What We Are About!

The Gainesville Learning Academy is an educational program provided by the Gainesville City Board of Education. The vision of the Academy is to prepare every student to become a responsible and successful individual who takes ownership for themselves and their actions through a program of academic achievement, behavior modification, and community service. 

Assignment to GLA.  Parents choose the GLA program for their children for one of two reasons.  The first reason for parents to choose GLA as their school of choice is if their student finds it difficult to learn in a regular school/classroom setting. The parent must formally request their student to attend GLA.  The second reason for a parent to choose GLA for their student is if their student has been expelled from the Gainesville City School System for misconduct at a Tribunal, and is offered GLA as an academic option. In both cases, the Gainesville City School System Assistant Superintendent for Administrative Services must approve the assignment of the student to GLA.

Conceptual Framework. The program supports the Georgia Department of Education’s conceptual framework for learning-focused strategies.  Students assigned to GLA are, in most cases, at Tier 4 of the Student Achievement Pyramid of Interventions of the GDOE model.  These students are in need of Specially Designed Instruction/Learning that is targeted and specialized to meet the student’s individual learning needs.  Every student at GLA has an Individual Learning Plan that is monitored daily by the faculty and reviewed routinely with parents and students during conferences.  The ILP includes daily assignments that are specifically developed for each student that leads to improving student reading levels and completion of grade appropriate coursework.

Curriculum and Instruction.  GLA uses the Gainesville Model for standards-based instruction.  Our learning-focused curriculum places heavy emphasis on reading, writing, and language arts instruction by a veteran reading teacher on staff.  GLA uses the <Compass Learning Odyssey> software platform for individualized instruction in social studies, science, and mathematics. Additionally, every student completes a keyboarding course of instruction and is awarded a .5 Carnegie unit of credit.   Individual and small group instruction by GLA teachers occurs daily.  GLA is currently aligning the Georgia Performance Standards, and Gainesville High School and Middle School pacing guides with the Compass Learning software.  The objective of the academic curriculum is for students to make significant gains in their reading level and earn middle and high school credit for their work. 

Behavior Modification.  The modification of student behavior while attending GLA is major objective of the program and essential for future student success upon return to the regular school/classroom settings.  Therefore, all students are expected to follow a strict set of Student Rules and sign a behavior contract during registration.  The school hosts security cameras in every classroom, throughout the hallway and the outer school perimeter.  Daily attendance is mandatory and parents are immediately notified in the morning of an absence.  The school works closely with local and state officials to insure compliance with attendance and behavioral requirements. Additionally, GLA uses the full array of district resources and routine services – middle and high school social workers and guidance counselors, and group counseling services by Centerpoint of Gainesville.

Community Service.  Every students is required to participate in a community service project weekly and complete no less than twenty hours of service a month.  GLA partners with other schools in GCSS and other non-profit organizations for placement of its students for completion of this requirement.

Technology.  Instruction takes place in a 21^st Century Classroom.  Each classroom hosts ten computer work stations, a wall mounted cable connected DVD/VHS television, a ceiling mounted LCD projector, and a wall mounted promythean board.  Several software platforms are used by teachers daily for instruction.