Posted on: Thursday, December 9, 2004
Education Snapshot — Innovations public charter school
By Treena Shapiro
Advertiser Education Writer
After three years of operation, Innovations public charter school on the Big Island is proving its curriculum works.
Recognized as one of 32 outstanding distinguished schools by the Department of Education for two years running, the Kona school saw its third-grade test scores soar this year, with a 30 percent gain in math and a 25 percent gain in reading.
These days, the school is challenged as much by where to educate its students as it is how to educate them — with growth at Kahakai Elementary pushing the charter school out of the shared campus.
Principal Barbara Woerner says the school concentrates on its curriculum rather than test scores — but as for the Hawai'i State Assessment results, "we are doing fine," she said.
What made the difference: The school has only 123 students, with 18 to 20 children per class. The classes are multi-age, with two grade levels per grouping. In addition, the teachers "loop," staying with the same group of children for two years. "We also have master teachers ... with lots of experience who are very good at what they do," Woerner said. How they did it: As a charter school, the school can determine how big its classes will be and where to allocate its money. "Our school chooses to put the bulk of our money into human resources," she said. Each class has one full-time teacher and one part-time teacher who offers extra tutoring and makes language arts and math classes even smaller.
Other factors: The school has a student-centered curriculum that keeps them engaged. "Students get to have input in what they are learning about, and it keeps them engaged in the learning. It's also very challenging and children like to be challenged if it's in an interesting and fun way," Woerner said. In addition, parents are willing to help the school in a variety of ways. "The interest of the parents translates into student achievement," she said.
Reach Treena Shapiro at tshapiro@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8014.
