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News & Information
Pennsylvania's First Charter School Provides Compassionate Alternative Education For At-Risk Students
December 22, 2005
"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts." - Winston Churchill
In a society that strives to leave no child behind, success is typically measured by test scores. But what of the students who have been left behind because of mistakes, bad choices, or situations beyond their control? For many at-risk students, each day in itself is a test-a test that sometimes means just making it through the day without getting into trouble. And doing so requires the helping hand of compassionate people who care about students.
The Keystone Charter School in Greenville, PA was established to help such students in grades 6-12. The school's mission is to provide educational alternatives that address the needs of a wide variety of adolescents who experience difficulty functioning in traditional public school environments. Keystone Charter School gives students opportunities to gain positive education experiences, earn their high school diplomas, develop marketable skills, and learn sound work ethics.
Perhaps most importantly, the school addresses behavioral and emotional needs of each child on an individual basis.
"Keystone is in the vanguard of No Child Left Behind," said Chief Executive Officer Mike Gentile. "In 1994, we launched an alternative program for thirteen local school districts. Today, we continue to give students from all over Western Pennsylvania the opportunity to be successful in school and provide them with direction to succeed in life."
Keystone is situated on eleven rural acres and serves students from over 45 school districts throughout Western Pennsylvania. Approximately 60 of Keystone's 275 students reside at the school.
Although addressing students' emotional well-being is a major focus, the school offers a full academic curriculum. Most of the same courses taught at traditional public high schools are available at Keystone. More than 30 percent of Keystone's 11th and 12th grade students split each day between the school and the Mercer County Career Center, where they prepare for their chosen vocations. After graduation, many continue their education in trade or technical schools.
"Most of our students have been lost in the shuffle of busy public school systems," said Gentile. "When they arrive at Keystone, they find a caring staff that gets to know students individually and is eager to help them work through and overcome their challenges and difficulties. Many students enter our doors several years behind in educational development, and with negative attitudes about school. Keystone's small class sizes and individualized attention engages these students, slowly changes their outlooks on school, and motivates them to graduate."
So what happens after graduation? There have been a number of success stories. Some students have started their own businesses. Others have enlisted in the military. And some have opted for marriage and motherhood.
"Regardless of the many roads our graduates take, they share a common ‘Keystone,'" said Gentile. "The experiences, care, and nurturing gained at Keystone Charter School has given many a second chance and a new and positive direction."
Gentile has a drawer full of testimonials from former students and parents that he enjoys sharing. Some comments read:
"You've helped me become a better person."
"You are family to me."
"I hope that someday I can do for someone what you did for me."
Founded in 1997, Keystone Charter School holds the banner as Pennsylvania's first charter school. Each Pennsylvania charter school is unique-some are established to help students with emotional challenges, others meet the needs of gifted students, some are created to develop students who have natural artistic talents, etc.
Keystone Charter School has forged strong partnerships with neighboring school districts, which is sometimes a challenge for public charter schools. Two of its board members are superintendents in local school districts.
"When traditional public education is not the right fit for some students, Keystone is able to pick up the pieces and give those youngsters the guidance and helping hand they need and deserve," said Gentile. "We are grateful to the school districts who partner with Keystone to make sure that these children are not left behind."
More information about Keystone Charter School can be found online at www.keystonegazzo.com or by calling 724-588-2511.
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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