents Develop clear dispute resolution policy and procedures
Strategic Goal #2- External To define and achieve long term organizational sustainability
Key Components			Objectives
6. Leadership Development Develop and support strong leadership by the Advisory and Governing Board to ensure Spectrum Academy’s ability to meet its Mission and attain long term viability			Define the roles of the Board, Committees, Principal and management Determine the Board of Trustees composition and structure needed to implement the Strategic Plan Attract, develop and evaluate an effective Board of Trustees Develop a Succession Plan for the Board, Principal and Key Administrators Develop a performance evaluation process for the Principal and the Board Develop strategies to support and retain the Principal Create a sustainable administrative structure
7. Funding Develop a long-range financial plan that assures the school's success and sustainability.			Align the budget process to support the attainment of the Mission and Strategic Plan Ensure the fiscal soundness of the operating budget by ensuring the most efficient and optimal use of all resources Develop funding strategies and programs which bridge the gap between Arizona's ADE allocation and the cost of delivering Spectrum Academy's college prep and life skills program to a diverse community of learners Develop a Capital Campaign Plan to support the attainment and/or improvement of a long-term school site and peer-community village Solicit private grants and scholarships
8. Charter Renewal Develop a plan to renew Spectrum Academy's Charter when due and prepare a contingency plan should the Charter not be renewed.			Review the charter and Mission Statement Understand the charter renewal process and develop a plan for renewal Develop a base of support with the Arizona Board of Education and Charter School Association Develop plans to ensure the long term viability of Spectrum Academy Ensure compliance with legal requirements
9. Partnerships Define, develop and sustain partnerships with the Arizona Department of Education, academic institutions including colleges and universities, community leaders and funders to obtain support for Spectrum Academy's Mission and Strategic Goals.			Develop and implement partnerships with each key group. Develop partnerships with individuals and organizations who can support the school's long term viability Develop partnerships with educators and educational organizations that share Spectrum Academy's Vision Investigate opportunities for sharing resources with community partners
10. Facility Secure a physical plant, which meets Spectrum Academy's current and future program needs.			Provide classrooms and other facilities sufficient to allow Spectrum Academy to meet its Mission Secure a facility that we have sufficient control over that we can raise funds for purchase and/or tenant improvements Investigate alternative physical plant plans including, but not limited to: o Lease of a new site o Purchase of a new site Continue to make building improvements needed to deliver Gateway's program and meet school building code requirements for charter schools Ensure the safety of the students and faculty
11. External Communication Foster communication with funders and community to provide information and promote dialogue, involvement and support.			Improve awareness of, and support for, Spectrum Academy in Gilbert and statewide. Develop and implement a plan for communicating with and motivating all interested constituents. Share best practices with the educational community

Keys to Success

Function

The function of holistic education within the community exemplifies the systems approach in business, education, and community. The cohesive and comprehensive approach integrates the current and future needs of our developing local and global communities. It is the total immersion of the student in their environment, utilizing best practices of educational processes, and connecting real-world exploration that prepares students with critical thinking, problem-solving, and entrepreneurial skills to meet life’s callings. Ultimately we all seek some joy of living; enjoyment of life. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s research identifies some interesting details that not only acknowledge the obvious; they reveal potential structure for creating environments that illicit personal and professional growth, which is so necessary for the future of students and their success in life.

“As our studies have suggested, the phenomenology of enjoyment has eight major components. When people reflect on how it feels when their experience is most positive, they mention at least one, and often all of the following. First, the experience usually occurs when we confront tasks we have a chance of completing. Second, we must be able to concentrate on what we are doing. Third and fourth, the concentration is usually possible because the task undertaken has clear goals and provides immediate feedback. Fifth, one acts with a deep but effortless involvement that removes from awareness the worries and frustrations of everyday life. Sixth, enjoyable experiences allow people to exercise a sense of control over their actions. Seventh, concern for the self disappears, yet paradoxically the sense of self emerges stronger after the flow experience is over. Finally, the sense of the duration of time is altered; hours pass by in minutes, and minutes can stretch out to seem like hours. The combination of all these elements causes a sense of deep enjoyment that is so rewarding people feel that expending a great deal of energy is worthwhile simply to be able to feel it.” (Flow, 1990)

Given these factors and the capacity to meet them in an educational environment, we feel that not only will the students have the opportunity to experience success academically; the community, of which the school is a part, will experience success in real-world models as they develop their future vision, engage their peers, and extend their influence into society. The inclusion of a percentage of disenfranchised youth in the school population effectively cleans the fish tank instead of just wiping off the fish. The results are empowered youth who can make positive choices and provide leadership for their peers.

Holistic education means that the organization itself has to be aware and functional within the realms of mind, body, and spirit. On a pragmatic level, this means that we consider the ‘total system’ of a human being in process of development. Gardner found that there are multiple intelligences at work in the learning system of a student. Goleman brought emotional intelligences to our awareness. Others, like Steiner and Montessori, have attempted to address these intelligences in their own ways, whether acknowledging them outright or just by knowing there is a ‘better’ way to prepare youth for the journey of life. Csikszentmihalyi, Covey, Drucker, DeBono, Peters, and Senge are all pointing toward personal and organizational transformation through understanding the connectedness of people and process. Systems-thinking is a core competency of that kind of organization. The ‘systems’ approach here is to identify and nurture the natural skill sets of the individual in order for them to find their natural order and place within the collective, evidencing and exampling a holistic lifestyle that affects positive change.

Traditional structure found in both business and education is hedging the idea of initiative and innovation through understanding the need for collaborative alliances – cooperation instead of competition. Edward DeBono clearly addresses this concept below:

“At any moment our thinking is shaped by a number of factors. Sometimes we are aware of these factors and sometimes they are so much in the background that they exert their powerful influence in a hidden way. We can challenge these shaping factors just as we challenge existing methods, concepts, or ideas. But in this case we are not challenging something that already exists. We are challenging the factors and pressures that lead us to think in a certain way.” (Serious Creativity, 1992)

Leading innovative peer-community student programs and services:

Problem-solving and reasoning skills: Children who think that there are only two ways to solve problems--fight or give-up--are more likely to become either perpetrators or victims of violence. Children's ability to reason well can give them a wider variety of options than just fighting or running. Children who are more proficient at generating and evaluating options in academic and social settings are less likely to choose violent ways of solving conflicts and promote the same behavior tendencies in others.

Social capacities: These skills, attitudes, and dispositions include development of empathy, effective communication, humor, and attachment to positive, non-violent individuals or groups. Understanding another person's point of view and having concern for other persons can help students generate a wider variety of options--some of which may be mutually acceptable. Students must be able both to listen with understanding and to be understood. The ability to laugh and create moments where others, too, feel more light-hearted can often become one of the most successful options to reducing violent responses. Humor can also enable someone not to immediately take things too personally. The ability to be a friend and have friends can create a stronger desire to find non-violent ways of solving conflicts.

A productive sense of purpose, independence, and power: Children who are more likely to turn to violence have no hope in the future. Conversely, children who believe they can control their lives and want to direct their lives in positive and productive ways are more likely to seek non-violent means to resolve conflict.

Peer mediation programs:

Teaches students to view conflict as a natural part of life

Teaches students to solve their own problems

Improves communication, critical thinking and negotiation skills

Reduces the time teachers and administrators spend on discipline

Reduces the number of detentions and suspensions

Promotes intercultural understanding

Fosters a climate within the school that is conducive to learning

Initial assessments of students/clients in:

Aptitude and Ability

Multiple Intelligences

Emotional Intelligences

Learning Styles

Holistic Understanding

Special Needs

Systems Thinking Awareness

Company Background

Company Ownership

Spectrum Academy is an educational branch of Be The Dream, a non-profit 501 (c) (3) registered educational and philanthropic corporation in the State of Arizona. The Co-Directors of Be The Dream reside in the Town of Gilbert. Spectrum Academy will include the staff and teachers as owners and stakeholders within the first year of operation. Collective ownership is yet another facet of the holistic system approach.

Start-up Plan (US Charter Schools Model)

First Level WBS Network Diagram

Second and Third Level WBS Network Diagrams