| Tracy Parents against MTYRE and YRE |
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| Tracy Learning Center concept comes from plan to educate Prison inmates |
| Dr. Keith Larick sat with a twinkle in his eye as I candidly said "No, I know nothing about the Tracy Learning Center; tell me". It was almost like I had given him a prize. Talking about his "baby" is something he really enjoys doing. He does it well. That baby is the Tracy Learning Center. What started out as a project to educate prisoners turned into a program of advanced education unequaled anywhere in the United States, with an exception in Florida. Many articles have been written about this program. Many points need to be reinforced. As the project comes to fruition it will have an enormous impact in the lives of well over 2400 students and will obviously benefit our families and communities in a positive way that will take years to assess. Looking at the basic pieces to this puzzle, we find some very sound concepts. This is what is included in the Tracy Learning Center project: 3 schools - Primary (K-4), Discovery Charter (5-8), Millennium High (9 - 12), College. Only the Discovery Charter exists today. All children, from ALL parts of the education cycle 205 days in school, 8:00 am - 4:00 P.M.. With this schedule students will be so accelerated that they will finish high school by the tenth grade. This leaves two years to develop more advanced skills in various disciplines. By 11th grade students will have classes in colleges, do independent studies, will have a lot more technology, or be part of a certificate program in business. Hands on education is the core. Students will shadow and work with many businesses. Homework will not exist! Students will spend most of their time either interfacing with a paperless environment (all computer driven) or with groups of people who act as a team to accomplish various projects. The day begins when they logon to laptops and read the Wall Street Journal. Parents access grades on the web. Concentration will be in establishing the basic core fundamental learning areas. Then everything else will grow from this strength. Stress will be on integrating math, English and science. This will be done in three semesters that concentrate around mankind becoming stewards of the environment. There will be only credit/no credit grades. Four themes play out - Health as a major issue in the future - Technology and internships - Civic and community - Service oriented. This advanced project will grow into the Tracy Gateway facility when it is completed around 2005, and be the headquarters for the Tracy Learning Center. In the meanwhile the 125 students are using the newly developed site on 10th and Tracy Blvd. There won't be principals, instead directors of learning. There will be master teachers, decision teams and development teams. Tracy is ready for this. Thank you Dr. Larick for sharing your vision. Let's all help it grow. There is a waiting list for classes now being taught at the Discover Charter. Come in and pickup an "Intent to Apply" packet. 650 W. 10th |