Reviewed and Approved by the California Department of Education (CDE), the Advisory Commission on Charter Schools (ACCS), and the California State Board of Education (SBE) for meeting or exceeding state mandated fiscal accountability requirements.

Academic Achievement

Attained Academic Performance Index (API) Growth Target and Comparable Improvement (CI) goals in 2006-2007
Increased API school-wide growth score in 2006-2007 by 48 points
Achieved all Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) requirements under the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) act for 2006-2007
Achieved all Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) requirements under the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) act for 2004-2005

Contact Information
Merced Scholars Charter School
Sherry Housley, Vice-Principal
808 W. 16 th Street
Merced, CA 95340
Phone: 209-381-5165
Website: http://charter.mercedlearn.org/

School Mission
Merced Scholars Charter School (MSCS) provides a personalized education for home-schooled students in grades 6-12 residing in Merced County as well as adjacent counties. MSCS students will be prepared as educated, responsible, and contributing citizens, who can read, write, communicate, and calculate with clarity and accuracy using current technologies and resources. MSCS will empower students to cultivate respect for self and others by offering opportunities for life-long personal and social development while establishing and achieving educational, personal, and career goals through a personalized learning model which provides multiple learning environments both within and beyond the classroom.

Educational Overview
Merced Scholars Charter School is a high school program for Home-School students residing in Merced County as well as adjacent counties. The purpose of this educational model is to connect grades 6-12 home-schooled students with guidance and resources leading to a seamless transition into post-secondary education. Students complete a core academic program which is aligned with the California Standards and Subject-matter Frameworks and compliant with all state testing requirements. Students receive instruction from a credentialed teacher within a personalized one-on-one classroom environment. A personalized education plan is established between parent, student, and teacher at the onset of the 9th grade year and reviewed annually to ensure that each student's academic, career, and college goals are met. The school also offers a variety of instructional strategies and activities which includes project-based learning, extracurricular activities related to leadership development, career and college exploration, enrichment programs in the arts, and opportunities to meet physical education requirements through innovative partnerships with local gyms. A strong partnership with Merced College exists to ensure that students can also begin college coursework during their high school program as a means to transfer to a postsecondary institution of their readiness (ie. Community College, CSU or UC systems).

Educational Philosophy

We believe:

In the Personalized Learning Model which supports development of the student as a whole
In meeting or exceeding the academic standards set forth by the State of California
Every child is capable of learning
There are many ways to teach and many ways to learn
Education is dynamic and always changing
Everyone should keep learning
Parents, teachers, and students should become a cohesive unit to ensure optimal learning outcomes
That parents and teachers who are passionate, patient, and persistent will foster a love of learning
The world is your classroom
“Schools Can't Do it Alone” and educators must value partnerships from business, parents, and the community at large
Students who take ownership of their education will be life-long learners
We have a responsibility to give back to our community
Parental involvement is a necessary component to the success of their child's overall educational growth and well-being
Education is not only about academics but includes both personal and social development as well
In multiple ways to assess a student's progress
In sound management practices of business operations and educational processes
For students to achieve success in a career, they must be provided with the tools to understand lifelong career decision-making so they will learn:
- Who they are
- Where they are going
- How they will get there

Educational Program

What We Offer.......

Grades 6 - 12 home schooling support in a publicly funded program.
Curriculum aligned with the California Content Standards and Frameworks.
Flexible scheduling and selection of courses for both the student and parent.
Weekly contact with a certified teacher.
Enrichment Programs.
Opportunities to network with other home school families with similar interest and goals.
Opportunities to accelerate at the individual student's pace.
Cumulative records, including transcripts.
State-mandated standardized testing.
The option of coursework that meets the A-G requirements for the University of California system.
Opportunity for college ready students to take Merced College classes.

Curriculum
The curriculum we follow is aligned with the California Content Standards and Frameworks. We operate as a public school supported by the Merced County Office of Education. We offer instruction via individual and group work in laboratory, classroom, virtual, and community settings, as well as in the home.

Academic Enrichment Activities and Programs Include:

Quarterly testing of core academic competencies through an in-house
Standardized Testing and Reporting program (STAR)
Spanish instructional tutorial
Math tutorial
California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE)
Project-based instruction in English language arts, social science, and science
A strong partnership with our local community college, encouraging and facilitating the process for student to enroll in advanced coursework
Graduation ceremonies

Career Education and Postsecondary Enrichment Activities and Programs Include:

Field trips to our local community college, CSU, and UC institutions
Development of career exploration activities with Merced College
Personalized academic and career counseling in partnership with Merced College guidance staff
Implementation of a Career Employability Portfolio

Instructional Enrichment Activities and Programs Include:

Field trips to community laboratories, such as museums and community college classrooms
Individual lessons personalized to student interests and talents with local visual and performing arts instructors in the area of voice and instrumental performance
Physical education contracts with licensed Karate instructors and local fitness labs
Celebration of learning event where students showcase their academic and personal talents and accomplishments in front of an audience of over 150 attendees

Personal and Social Enrichment Programs Include:

Social activities held at the school
Development of a Student Organization with a four-tenet purpose of Community Service, Leadership Development, Social Applications, and Academic/Career Development Exploration
A computer lab, with a computer literacy requirement being met with an on-campus course
A lab component requirement for Life Science, which will be met with on-campus science labs
A personalized career education plan for each student
The development of a school-wide comprehensive career education and guidance plan, inclusive of sequenced competencies and activities across grades 6-12
The offering of on-campus electives, such as journalism, desktop publishing, and leadership development