Fact Sheet
About White Hat Management
- White Hat Management is a leading provider of lifelong learning services. Based in the United States, the company operates a range of educational services, including community-based and distance learning K-12 schools, post-secondary education services, web-based and face-to-face tutoring services, workplace supplemental education services, digital educational production services and home schooling services.
- Since its inception in 1998, White Hat has taken a leadership role through its founder, Akron, Ohio industrialist and education activist David Brennan, in positively influencing school choice legislation in Ohio and nationally, as well as in defending existing charter law from formidable union and related party litigation. In the media, we continually support school choice, defend White Hat's employees and academic performance record and inform the public of our commitment and means to serve a disenfranchised population across the United States.
- White Hat Management currently employs more than 1,800 people and operates 52 schools, serving more than 18,000 students during the 2004-2005 school year. For more information, visit White Hat Management at www.whitehatmgmt.com.
HOPE Academies
Tuition-free, K-11 community-based charter public schools serving students ages 5 to 17. HOPE Academies were founded in 1998 with the opening of four schools (University, Brown Street, Cathedral, and Chapelside). As of September 2005:
- 13 HOPE Academies have been established throughout Ohio: in Akron (2 locations), Canton, Cleveland (9 locations, including HOPE High School), and a Riverside Academy in Cincinnati.
- All HOPE Academies are fully accountable for and dedicated to meeting the educational standards established in Ohio for charter public schools.
- HOPE Academies also are committed to meeting federal requirements for serving students with special needs, set by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and No Child Left Behind (NCLB), as well as any state and local requisites.
- All White Hat Management schools are committed to meeting Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) requirements and each school has an extensive plan in place to address every aspect of AYP and No Child Left Behind (NCLB) accountability measures.
- More than 5,000 students are currently enrolled statewide
- Because of high demand, HOPE Academies have limited enrollment availability and may have waiting lists of students desiring to enter the school.
- Each school employs dedicated computer teachers with immediate access to the latest technologies.
- All classrooms have computers, and all schools have computer labs, including comprehensive online curriculum.
- Students have the option of applying to the HOPE Extended Learning Program, or HELP. This Web-based program provides students with remote access to their lessons any time when they will be away from a structured classroom setting, including weekends, summer break, holidays and even sick days.
- The computer to student and staff ratio is 1:2:4.
- HOPE Academies provide full-time teachers and assistants in every classroom, resulting in a student to educator ratio of 17:1 or better.
- HOPE Academies feature specially developed curriculum designed to meet the needs of the communities we serve.
- A full-time, licensed Family Advocate is provided in every school that forms key relationships with students, family, staff and the community to reduce barriers to student's success and provide a nurturing and supportive environment. Family Advocates make hundreds of contacts with students and families in need by coordinating individual, group, and community services.
- Black and Latino students comprise almost 80% of the HOPE Academy student population, versus a statewide average of 12% in the same grade levels.
- Five HOPE Academies were among the first charter schools renewed in Ohio.
- HOPE Academies are steadily closing the achievement gap; student academic growth continually exceeds expected achievement levels.
LifeSkills Centers
Tuition-free, serving at-risk and dropout youth ranging in age from16 to 22, depending on state age limitations for public high school students. LifeSkills Centers were founded in 1999 with the opening of centers in Akron, Cleveland, and Youngstown. As of September 2005:
- There are currently 37 LifeSkills Centers, 20 of which are in Ohio: in Akron (3 locations), Canton, Cincinnati (2 locations), Cleveland (4 locations), Columbus (3 locations), Dayton, Elyria, Middletown, Springfield, Toledo, Warren, and Youngstown.
- LifeSkills Centers also can be found in Phoenix, Ariz.; Denver and Colorado Springs, Colo.; Broward, Hillsborough, Miami-Dade, Palm Beach, Pinellas and Polk counties in Florida; and Detroit and Pontiac, Mich.
- According to the Center for Education Reform (CER), LifeSkills Centers account for 30 percent of the total number of charter high schools nationwide that target the at-risk and dropout population.
- More than 9,200 students are currently enrolled.
- Also according to CER, LifeSkills Centers educate more than 50 percent of the students currently attending at-risk and dropout-focused charter high schools in America.
- All LifeSkills Centers are fully accountable for and dedicated to meeting the educational standards established in each individual state for charter public schools.
- All White Hat Management schools are committed to meeting Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) requirements and each school has an extensive plan in place to address every aspect of AYP and No Child Left Behind (NCLB) accountability measures.
- LifeSkills Centers also are committed to meeting federal requirements for serving students with special needs, established by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and No Child Left Behind (NCLB), as well as any state and local requisites.
- Since inception, more than 6,200 students have graduated with a state-recognized high school diploma and a job.
- Students work at their own levels and paces; students may attend any one of up to four, 4-hour sessions per day morning, mid-day, afternoon, and an evening program in selected locations.
- LifeSkills Centers offer the most successful at-risk and dropout education program in America. To date, no other such program has reported the equivalent number of graduates.
- LifeSkills Centers currently serve metropolitan communities with populations generally beginning at 50,000 residents with the majority of attending students coming from within a 5-mile radius of the center.
- Graduations occur every June and December.
- LifeSkills Centers are now on pace to average 2,000 graduates per year.
- A full-time, licensed Family Advocate is provided in every school that forms key relationships with students, family, staff and the community to reduce barriers to student’s success and provide a nurturing and supportive environment. Family Advocates make hundreds of contacts with students and families in need by coordinating individual, group, and community services.
- Black and Latino students comprise approximately 65% of the LifeSkills Centers student population, compared to a national average of 32% in the same grade levels.
- Every teacher is issued a computer.
- The computer to student ratio is 1:1.
- Every fully enrolled LifeSkills Center classroom features full-time teachers and full-time assistants for more one-on-one instruction.
- LifeSkills Centers feature specially designed curriculum developed to meet the needs of the communities we serve and fully aligned with state standards.
- Students have the same graduation requirements as traditional public school students, including taking the same number of credits and passing the same required state tests. In addition, students must maintain employment for 90 consecutive days prior to graduation.
- Each LifeSkills Center offers full-time Vocational Specialists and a Family Advocate, providing a full complement of counseling and community-based referrals.
- The majority of LifeSkills students enroll through personal referrals from current students, parents, grandparents, and other family members, community and religious leaders, municipal authorities, and military recruiters, among others.
OHDELA
Tuition-free, K-12, home-based, distance learning charter public school in Ohio. Founded November 2001 with an enrollment of 112 students. As of September 2005:
- OHDELA, the Ohio Distance and Electronic Learning Academy, is fully accountable for and dedicated to meeting the educational standards established in Ohio for charter public schools.
- OHDELA also is committed to meeting federal requirements for serving students with special needs, established by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and No Child Left Behind (NCLB), as well as any state and local requisites.
- Over 3,500 students currently are enrolled statewide in grades K-12.
- Students are enrolled from 72 of Ohio's 88 counties.
- Book-based or electronic curriculums are available in the primary grades; full electronic curriculum is available in the secondary grades.
- Parents and students receive an award-winning curriculum, their choice of a desktop or laptop computer, portal training, Internet connectivity 24 hours a day, and the support of a dedicated Instructional Master Teacher, tuition-free.
- Parents direct up to $2,100 of education spending per year per child through unique OHDELA Parent Supplemental Account.
- Free online homework help and assistance via the Internet is available, accessing qualified tutors for grades 4 through 12, 2 p.m. - 12 a.m. seven days a week.
- Free online Ohio Proficiency Test assistance is provided.
- Students have free access to comprehensive online library resources.
- Students have free access to a video library containing 2,600 educational videos from the Discovery Channel, as well as 26,000 easily viewable segments.
- Parents can track their child’s progress with the instant ability to view and print Ohio Department of Education learning standards for all core subjects in grades K-12.
PDELA
Tuition-free, K-12, home-based, distance learning charter public school in Pennsylvania. Founded July 2004 with an enrollment of 195 students. As of September 2005:
- PDELA, the Pennsylvania Distance Learning Charter School, is fully accountable for and dedicated to meeting the educational and accountability standards established in Pennsylvania for charter public schools.
- PDELA also is committed to meeting federal requirements for serving students with special needs, established by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and No Child Left Behind (NCLB), as well as any state and local requisites.
- Over 450 students currently are enrolled statewide in grades K-12
- PDELA uses a multimedia approach to learning, combining text-based and computer-based instruction for each student.
- Students have regular interactive learning sessions with their teachers as well as submitting required assignments.
- Students have access to online homework help seven days a week, or to master teachers at a toll-free number.
- Parents and students receive an award-winning curriculum, their choice of a desktop or laptop computer, portal training, Internet connectivity 24 hours a day, and the support of a dedicated Instructional Master Teacher, tuition-free.
- Free online homework help and assistance via the Internet is available, accessing qualified tutors for grades 4 through 12, 2 p.m. - 12 a.m. seven days a week.
- Students have free access to comprehensive online library resources.
- Students have free access to a video library containing 2,600 educational videos from the Discovery Channel, as well as 26,000 easily viewable segments.
- Parents have the opportunity to form parent consortiums to 'team-teach' students.
- Strong technical support with computer needs, including monthly training sessions, a help desk, and in-home repairs are available.
- Funding is available for students' participation in selected physical education, health, and wellness programs.
- PDELA offers more than 90 half-credit course options for its high school students.
Headquarters:
White Hat Management159 South Main Street, Suite 600
Akron, Ohio 44308
Phone: 330-535-6868
toll free: 800-525-7967
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Contact:
Phone: 330-535-6868 ext. 329Toll Free: 800-535-7967
Email: info@whitehatmgmt.com
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