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News & Information
Nittany Valley Charter School Offers Small Learning Environment In The Midst Of Pennsylvania's Largest Academic Community
March 1, 2006
It's not uncommon for students feel lost or forgotten in the shuffle of a large school district. While some youngsters easily adjust to the hustle and bustle, others have a greater challenge. This could be for a variety of reasons such as a need for individualized attention or a need to be placed in an environment that allows the student to grow beyond structure of a large class. While private schools often provide an excellent alternative to public education, most families cannot afford the high cost of tuition.
Fortunately, charter schools offer Pennsylvania families a tuition-free choice. Charter schools are public schools created by communities that offer special focuses or instruction. They are funded by tax dollars rather than tuition. As one of the fastest growing charter school states in the nation, charter schools have sprung up all across the state. In 1997, the Commonwealth opened the door to charter schools and in 1998, the Nittany Valley Charter School opened its doors to students.
"We serve an eclectic group of students with diverse needs," said CEO Kelly Herrity. "Some are advanced and others are challenged. But the common thread they share is the need for greater individualized attention than traditional public schools can provide."
Nittany Valley Charter School educates students in grades 1-8. Enrollment is capped at 48 students, which provides an 8:1 student to teacher ratio.
The school's approach to providing individualized attention takes into consideration different learning styles and multiple intelligences, which truly ensures that no child gets left behind.
"Children learn at different paces and each one needs to be met where he or she is at," said Herrity. "We focus on the needs of the whole child. As a result, we believe that the emotional, social and physical well being of the children are equally as important as their academic growth."
Active parental involvement is required-parents must be at the school eighteen hours each year for classes and conferences. In addition, the school exercises an open classroom setting, allowing parents to stop by and observe any time they like.
From the beginning, students receive foreign language instruction. In Grade1, students are introduced to Spanish, learning the language through reading, writing, singing and various activities. By the time they graduate Grade 8, students are typically able to engage in conversational level Spanish.
The school also provides an indoor and outdoor environmental program. During the autumn and spring, students head outside each Friday to learn about the environment through hands on activities and visual observation. Those activities have included sponsoring and maintaining Slab Cabin Park, nature hikes, and environmentally-based field trips.
"Our students gain a greater appreciation of the world we live in and our need to take care of the environment," said Herrity.
Herrity credits the school's philosophy of providing individualized attention and its environmental program as key factors in students learning mutual respect and developing a strong sense of community.
"Regardless of the struggles or challenges students face when they arrive, we help them gain the self confidence to move forward and be the best they can become when they graduate," said Herrity.
More information about Nittany Valley Charter School can be found at www.nvcs.org or by calling 814-867-3842.
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