Curriculum
To ensure a well-rounded education for all students, Vanguard Classical School utilizes the Core Knowledge Curriculum to meet Colorado State Standards. The programs chosen to meet these expectations and standards are The Riggs Writing and Spelling Road to Reading and Thinking, Saxon Math, hands-on science activities, and The Core Virtues program for character development.
What is Core Knowledge?
Vanguard Classical School K-8 students use the Core Knowledge sequence which is an organized course outline of topics to be studied by students. This sequence includes but is not limited to topics and subtopics in language arts, world history, American history, geography, visual arts, music, mathematics, Latin and science.
What is Classical Education?
Vanguard Classical School 9-12 students use the Classical sequence of education. A “classical education” began about 2500 years ago in ancient Greece and continued to develop through ancient Rome and the Renaissance. It involves a three-part process of training the mind and using traditional standards of teaching, curriculum, and discipline. A classical education holds that humans are thinking creatures and are naturally curious. It values knowledge for its own sake and prepares students to be “good” or virtuous citizens.
The early years of a classical education (K-4) are spent acquiring basic skills and facts; establishing a firm foundation from which to pursue further study. In the middle grades (5-8), students learn to think through the facts; the evidence and apply logic. In the upper grades (9-12), students learn to reach conclusions, through thoughtful criticism and analysis, and support those conclusions in persuasive writing and speech. This classical pattern is called the Trivium.
Vanguard Classical School does not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, ancestry, need for special education services, or any other grounds prohibited by law. Vanguard Classical School serves students with disabilities and English Learners and provides services to students as required by state and federal law. (https://www.vanguardclassical.org/student-services/special-education)
English Language Development (ELD)
ELD testing for new students and incoming kindergarteners starts in August.
Vanguard’s English Language Development (ELD) program priority is to promote a rigorous and equitable instruction for all eligible English learners leading to a successful language transfer in content area classes and beyond. At Vanguard, we provide systematic ELD instruction for beginning to emerging, expanding and bridging English proficiency levels. Our students receive structured and explicit instruction in language, vocabulary, syntax, oral practice, reading, and writing of at least 40 minutes a day. The designated ELD block covers a range of topics such as: contribute ideas and opinions using past, present, and future verbs and phrases, explain cause and effect relationships for actions, summarize important points of an event or process, etc. Our program also offers an active assessment component. Language proficiency is assessed using the annual ACCESS 2.0, WIDA Screener, W – APT, daily assessment log and rubric. Through collaboration, we find that our culturally and linguistically diverse students communicate more effectively in both written and oral forms when such structure is in place.
Special Education and Services for Special Populations
Like all charter schools, Vanguard Classical School, is a public school. Vanguard Classical School serves students with disabilities and English Learners and provides services to students as required by state and federal law. Charter schools are subject to all federal and state laws and constitutional provisions prohibiting discrimination on the basis of disability, race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, ancestry, need for special education services, and certain other grounds. Laws applicable to students with disabilities include the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504), and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
In most cases, the services required by a student with disabilities can be provided at Vanguard Classical School. In some cases, a student’s individual needs require that they be placed in a different program or location as determined by an IEP or Section 504 team. Under IDEA, students with disabilities are entitled to a Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) in the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE). The services a student requires under IDEA are described in an Individualized Education Plan (IEP). Under Colorado law, the provision of FAPE and specific services required by a student’s IEP are a joint responsibility of the charter school and their authorizer, in most cases the local school district.
Applicants to Vanguard Classical School are not required to identify whether the applicant has an IEP and the school admits students without considering a student’s disability. After a student with an IEP is initially enrolled in the school, an IEP team meeting may be required to determine whether this school is an appropriate placement for the student based on their needs. In most cases, the services required by a student’s IEP can be provided at Vanguard Classical School. In some circumstances, a student’s individual needs require that they be placed in a different program or location. For more information on our programs and services please contact Ms. Easton, Interim SPED Coordinator at jeaston@vanguardclassical.org or Ms. Richardson, Assistant Principal/ELD Coordinator/504 Coordinator at lrichardson@vanguardclassical.org.
Grievances and/or compliance concerns may be resolved through the Grievance Process as outlined in the handbook as well as the Colorado Department of Education’s Procedural Safeguards.
What is MTSS?
MTSS is a multi-tiered approach to providing services and interventions to students who struggle with learning at increasing levels of intensity based on progress monitoring and data analysis. The MTSS process has the potential to limit the amount of academic failure that any student experiences and to increase the accuracy of special education evaluations. This could also reduce the number of children who have been mistakenly identified as having learning disabilities when their learning problems are actually due to cultural differences or lack of adequate instruction. Information and data gathered by an MTSS process can lead to earlier identification of children who have true disabilities and are in need of special education services.
Gifted & Talented
Gifted and Talented Coordinator – West
Kelly Ettinger: Kettinger@vanguardclassical.org
Gifted and Talented Coordinator – East
Alyssa Campbell: acampbell@vanguardclassical.org
Resources/Links
- GT Information from APS & Referral Forms
- Family GT Resourse Recommendations
- APS Gifted Programming Website
- Colorado Association of Gifted and Talented (CAGT)
- National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC)
- Supporting Emotional Needs of the Gifted (SENG)
- Colorado Department of Education – Gifted Information
Honor Roll
Honor Roll is a program designed to highlight academic excellence, instill pride in achievement among Vanguard’s students, and set a tangible standard for academic success. For this reason, Vanguard will recognize those students who put in the effort and commitment to achieve these standards.
Honor Roll is recognized at a school-wide assembly at each campus, shortly after the end of each quarter. Parents are invited to attend and celebrate these accomplishments with the students.