About the Program

The University Scholars Program, within the PA Leadership Charter School (PALCS), offers specialized gifted education curriculum. The Program is designed to maximize the intellectual potential of gifted and motivated learners, where individual achievement is valued and supported. Only PALCS students may apply for participation in this high performance/high achieving program.

Admission to the University Scholars Program is performance-based and highly competitive. Students must not only be academically gifted but also have demonstrated a high degree of motivation and superior classroom performance. Middle school course work is commensurate with what a student would get at a public high school in rigor and content, while it is also designed to meet the maturity of the students. High school coursework is largely college level, including many Advanced Placement (AP) College Board approved courses. Students must demonstrate the intellectual ability and motivation to handle this level of coursework in order to be considered eligible to participate in the Program.

Students must choose to take their academic courses either in a cyber/virtual/onsite experience at the Advanced Ideas Center in West Chester, PA or cyber/virtually through the internet. Students will have the opportunity to make the choice during their course selection meeting with their University Scholars Program mentor.

The University Scholars Program recognizes that the affective and socio-emotional needs of gifted learners are as important as their intellectual and academic needs. In addition to providing accelerated curriculum, the goals include:

• Discouraging perfectionism and replacing it with drive toward excellence.
• Encouraging students to increase academic risk-taking by providing a safe place; helping students learn to laugh at themselves. These are vital life skills!
• Developing cooperative work skills; learning how to function effectively in the role of a leader as well as a follower.
• Developing strong social skills.
• Developing strong peer relationships with students who have similar needs and interests.
• Developing an appreciation for the differing gifts of others.

Gifted students need a diverse and advanced curriculum, and they need an environment that both sustains and supports their individual intellectual curiosity and challenges them with academic rigor. Our gifted education mission is a perfect match with the far reaching educational scope afforded by cyber education and the love of learning engendered by a small and supportive learning community.

21st Century Learning

The American educational system dates back to the Industrial Revolution. At that time, our country needed to prepare its agricultural workers for factory jobs and built a school system that catered to and developed the mass production mentality. The education system was efficient and measurable, and it churned out students who were ready to fill the need of the new economy: compliant, non-questioning, generic workers. This is the implicit organizational principle that undergirds public school districts in America. A factory model school, however, is not a conducive environment for developing lifelong learners and independent thinkers.

The University Scholars Program offers:

• Advanced Academic (AP/ Pre-AP) classes
• Individualization
• Flexibility
• Academic Mentors
• College Packaging
• Development of Organizational Skills, Time Management Skills, Work Ethic
• Nurture of Affective Needs of a Gifted Student
• Field Tips/Travel Opportunities
• Community Service/ Experiences
• Internships
• Guest Speakers at the Advanced Ideas Center