All students enter school with a wealth of knowledge rooted in culture, language, and personal experience. That knowledge should be built upon, not diminished, and serve as the foundation for which students learn to navigate the cultures of the world.

A strong foundation of self-determination and self-advocacy is essential to student success in education and the professional world. All of our students are capable of reaching high levels of success. School should provide sufficient time for students to identify long-term goals, and navigate ways of realizing them.

Students’ physical and social-emotional needs are a prerequisite to higher-order problem solving and rigorous academic achievement. When the foundational needs of students are addressed, students can engage at their highest level and meet the cognitive demands required in the classroom.

Direct exposure to local and national resources, beyond the student’s current experiences, provides students with the self-confidence and social capital needed to be competitive in the world.