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News & Information
Sylvan Heights Charter School Lays Foundations for Science-Based Careers
September 20, 2005
While federal laws have been established to ensure that workers are hired, retained, and promoted without regard to race and ethnic origin, a visible disparity in high-tech occupations remains. And although many companies have gone beyond federals laws by establishing policies that promote workplace diversity, minority representation in many high paying jobs is still lacking. One reason for this gap could be the lack of educational opportunity in early childhood education within some city school systems.
One Harrisburg-area Charter School is doing something about that. Established in 1998, Sylvan Heights Science Charter School in Harrisburg was created by a group of concerned citizens who wanted to provide greater educational opportunities than the local public school system offered. Its mission is to enhance children's lives through educational experiences that are grounded in a comprehensive, science-driven interdisciplinary program highlighting discovery and creativity.
Ninety-seven percent of Sylvan Heights Charter School's student population are minorities, and of those, 87% come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Educating children in grades K-4, Dauphin County's first charter school attracts pupils from the Harrisburg, Central Dauphin, Steelton Highspire, and Middletown Area School Districts.
Sylvan Heights' staff of 25 teachers and aids help students build strong foundations in science knowledge. These educators cultivate a keen interest within the youngsters for science using interdisciplinary techniques. For example, in a second grade unit titled "All Systems Go!," students study the systems of the human body. They measure and weigh their bodies in Math classes, designing graphs based on pulse rates. They explore virtual body systems in computer classes. In Social Studies, students study medicine-related occupations and visit a hospital to speak with doctors and other medical workers. Spelling words are drawn from science-related vocabulary. Students create health posters in Art classes and design "keep fit" bumper stickers. As a result of using this thematic approach to teaching, the students gain a deeper understanding of science information.
"Having curriculum designed around science themes maximizes our students' learning experiences in a way that they find exciting, engaging, and fun," said Principal Dr. Kevin Moran. "This in turn lays the groundwork necessary to pave the way toward successful and rewarding careers in science-related professions."
Sylvan Heights Charter School has reached its full capacity of 220 students and there is a long waiting list for prospective pupils. Class size is restricted to 22 students so that greater individual attention can be provided by the teacher and aid who run each class.
"Sylvan Heights Charter School is a clear example of why school choice works," said Moran. "That we are at maximum capacity demonstrates the need for more charter schools so that greater opportunity can be provided for minority, underprivileged as well as all student populations."
More than 50,000 students are enrolled in Pennsylvania's 114 charter schools throughout the commonwealth. These schools include a host of distinctive missions: early childhood enrichment, specific academic disciplines, high achievement, core knowledge, technology, project based learning, special needs education, gifted education, community service and more. For more information on charter school opportunities within Pennsylvania, log on to www.pachartercoaltion.com.
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