Education Opportunities
All John Dewey Institute students will complete a high school diploma and have opportunities to take concurrent enrollment classes through local community colleges. Additionally, JDI students will have access to a plethora of Career and Technical pathways, including Alternative and Renewable Energy, Audio Production, Automotive Technology, Aviation Fundamentals, Television Broadcast Journalism, Culinary Arts, and Graphic Design. Students may even opt to try one of our Pre-Apprenticeship pathways. The goal at John Dewey Charter School is for every student to have opportunities to achieve success in employment and career.
Career, Employment, and Trade Opportunities
Dr. Temple Grandin, a leading specialist and expert of ASD has stated the following: "It is estimated that 90% of adults with ASD are under or unemployed. What many people don’t realize is that unemployment rates for those with ASD are higher than the unemployment rate for ALL disabled Americans in general, which sits at only 10.5% compared to 90% for those with ASD. Early access to high-quality vocational training can be life changing for those with ASD."
John Dewey will collaborate with T.A.C.T. - Teaching the Autism Community Trades, an award winning 501(c)(3) organization, located in downtown Denver that provides trade and technical skills to children, young adults and families living with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Their programs are designed to empower individuals and develop interests and skills for life. Early vocational training helps young adults before they leave high school and sets them up for long term success. T.A.C.T. is the first and only trade program in the entire country developed exclusively for individuals with autism!
EDUCATION PLAN MISSION
Our goal is to bring a five-star school to Colorado for all children, including those students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The school provides junior college courses and certificated programs that include transitional programs for young people ages 18 to 21.
At John Dewey, each child's IEP (Individualized Education Plan) and PLP (Personalized Learning Plan) includes viable steps towards gaining a solid education. The goal is a high school diploma paired with real-life skills for use after graduation. At John Dewey, a student can benefit from a competency-based curriculum learning experience which combines smaller classrooms and purposeful activities with trained faculty who are educated to understand a student’s particular abilities.
John Dewey Institute (JDI) does not guarantee success. It guarantees opportunity. Our students have been diagnosed with autism, Asperger’s, or twice exception (2E), which make learning in a traditional classroom particularly difficult. John Dewey teachers and counselors work with each student to provide the most appropriate program.
JDI provides “customized” education program. Students at all levels participate in pragmatics (social skills instruction), fine arts, athletics, culinary arts, and hands-on science projects. JDI is there to assist its young adults in applying for college, managing and paying personal bills, and networking in the world of employment. It may work in partnership with traditional public schools or vocational schools using their facilities to provide vocational training in communications technology, auto body, welding, medical technology, nursing, auto mechanics, and other trade skills.
The goal is high school graduation and transition to meaningful work. There are no certificates of attendance.
Digital Badges
All K-8 John Dewey Institute students on the autism spectrum will earn and be awarded digital badges. Students may also document, reflect and provide evidence of their curricular and non-curricular intercultural learning assignments or activities. Students earn badges by completing challenges. The required work to complete each challenge is called a task, examples are: submitting documents, links to websites or media, and passing quizzes. This new educational system is on the cutting-edge of education innovation and will be designed to accommodate the special needs of our students on the autism spectrum.
There will be no certificates of participation. Instead, all students will earn a high school diploma with possible opportunities to earn college credits in our concurrent enrollment classes.
