School news and events for the week of {date}

As we are well into our new school year, Individualized Learning Plan (ILP) meetings have started, with learners collaborating with parents, guardians and facilitators to create a plan that includes goals academically aligned to state standards and social-emotional goals. The goal of an ILP is to enable Alaka`i O Kaua`i learners to reflect upon and evaluate their progress toward learning goals.

I realize that as a parent or guardian, trying to understand the value of an ILP is something different than many parents have experienced, especially coming from a traditional public or private school environment.

Indulekha Reeves, an Alaka’i parent and board member, described what she saw as the value of the Individualized Learning Plan for her two children:

“Having individual learning goals is a major component of our school that sets us apart. The purpose of them is to foster self-reflection and encourage self-growth and motivation. Part of learning to be a leader is that a person sets and achieves goals.
The other benefit of this is that the learner, facilitator, and parent work together to discuss, create, and support. As the learner sees progress and/or achievement then this instills positive self-image, and builds the intrinsic motivation necessary for success.”

I hope that you, too, have seen the value of the Individualized Learning Plan for you and your child. I want to encourage you to take the time to reflect on this process and everything we do at Alaka’i O Kaua’i Charter School. I invite you to email me any questions or suggestions you have that will make this school better for your learner.

Mahalo!

Frederick A. Birkett, Ed.M
School Leader