Facing Limitations
With the CSL private school movement naturally spreading, and with the public school system continuing to fail competitively against other nations, it was finally time to shift our focus. Therefore, the Lead Founders of the GPA Project, Grace Preparatory Academy, and the National Association of University-Model® Schools turned their attention to the public school system. With the charter school movement growing in many states, there was finally hope for some level of innovative freedom to pursue within the public school system. However, large-scale innovation was still limited by state regulations.
As a result of state regulations, a different weekly schedule had to be used. Lead Founders, therefore, assembled another incredible team to apply for a charter school that would operate on a reduced 4-hour schedule on all 5 days during the week (the minimum class time allowed in Texas). Although this weekly schedule did not mimic the successful CSL schedule, the school’s hybrid design still included many of the college-simulated features necessary for success. This included college-simulated classes taught on campus by professional instructors, asynchronous learning at home, and the critical Parent-Equipping Program. Since this option would substantially increase parental involvement in a public school setting, we decided to pursue it.
UME Preparatory Academy
On September 16, 2011, the Charter for UME Preparatory Academy, an acronym for the University-Method of Education, was unanimously approved by the Texas State Board of Education, and UME Prep opened for its first day of classes on August 15, 2012. Before UME Prep, education officials had never imagined that a shorter school day could result in an academically-enhanced, college-prep program. The prevailing belief was that more time in school and more money were the solutions. But UME Prep has proven what others thought was impossible. UME Prep is now a very successful, top-rated charter school operating three campuses in the Dallas, Texas area, and with more campuses to come.
As with all of our endeavors, this successful charter school effort was also the result of an incredible team of educators and parents. However, this free option for parents would not have been possible without the dedication of two important individuals whose determination, experience, and wisdom made this school possible – Mr. Walter Howey and Dr. Nolan Estes.