In partnership with parents, teachers and community, the school mission is:
a. To motivate our children to seek excellence in themselves and their endeavors.
b. To create an educational environment where learning is enjoyable.
c. To instill values that are fundamental to the well-being of the individual, to meaningful relationships and to a healthy society.

a. Open enrollment - Eligibility not based upon ethnicity, gender, income level, etc.
b. No tuition (Charter Schools are Public Schools).
c. Timely submission of a complete application.
d. Preference given to returning students and relatives of returning students.
If by application deadline the application is not completed and/or submitted, or the number of applications exceeds the capacity of class, program or building code (oversubscribed), applicants will be placed on a waiting list and any future openings will be assigned through a lottery process to randomly selected applicants.

Schedule types will be the traditional one-teacher-per-classroom for elementary and a hybrid “block” for middle & high school. Teacher-student ratio will average 1 to 15. Block schedule classes will be taught in roughly 75 minute “Blocks” instead of the traditional day where five to eight different subjects are taught for 40-50 minutes each. Best practices in education for middle & high school indicate fewer classes for longer periods are better suited for learning. This type of schedule will:
a. Allow our instructors to utilize classroom discussion, team learning, manipulatives and interactive material to deepen learning.
b. By reducing the number of periods in a day we also believe that the overall pace of the school will lesson and this will reduce stress in our students lives.
c. There will be a M-W-F schedule and a T-Thu schedule of classes. For example:

Semester I – Middle School
* M-W-F Period 1 (Math), Period 2 (Science), Period 3 (Social Studies/History).
* M & F Period 4 (P.E.- YMCA)
* W Period 4 AIMS Preparation

* T-Thu Period 1 (Language Arts/Reading), Period 2 (Technology/Workplace Skills), Period 3 (Art/Music), Period 4 (AIMS/SAT-9 Preparation), Period 5 (Life Skills)

A multi-age, cooperative structure will be used. Students will be assessed, a grade level will be determined and an individualized educational plan will be designed and implemented. Some cooperative strategies employed to assist the learning process are:
a. Multi-age,
b. Class discussions,
c. Small group breakouts,
d. Peer mentoring.

a. Motivation to learn.
b. Mastery of the basic skills.
c. Acquisition of a deep knowledge base.
d. Competence of skills,
e. Understanding and incorporating society’s values.

TLC Charter School’s educational program uses traditional public school text and materials and its philosophy is loosely based on the work of Dr. Earnest Boyer and The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. As explained in his book, The Basic School, the four priorities are:
a. The School as Community
b. Curriculum with Coherence
c. A Climate for Learning
d. A Commitment to Character

The Basic School strategy provides a frame for tried and true tenets of effective schooling. It pulls learning from cognitive research and developmental theory together with understandings of policy, organizational theory and school change. It is comprehensive and cohesive, yet flexible enough to encourage individual schools to develop their own unique programs.

The goal of the Basic School is not only to prepare students for careers, not only to give knowledge to students, but to also help channel knowledge to develop students’ capacities to live with dignity and purpose, to enable students to judge wisely and to act responsibly in matters of life and conduct. The of the Basic Schools’ philosophy is to nurture in each student the desire to contribute and make meaning out of life.

Specific Curriculum Highlights Featuring Arizona Standards Based Education:

Language Arts/Reading: An emphasis on quality literature, children’s classics, a variety of publishers and approaches to literacy, classes in writing and journalism, and the publishing of finished work in technology classes.

Mathematics: Various text and workbooks, math manipulatives, supplemental problem solving, each student will work at his or her own level to acquire expertise in all area of mathematics.

Social Studies/History: Various text and workbooks, involvement in multi-cultural events including fairs with booths and food from different countries, story telling, cultural dance and plays based, and art projects linked to the study of cultural and historical periods.

Technology/Workplace skills: Students will be prepared to live, work and learn in a technologically advanced, global community that is constantly changing through the learning and use of computers, electronic media, the internet and job skills training.

Science: A strong emphasis is placed on both scientific literacy and the use of the scientific method. Lab and fieldwork will be incorporated.

Visual and Performing Arts: In additional to the arts focus mentioned above (Social Studies) and traditional mediums of art expression (painting, sculpting, drawing), students may attend local “School Time Matinees” sponsored by Partners in Education and the Tucson Arts Connection at the University of Arizona Centennial Hall. They will have opportunities to attend various presentations at The Muse Center for the Arts (formerly the International Art Center) and they will also have opportunities to perform in musicals, skits and plays.

Physical Education: Students are placed in traditional PE activities at the elementary grades and recieve a free YMCA membership during middle and high school. Both programs emphasize strength & conditioning, stamina, balance & coordination and health & nutrition. Both programs incorporate and test for the President’s Fitness Program.

Each day, in my words and deeds, I will do my best to live these seven virtues:
Honesty
Respect
Responsibility
Compassion
Self-Discipline
Perseverance
Giving