Lincoln Leadership Academy Charter School

Lincoln Leadership Academy Charter School achieved 59.3 out of 100. Reflects on-grade-level reading, mathematics, writing and science achievement on the state PSSAs and Keystone Exams. In reading/literature - 54% were on grade level. The third grade has just 47% reading on grade level. In Algebra 1/mathematics - 47.46% showed on-grade-level mathematics skills. In Biology/science, just 28.5% showed on-grade-level science understanding. In 5th and 8th grade writing, 64% of pupils showed on-grade-level writing skills.[19] According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 2,181 public schools (less than 73 percent of Pennsylvania public schools), achieved an academic score of 70 or higher. Pennsylvania 11th grade students no longer take the PSSAs. Instead, they now take the Keystone Exams at the end of the associated course.[20] Lincoln Leadership Academy Charter School students' achievement was on par with the local traditional public schools in the Allentown School District.

In 2012, Lincoln Leadership Academy Charter School declined to Warning Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) status.[21]

• 2011 - achieved AYP status[22]
• 2010 - achieved AYP status[23]

Eleventh grade Pennsylvania System of School Assessments are No Child Left Behind Act related examinations which were administered from 2003 through 2012. In 2013, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania changed its high school assessments to the Keystone Exams in Algebra 1, Reading/literature and Biology1. The exams are given at the end of the course, rather than all in the spring of the student's 11th grade year. Charter school students are required to take the Keystone Exams and PSSAs.

11th Grade Reading:

• 2012 - 47% on grade level, (24 below basic). State - 67% of 11th graders are on grade level.[24]

11th Grade Math:

• 2012 - 31% on grade level (49% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 59% of 11th graders are on grade level.[25]

11th Grade Science:

• 2012 - 15% on grade level (28% below basic). State - 42% of 11th graders were on grade level.[26]

Sixth and seventh graders are tested in reading and mathematics since 2006. Eighth graders are tested in: reading, writing, mathematics and Science. Beginning in the Spring of 2013, eighth graders, who are enrolled in Algebra I take the Keystone Exam for Algebra I at the end of the course. The testing of 8th grade in reading and mathematics began in 1999. Testing in science began in 2007. The goal is for 100% of students to be on grade level or better in reading and mathematics, by the Spring of 2014. The tests focus on the state's Academic Standards for reading, writing, mathematics and science. The standards were first published in 1998 and are mandated by the Pennsylvania State Board of Education.[27]

8th Grade Science:

• 2012 - 10% on grade level (61% below basic). State - 59%
• 2011 - 19% (59% below basic). State – 58.3%
• 2010 - 8% (67% below basic). State – 57% [32]

Students who live in the local public school district's attendance area may choose to attend one of Pennsylvania's 157 public charter schools. A student living in a neighboring public school district or a foreign exchange student may seek admission to Allentown School District. For these cases, the Pennsylvania Department of Education sets an annual tuition rate for each school district. It is the amount the public school district pays to a charter school for each resident student that attends the charter and it is the amount a nonresident student's parents must pay to attend the Allentown School District's schools. The 2012 tuition rates for Allentown School District are Elementary School - $7,803.88, High School - $9,858.67.[34] For students who reside in other local school districts, their home school district pays its mandated tuition rate to Lincoln Leadership.

Lincoln Leadership Academy Charter School established a school wellness policy in 2009.[35] The policy deals with nutritious meals served at school, the control of access to some foods and beverages during school hours, age appropriate nutrition education for all students, and physical education for students K-12. The policy is in response to state mandates and federal legislation (P.L. 108 – 265). The law dictates that each school district participating in a program authorized by the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq) or the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq) "shall establish a local school wellness policy by School Year 2006." Most districts identified the superintendent and school foodservice director as responsible for ensuring local wellness policy implementation.[36]

The legislation placed the responsibility of developing a wellness policy at the local level so the individual needs of each district can be addressed. According to the requirements for the Local Wellness Policy, schools must set goals for nutrition education, physical activity, campus food provision, and other school-based activities designed to promote student wellness.[37] Additionally, schools were required to involve a broad group of individuals in policy development and to have a plan for measuring policy implementation. Districts were offered a choice of levels of implementation for limiting or prohibiting low nutrition foods on the school campus. In final implementation these regulations prohibit some foods and beverages on the school campus.[38] The Pennsylvania Department of Education required the district to submit a copy of the policy for approval.

Lincoln Leadership Academy Charter School offers both a free school breakfast and a free or reduced-price lunch to children in low-income families. All students attending the school can eat breakfast and lunch. Children from families with incomes at or below 130 percent of the federal poverty level are provided a breakfast and lunch at no cost to the family. Children from families with incomes between 130 and 185 percent of the federal poverty level can be charged no more than 30 cents per breakfast. A foster child whose care and placement is the responsibility of the State or who is placed by a court with a caretaker household is eligible for both a free breakfast and a free lunch. Runaway, homeless and Migrant Youth are also automatically eligible for free meals.[39] The meals are partially funded with federal dollars through the United States Department of Agriculture.[40]

In 2013, the USDA issued new restrictions to foods in public schools. The rules apply to foods and beverages sold on all public school district campuses during the day. They limit vending machine snacks to a maximum of 200 calories per item. Additionally, all snack foods sold at school must meet competitive nutrient standards, meaning they must have fruits, vegetables, dairy or protein in them or contain at least 10 percent of the daily value of fiber, calcium, potassium, and Vitamin D.[41] In order to comply with the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 all US public school districts are required to raise the price of their school lunches to $2.60 regardless of the actual cost of providing the lunch.[42] In 2014, President Obama ordered a prohibition of advertisements for unhealthy foods on public school campuses during the school day.[43]

Lincoln Leadership Academy Charter School provides health services as mandated by the Commonwealth and the federal government. Nurses are available in each building to conduct annual health screenings (data reported to the PDE and state Department of Health) and to dispense prescribed medications to students during the school day. Students can be excluded from school unless they comply with all the State Department of Health’s extensive immunization mandates. School nurses monitor each pupil for this compliance.[44] Nurses also monitor each child's weight. In addition, a dental health program is conducted with HealthStar II – Mobile Dental Service.[45]

In addition to tuition payments, Lincoln Leadership Academy Charter School applied for several grants to increase its funding. Both the Pennsylvania Department of Education and the Federal government offer several education grants each year.

Lincoln Leadership Academy Charter School offers a wide variety of clubs, activities and an extensive, costly sports program. Eligibility for participation is determined by school board policy and in compliance with standards set by the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA). Lincoln Leadership Academy Charter School is noncompliant with state law, due to failing to post its Interscholastic Athletic Opportunities Disclosure Form on its website. Lincoln Leadership Academy Charter School offers an activity bus for students remaining after school hours for extended instruction, enrichment activities or sports.

By Pennsylvania law, all K-12 students residing in the district, including those who attend a private nonpublic school, cyber charter school, charter school and those homeschooled, are eligible to participate in the extracurricular programs including all athletics. They must meet the same eligibility rules as the students enrolled in the district's schools.[54]