MEMORANDUM

February 22, 2000

TO

FROM

SUBJECT

:

:

:

Thomas J. Doluisio, Superintendent of Schools

Monty Perfetti, Director of Secondary Education

Lehigh Valley Academy Regional Charter School

Perceived Deficiencies

It would appear to be problematic that a school established upon the basic premise of educational
choice is dependent for its curriculum materials to a for-profit enterprise. Should the professional
educators employed to deliver instruction determine that alternative curriculum and/or materials best
meet the needs of students, the current financial dependency of the charter school with Mosaica, Inc,
would appear to severely limit any choice in instructional delivery.

There has been no evidence presented that the Paragon Curriculum, designed under the direction of
Mosaica, Inc., appropriately addresses the Pennsylvania Department of Education Chapter 4
curriculum standards. While a thematic approach of instruction represented by the Paragon
Curriculum represents a unique instructional design, the integration of specific content components
as required by Chapter 4 curriculum standards, requires specific information to be mastered by
students. There is no evidence that this information exists in the Paragon Curriculum.

The Bethlehem Area School District has adopted internationally-benchmarked student learning
outcomes in the academic disciplines of English, reading, mathematics, and science. It is to be
assumed that students may choose to enroll in the charter school from the Bethlehem Area School
District and then, eventually, enroll in the District.

The student learning outcomes represented by Paragon Curriculum and the core curriculum
instructional program do not appear to represent internationally-benchmarked standards.
Addressing the needs of students who leave the charter school and enroll in the District may
represent an additional burden on both the student and the District.

In regard to the charter school discipline policy, there does not appear to be any planned program of
interventions designed to assist students in analyzing and modifying behavior in order to
demonstrate increased school success. Should a student be expelled from the charter school, no
provisions have been identified for the continued education of such students.

MP:glj