Annual Report 2010-11 - PACT Charter School

Before the current efforts of many school districts to shift to a shorter school week to save
money, PACT has been operating on a four-day school week since its inception 17 years ago.
The shorter school week for PACT is for philosophical and innovative purposes. It is intended to
provide time for families to work together on the fifth day and have extended periods of time to
work on larger projects. It is also an opportunity for staff to take longer trips with students such
as college visits and museum tours. In addition, it allows for teachers to work collaboratively
with parents on committees on Thursday evenings (at a time convenient for both). The teachers
generally have a half-day on Fridays for meetings and professional development, and the
afternoons are considered compensation for the Thursday evening meetings.
PACT provided multi-grade classes in its first 15 years of existence. Those multi-grade classes
allowed students to collaborate daily across grade levels. More importantly, it allowed the
teachers to remain with students for two years in a row – learning their strengths and areas for
improvement. In 2010, the school switched to grade level classes in the elementary while still
retaining the two- year rotation, having teachers “loop” with the students for two years (1 st /2 nd ,
3 rd /4 th and 5 th /6 th grades).
Another unique and innovative aspect of PACT Charter School is the relationship it shares with
its authorizer, Bethel University. They continue to seek ways that the relationship can provide
mutual benefits. One such opportunity is through the Bethel Introduction to Education class
offered each fall on the PACT campus. Approximately 15 students annually work directly in the
classrooms with PACT faculty providing assistance as the students learn about the field of
education. This happens two hours a day, two days a week, for a semester. After their “in class”
time working with teachers and students, they hold their Introduction to Education class on the
PACT campus with a Bethel instructor. This opportunity has proven to be a very successful
experience for both the Bethel students (who share a common school experience) and the PACT
faculty (as they grow professionally investing in the lives of future educators).
PACT has been researching online education and developing a potential program for the past
three years. The program proposal is unique in Anoka County and in the State of MN. It will be a
hybrid online program where students come in one day a week for their core classes and all
others will be done online. One additional day per month the students will come in for their
elective courses. PACT is also working with PLATO and Smart Music (both MN companies) to
develop some unique and innovative ways to teach music (band and choir) in an online
environment.
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