Leman Academy of Excellence

Where Children Build Knowledge and Character

Scholar Development

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Choosing a school is about more than curriculum. Instead, it’s about how children learn to think, grow intellectually and develop values that guide them every day.

At Leman Academy, classical education comes to life through rigorous academics, intentional character development and a supportive school community. As a result, this time-tested approach gives students a strong foundation not just for the next grade, but for life.

A Classical Approach with Purpose

Leman designs its curriculum to build strong thinkers who reason clearly, communicate effectively and learn independently. Instead of focusing on memorization alone, teachers guide students to understand concepts deeply and apply their knowledge across subjects.

For this reason, Leman Academy grounds this approach in a clear educational philosophy and proven teaching methods. In addition, educators emphasize consistency, clarity and meaningful classroom experiences that grow with each child.

Educating the Whole Child

In addition, at Leman Academy, character development plays a central role in daily learning. Teachers model and reinforce responsibility, respect and accountability in the classroom. As a result, students take ownership of their learning, practice self-discipline and develop habits that support long-term success. Our virtues reinforce these values by guiding student behavior, shaping classroom culture and supporting character formation across all grade levels.

As a result, by teaching academic skills alongside character traits, Leman Academy prepares scholars for challenges inside and outside the classroom.

A Supportive School Community

Likewise, families, teachers and students work together to create a calm, consistent learning environment where students thrive. Parent involvement and strong communication remain essential parts of a child’s educational journey.

In this way, this partnership extends learning beyond the classroom and supports each student academically, socially and emotionally.

Ultimately, families choose Leman Academy because they want more than academics alone. They want an education that prepares their child for life — intellectually, socially and morally.

Learn more about how classical education comes to life at Leman Academy HERE.

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Supporting Enriching Experiences at Leman Academy of Excellence

Many of the moments that shape a child’s educational experience do not happen in a textbook. Instead, they often occur during an art project that sparks creativity, on a field trip that brings learning to life, or through enrichment opportunities that help students discover new interests and confidence.

At Leman Academy of Excellence, a tuition-free, classical education supports students both academically and personally. While the core academic program is publicly funded, many meaningful experiences extend beyond what is fully covered through the annual school budget. For this reason, community support plays an important role in sustaining enrichment opportunities across all campuses.

Why Donations Matter

Meaningful learning extends beyond daily classroom lessons. For example, programs such as art, music, enrichment activities, field trips and classroom enhancements help create a well-rounded educational experience. In addition, these moments foster curiosity, build character and encourage students to explore the world in ways that inspire a lifelong love of learning.

Because funding priorities must remain focused on core academics, donations provide added flexibility throughout the year. As a result, schools can respond to classroom needs, campus initiatives and student opportunities as they arise. Ultimately, this support helps ensure enriching experiences remain available to students across Leman Academy campuses.

Supporting Students and Teachers

Community donations may be directed toward:

  • Classroom resources and instructional materials
  • Student enrichment and experiential learning
  • Campus needs and school improvements
  • Teacher and staff support initiatives
  • Extracurricular programs and special activities

These contributions, regardless of size, play a meaningful role in strengthening the learning environment.

At the same time, this generosity supports the educators and staff who guide students each day.

A Community That Makes a Difference

Leman Academy families, grandparents and community supporters play an essential role in helping schools thrive. Because of this involvement, the gap between public funding and truly enriching experiences can be thoughtfully bridged.

Over time, continued support allows schools to nurture curiosity, confidence and character. In the long run, these qualities form the foundation for success in school and beyond.

Additional donation details are available through local Leman Academy campus pages- Arizona or Colorado – or use the direct links below.

Donate to Leman Academy of Excellence in Arizona

To support students and programs at our Arizona campuses, please visit one of the following donation pages:

Donate Ariaona:
Donate to Central Tucson

Donate to East Tucson

Donate to Marana

Donate to Mesa

Donate to Oro Valley

Donate to Sierra Vista

Donate to Leman Virtual Academy

Donate Colorado:

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When a School Isn’t the Right Fit, You Don’t Have to Wait Until August.

Families make mid-year transitions for many reasons. Maybe your child needs more challenge, more structure, or a calmer learning environment. Perhaps class sizes are too large, and your student isn’t receiving the attention they need. Whatever the reason, a fresh start can make an enormous difference in your child’s confidence and academic success.

At Leman Academy of Excellence, we welcome students throughout the school year whenever space is available. A mid-year transfer can be the reset families need.

Why Families Choose To Transfer To Leman Academy Mid-Year

1. A Classical Education That Builds Strong Thinkers

If your child is craving more substance and less screen time, our classical curriculum provides exactly that. Scholars engage deeply with history, literature, Latin, handwriting, and foundational math to build lifelong skills.

2. A Safe, Supportive Environment

We understand how much it matters for children to feel seen, known, and supported. Our teachers work closely with new scholars to ease the transition, build confidence, and help them adjust quickly.

3. Character Development Is Part of the School Day

Many families choose Leman because the culture feels different. We teach virtues like respect, responsibility, caring, and perseverance — and we practice them daily.

4. A Clean Break from What Wasn’t Working

Sometimes the simplest solution is a fresh start. When your current school isn’t meeting your child’s academic or social needs, a mid-year transfer can be a positive turning point.

What to Expect When You Transfer Mid-Year

We know switching schools can feel overwhelming. Our team makes the process as smooth as possible:

  • A quick records transfer from your current school
  • Support placing your child in the right classes
  • A welcoming environment that helps new scholars feel comfortable right away
  • Opportunities for parents to connect with staff and ask questions

Families often tell us they wish they had made the move sooner.

Ready to Learn More?

Whether you’re coming from another charter, a district school, a homeschool program, or a recent move, you’re welcome here.

Enrollment is open now for mid-year transfers.

Click below to connect with the campus near you.

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In a world of artificial intelligence and constant connectivity, not all charter schools are equal because education risks becoming transactional unless we remember what learning is really for.

At Leman Academy of Excellence, technology supports instruction but never replaces the teacher, the mentor or the moral compass that shape a child’s heart and mind.

A photo of Leman academy scholars performing together

Wisdom before technology

AI can generate words, but it cannot discern truth or virtue. Our scholars learn to think critically, reason logically and communicate clearly, which are skills no algorithm can mimic.
Education should form judgment, not just produce output. That is why our curriculum emphasizes conversation, context and contemplation, which happen best between people rather than screens.

The human element

Every classroom relationship matters. Teachers know their scholars personally and guide them toward perseverance, empathy and curiosity, qualities that make them lifelong learners.
When a child feels known and valued, they gain the confidence to take intellectual risks and develop a sense of purpose that technology cannot inspire on its own.

Forming minds and hearts

Our mission is to form scholars who lead with character and compassion. From literature to logic, every subject connects to the pursuit of truth, goodness and beauty.
Through history they learn perspective. Through literature they learn empathy. Through service they learn humility. These lessons reach beyond the classroom and shape the kind of adults who strengthen their communities.

A photo of Leman academy scholars performing together

Balancing innovation and integrity

We use technology wisely to enhance, not replace, real teaching. Digital tools help our scholars research, create and collaborate, but they are always guided by discernment.
We teach our students to ask not just “Can I?” but “Should I?” a question that sits at the heart of both ethics and education.

Raising thinkers, not scrollers

Instead of endless scrolling, our scholars engage in rich discussions that build discernment and civic virtue, the kind of intelligence that truly changes the world.
At Leman Academy, character is not a side lesson. It is the foundation of everything we do. Find a Leman Academy School near you.

Because real education is not downloaded. It is developed.

Enroll Today!

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At Leman Academy of Excellence, we’re proud that our campuses in Marana, Oro Valley, Sierra Vista, Central Tucson and Mesa have earned A ratings from the Arizona Department of Education. and that our East Tucson campus has been recognized as a Purple Star School for its commitment to supporting military-connected families.

Together, these honors reflect a shared culture of excellence, character and community across all of our campuses. But what does that actually mean and why should it matter to parents?

A reflection of academic mastery

A rating banner for hero section

Arizona’s school grading system looks closely at how well students grow and achieve across subjects like math, reading and science. An A rating means that our scholars are not only meeting high academic standards but also showing measurable year-over-year growth. It’s recognition that teaching at Leman Academy is consistently effective, challenging and supportive.

A focus on growth, not just grades

Earning an A rating isn’t about teaching to the test, it’s about equipping scholars with critical-thinking skills, problem-solving abilities and a love of learning that shows in their performance. Our teachers track each student’s progress, offering additional support where needed and stretching them when they’re ready for more.

A culture of excellence and virtue

Academic success is only one part of the equation. Our classical education model integrates history, literature and moral philosophy so that students don’t just learn facts – they learn how to reason, lead and serve. An A rating reflects that holistic approach: high standards, strong leadership and a culture that values character as much as knowledge.

A commitment to parents and community

Each Leman campus thrives because of strong partnerships with families. Parents are our co-teachers and collaborators. The A rating belongs to them too, it’s a reflection of the investment they make every day in their child’s education.

Continuing to grow

Even with these high marks, we know that growth never stops. Each campus continually reviews data, teaching practices, and enrichment programs to ensure that every scholar whether in Marana, Oro Valley, Mesa, Sierra Vista, or East Tucson continues to thrive.

At Leman Academy of Excellence, “A” stands for more than achievement. It stands for aspiration, accountability and the academic and moral formation that prepares scholars for a lifetime of excellence.

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Of all the occupations in the country, the one with the highest level of burnout is teaching. As many as 44% of teachers report that they always or very often feel burned out at work, according to a Gallup poll. Young teachers, recently graduated and dreaming of changing children’s lives, are run over by the pressures of teaching. Though they expect to work hard with lesson planning and grading, they find themselves entrenched in unexpected work, too — counseling students and parents, trying to make it work with inadequate resources, teaching large classes without time to attend to each student’s needs, dealing with discipline issues, experiencing lack of autonomy, pressured to raise tests scores, not having sufficient administrative support, working with poor funding, and a lack of community support.

Colorado, like states everywhere, employs many talented teachers equipped with inspiring ideas and innovative teaching strategies. Yet, when they’re hired to teach, they’re not permitted to use those talents either for a lack of time or lack of alignment with their curriculum. Colorado traditional school teachers are looking for opportunities to make their work impactful in their scholars’ lives. They’re seeking a viable educational structure and more support from their peers, administrators and parents.

In this blog, we’re going to explore one model of education that offers teachers a refreshing alternative to the constant, hamster wheel-spinning environment of the traditional classroom. We’re going to discover how Classical Education, with its anchor in logic, character education, and critical thinking objectives, offers a welcome return to purpose.

What is Classical Education and Why Does it Matter to Teachers?

Classical Education is a model for teaching grades K-12 through three stages of learning: the Grammar, Logic, and Rhetoric stages. The Grammar Stage is for scholars in grades K-6, and it emphasizes gathering and storing knowledge over all the subjects covered: mathematics, science, history, geography, languages, and language arts.

When scholars reach the equivalent of seventh grade, they begin studies in the Logic Stage. Here, even though they’re still gathering knowledge, they use abstract thinking to explore information critically; scholars analyze, compare/contrast, synthesize, and evaluate. They participate in Socratic discussions to share insights, opinions, and arguments over their study material.

In the Rhetoric Stage, during high school years, scholars continue the work they did in the Grammar and Logic Stages, but they also develop persuasive arguments supporting their stances on issues. They write essays and deliver presentations to communicate their thoughts. This three-stage educational process is called the Trivium.

By reading classical literature and discussing the issues contained therein, Classical Education scholars practice deep thinking, respectful dialogue, and develop their own personal thoughts on moral behavior.

This educational approach matters to teachers because with Classical Education, they find purpose and intention in teaching. They’re not merely attempting to get their scholars to pass tests with sufficient scores. In this school setting, teachers are more flexible and can teach with their own innovative strategies. They find once again the passion for teaching they had when they were hopeful college scholars.

The Leman Academy Difference in Colorado

To illustrate how refreshing the Classical Education model is for teachers, let’s discover the Leman Academy of Excellence, with a campus in Parker Bayou Gulch, Colorado. Within the academic structure of this school, teachers find a clear structure, a comprehensible and feasible curriculum, a shared educational philosophy, and plenty of guidance and mentorship. This is a school where teachers are supported as educational leaders and parents are viewed as partners.

New teachers at Leman are assigned a mentor for support and guidance. No teacher is left to figure things out on their own. The school’s administration likewise supports teachers’ efforts with a climate of respect.

Core Classical Pillars That Strengthen the Teaching Experience

When scholars enter the Logic Stage of the classical model, they’re encouraged to ask “why” questions about the material they’re studying. In this manner, gateways to lively and engaging discussions are opened. All scholars in the class may contribute to such discussions. Scholars aren’t sitting passively while a teacher “talks at them” as is so frequently the case in a traditional setting. Teachers are empowered to design lessons that connect the facts they’re teaching to scholars’ reasoning and critical thinking.

Critical thinking is further encouraged by asking open-ended questions. Instead of merely reading Hamlet’s soliloquy, scholars are encouraged to discuss whether Hamlet should avenge his father’s death by killing Claudius. Discussions such as this influence scholars’ developing moral values and strengthen their character development. Scholars learn how to think, not just what to think.

Furthermore, an emphasis on character development in the classical model reduces unwanted behavioral issues and supports a positive classroom environment. Scholars learn that their teachers don’t simply deliver content, but that they’re dynamic role models of responsible citizens in society.

These core pillars of  Classical Education make teachers’ experiences personally rewarding, meaningful, and joyful.  

Why Colorado Teachers Thrive at Leman Academy

One of the drawbacks of teaching in a traditional school is that teachers don’t feel they’re given a voice in designing the educational experience. They’re not given autonomy to use their innovations in designing lesson plans or contribute to curricula.

But in the Classical Education setting at Leman Academy, teachers discover they do have a voice in shaping curricula and school culture. In fact, they’re encouraged to collaborate, to share ideas and experiences.

Teachers find ongoing professional development opportunities at Leman as well. Teachers are shown how the classical model is used to provide scholars with the full range of scholarship acquisition: from acquiring knowledge, to sifting that knowledge with critical thinking, to imparting that knowledge to others.

Leman Academy thrives with strong leadership and collaboration across all of its campuses in Arizona and Colorado.

Final Thoughts: A Meaningful Path Forward for Educators

Amid the crises and burnouts happening in today’s traditional schools, teaching at a school like Leman Academy is like moving away from brutally hot sunshine and seeking shade under a breezy elm tree. Classical education offers stability and depth in working with our youth and helps teachers rediscover joy, clarity, and purpose in education.

Learn more about teaching opportunities at Leman Academy’s Colorado campuses and how to join a values-driven team.

Simplified Summary

Classical education helps teachers guide scholars through strong academic lessons and character development.

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 “A shockingly large share of graduating high-school seniors are not prepared to go to college.”

— Chester E. Finn, Jr.; “The Fog of College Readiness”, 2017

Colorado is one of the leading states blazing a new trail for high school graduation requirements. With the lasting effects of the post-COVID era and new technology constantly revising the educational landscape, high schools across the country are changing graduation requirements to best prepare their seniors for life beyond high school.

Making sure that scholars are prepared for the world when they leave school is largely based on success in the early grades. Learning to read well, developing critical thinking skills, and problem-solving abilities are foundations upon which future learning competencies are based.

The Leman Academy of Excellence, a tuition-free K-8 charter school with campuses in both Arizona and Colorado, is riding the wave of change; they are preparing their young scholars for the rigors of academic learning they’ll encounter in high school and beyond. Teaching with the Classical Education model, Leman Academy emphasizes training young minds to think independently and decisively. Scholars at Leman study classical literature and engage in Socratic discussions. From the very beginning, they’re provided the tools with which to build strong academic foundations.

With the view that success in secondary education and in life depends greatly on scholars’ academic achievements in the early years, we can zoom in on how Colorado’s new requirements are being met. We’ll go into depth with the following:

  • An Overview of Colorado’s New Graduation Requirements
  • Why Early Preparation is More Important Now Than Ever
  • How Leman Academy Builds a Future-Ready Foundation
  • The Life Skills That Support Graduation and Beyond
  • How Leman Academy Bridges K-8 to High School Success
  • The Long-Term Impact of a Classical Education

An Overview of Colorado’s New Graduation Requirements

In the effort to prepare high school graduates for the future of higher learning, joining the military, or setting out on a career path, Colorado passed Bill 07-1118 in October 2021. Students planning to graduate must prove their competencies across a range of skills, including entrepreneurial, personal, civic, and professional skill mastery. Referred to as a “Menu of College and Career-Ready Demonstrations”, the state provides school districts the right to accept certain options from this menu, to require higher scores from the tests they accept, and to create their programs as long as they comply with the minimum education minimums stated in the Bill.

Set by the state of Colorado for its high school graduates, proof of readiness can be provided by these standards of competency:

  • An Accuplacer score* of 241 on reading or 236 on sentence writing
  • An Accuplacer score of 255 on arithmetic or 230 on quantitative reasoning, algebra, and statistics (*Accuplacer is a computerized assessment test)
  • An ACT score of 18 in English and 19 in math
  • A level of Bronze or higher in ACT Workkeys (assessment for job skills)
  • An advanced placement exam with a score of 2 or higher (range is 1-5)
  • A score of 31 or higher on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB)
  • Passing grades for students in concurrent enrollment with college courses
  • A district capstone project
  • Industry certificate for readiness in reading, writing, and mathematics
  • An International Baccalaureate (IB) exam with a score of 4 or higher (highest is 7)
  • An SAT score of 470 in reading and 500 in mathematics
  • A collaboratively developed, standards-based performance assessment

The Individual Career and Academic Plan (ICAP) in Colorado is a multi-year process that allows scholars to explore career and academic options. School leaders and faculty, in collaboration with school counselors, use ICAP as a tool for reflecting on how a scholar’s post-secondary and workforce readiness (PWR)  is accomplished.

At the heart of all these efforts is the goal that scholars will effectively and successfully transfer their school-acquired skills and knowledge to real-world applications.

Why Early Preparation is More Important Now Than Ever

What neurological and cognitive scientists know for a fact, and what teachers have long suspected, is that when a child receives high-quality education at an early age, he or she is set up for better learning as they grow older. 90% of brain development happens in the first five years of life. Hence, positive outcomes in scholars’ academic lives are dependent upon the quality of instruction they receive when they’re very young. The ability to demonstrate keen critical thinking skills likewise begins early, in elementary school. Critical thinking skills are the skills people use to analyze and evaluate information and then make informed decisions and judgments. In addition, the ability to develop self-discipline begins at a young age, too.

The years between kindergarten and eighth grade are the greatest for growth and change in children, not just their physical size but also their mental development. Learning to write fluently, develop logical thinking, and solve problems takes many years to develop. Schools must provide children with plenty of opportunity, guidance, and support in the early years to ensure they have the best chance possible for academic success in high school and beyond.

Research supports the fact that childhood experiences in school have a significant influence on future development and well-being. When scholars are not supplied with a strong foundation in their early years, they will likely struggle to meet high school benchmarks required for graduation.

How Leman Academy Builds a Future-Ready Foundation

The Leman Academy of Excellence is a tuition-free, K-8 charter school with campuses in Arizona and Colorado. It teaches with the Classical Education model, which is based upon the Trivium and its three age-related, distinct stages: the Grammar, Logic, and Rhetoric stages of learning. A unique aspect of this model of teaching is that it helps scholars learn how to think rather than merely imparting to them what to think. With studies focused on classical literature and history, scholars engage in active discussions and collaborative projects to evaluate the thoughts, decisions, and ideas that shaped Western Civilization.

Classical studies in math and science help scholars develop logical reasoning and problem-solving skills. With logical thinking and its use in dissecting information, identifying correlations, identifying patterns, and applying deductive and inductive reasoning, logical thinking is an essential skill for scholars to have in their tool belts.

The Leman Academy’s Classical Education model also equips scholars with well-developed characters. They learn responsibility, perseverance, and integrity in both active and passive processes. Actively, scholars discuss the virtues and morals they find in classical literature, and they form opinions about people’s ideas and historical events. They share their opinions in Socratic discussions and written essays. In a passive or more private nature, Leman Academy encourages its scholars to manage their time, develop positive social interactions, and participate in class and school activities. In this way, scholars form personal habits and discipline that lead to success in high school, college, and in life.

Life Skills That Support Graduation and Beyond

Highlighted in Colorado’s new graduation requirements are the skills that promote real-world readiness. Critical thinking, effective communication, excellent problem-solving, and the ability to work well within a team are some of the real-world skills for which scholars need to prepare.

The Leman Academy of Excellence integrates readiness skills development within its school curriculum. Scholars, even from the early grades, participate in giving presentations to their classes, thus growing skills in both public speaking and rhetoric. Leman teaches research skills and administers many writing assignments that help scholars hone their resourcefulness and expressiveness in communication.

In addition, Leman instills habits early in scholars’ lives: setting goals, managing time, and developing a growth mindset. By teaching how to think, Leman encourages open minds, curiosity, and questions. These traits form the foundation of a mind that is open to growth and encouraged to learn.

Civic responsibility, virtue, and leadership are all part of the Classical Education model, and Leman Academy provides scholars with an abundance of exposure to these characteristics through a comprehensive study of classical literature and discussion.

Given the depth of intellectual participation, Leman Academy and its Classical Education model provide an ideal education for real-life preparation in today’s world.

How Leman Academy Bridges K-8 to High School Success

Leman Academy’s education is more open than that of traditional public schools. In classroom discussions, scholars strive to share what they’re thinking and what they believe. They learn in a collaborative setting where scholars contribute, support, and motivate each other. In contrast to most traditional school settings, where scholars listen to lectures, Leman’s scholars are eager to share and participate in their learning.

Leman’s scholars excel no matter where they attend high school after eighth grade. They enter high school ahead of their peers in reading, writing, and math benchmarks. 54% of scholars at Leman tested at or above the proficiency level in reading, and 46% at or above the proficiency level in mathematics. In fact, the scholars at Leman are a whole year ahead of their peers in math, having started the first-grade curriculum in kindergarten.

With confidence and a love for learning, Leman’s scholars are in a position to meet and exceed the ICAP competency expectations. Leman’s alumni are performing well in high schools across Arizona and Colorado and are prepared to meet or exceed graduation requirement expectations with clarity and purpose.

The Long-Term Impact of a Classical Foundation

When children begin school with Classical Education, they form thinking and learning habits at an early age. The child’s brain is more malleable than an adult’s brain and is subject to learning more quickly. When habits are formed at an early age, they are likely to remain as children grow older. A classical foundation raises them with long-range critical thinking skills and life-long habits that impact their later school years, college, and career.

By building positive character traits in children via Classical Education, scholars become morally grounded and develop strong leadership skills. Thus, graduating from a Classical Education school, they take much more with them than just having completed the correct number and type of credits. They take with them an inner, well-developed core of strength, confidence, and a compass pointing them toward success with future endeavors.

Conclusion

It’s commendable that the Colorado Department of Education is raising the bar on requirements to help graduates become ready for post-graduate demands. However, traditional public schools, no matter what their graduation requirements, will not be able to raise the standard of quality education as high as Classical Education does. That’s because of the way the classical model is structured; with the Trivium, scholars begin to hard-wire knowledge and thinking processes from the earliest grade levels.

The Leman Academy of Excellence offers a tuition-free classical education that lays the groundwork for stellar academic, personal, and professional success.

Explore how Leman Academy prepares young scholars not just for high school but for life.

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Learning to read is one of the most difficult cognitive achievements people ever have in their lives, yet children must master this feat in their first five or six years. Children must first learn the letter-sound relationships of the alphabet letters, then begin to decode simple words. The importance of learning to read well cannot be overstated — when scholars do not know how to read well, it impacts the remainder of their scholastic lives and beyond.

The state of Arizona took steps to ensure its scholars met reading standards in 2013 with their “Move on When Reading” law. This legislation prevents promotion from the third grade for any scholar who doesn’t master sufficient reading benchmarks on the state’s assessments.

In this blog, we will evaluate Arizona’s progress after twelve years since this law was implemented. We’ll also take a look at how schools other than traditional district schools, such as The Leman Academy of Excellence, not only meet Arizona’s reading achievement goals but exceed well beyond expectations.

What is Arizona’s Reading Framework?

The National Assessment Education Panel (NAEP) scores the nation’s reading level achievement for scholars in the fourth, eighth, and twelfth grades. The latest average score for fourth graders’ reading ability in 2024 is 215 out of a possible perfect score of 500. As a nation, we are aware of a serious reading deficit among our youth, but in 2013, Arizona implemented its Reading Framework, aka their “Move on When Reading” law, to address this problem.

Components of Arizona’s reading law include:

  • Core reading programs in schools with at least seven and a half hours per week of reading instruction
  • The implementation of reading intervention programs for struggling readers, based upon screening twice per school year
  • Progress monitoring tools
  • Professional development plans
  • Dyslexia training for staff
  • Explicit evidence-based reading instruction and independent reading time

Arizona’s “Move on When Reading” (MOWR) law allocates an average of $145 per K-3 student for staffing, instructional materials, assessments and professional development per school year. Both traditional public schools and charter schools are required to submit literacy plans for approval by the state to access these funds.

Current Performance in Arizona Schools

Arizona’s MOWR law predicts that 72% of their third graders will be proficient in reading by the year 2030 and 90% proficient by 2039. From 2009 to 2019, Arizona was one of only nine states to demonstrate significant increases in early elementary reading proficiency; NAEP scores rose from 210 to 216. However, when the COVID pandemic began, NAEP scores in language arts fell from 46% to 35%.

Today, the state continues recovering from the COVID-era setbacks, with recommendations from the Department of Education:

  • Require that all local education agencies (LEA) submit annual literacy plans every year
  • Use the collected data to shape reading instruction needs and policy
  • Expand parental notification of reading progress
  • Provide $650,000 every 3 years for literacy resources and training
  • Budget $8.1 million to deploy 75 literacy coaches to serve 60,000 students in 150 schools
  • Institute a policy that would reward and incentivize schools for student growth in early literacy

Despite the energized efforts at the state level for literacy improvement in Arizona schools, the fact is many schools face challenges in meeting these goals. Teacher shortages impede learning, with nearly 78% of Arizona’s teaching positions now vacant.

Additionally, an estimated 25% of Arizona’s public schools are not using the Department of Education’s core reading program as outlined in the Move on When Reading policy. Some schools are not required to submit their literacy plans annually, which creates data gaps in monitoring efforts.

Another challenge in reaching literacy goals is that with today’s technology, many students arrive in college without ever having read an entire book. Reliance on screen-based instruction for reading has had harmful effects and must be balanced with print literature for a well-rounded literacy education.

Why Early Literacy Still Falls Short in Many Public Schools

Despite a state-required literacy plan, public schools still fall short in the success of early literacy learning. One detriment to success is the fact that some literacy teachers proceed without a systemic teaching strategy. They will teach phonics concepts in random, unconnected, and inconsistent methods that result in learning gaps and confusion among their scholars. Furthermore, many teachers still rely too much on context cues and picture prompts, which causes scholars to guess at unknown words rather than apply their phonics decoding skills.

Families supportive of teachers’ efforts to instruct their children often begin helping out at home with phonics instruction, but trail off as other family members’ needs and schedules compete. Without daily routines in school and at home, scholars’ opportunities for learning the necessary phonics skills are short-changed.

Early literacy goals are also subject to getting cut off due to time spent on test preparation. Test prep activities take time away from the much-needed learning experiences that help academic achievement. With a scarcity of time already in place for teaching core subjects, test prep only exacerbates this problem. The same can be said for over-emphasis on any one type of activity, such as STEM, that reduces the time for explicit phonics instruction in the early grades.

A final consideration of why literacy education falls short in our public schools is the high variability of instruction implementation from school to school and district to district. Teachers and schools within districts are not all on the same page when it comes to structured teaching. Inconsistency in phonics instruction sometimes varies widely between different schools and districts.

How Classical Education Approaches Literacy Differently

Until a few years ago, most reading instruction in schools was based on word-cueing systems and whole-language approaches. These reading strategies involved guessing unknown words by the context in which they were used and memorizing how whole words looked. Today, classrooms are seeing the return of a phonics literacy approach, which is teaching scholars to decode words by their letter-sound relationships.

Classical Education embraces the time-tested practice of using phonics with content-rich literature. Featuring classical and moral stories as well as poetry, literacy development is grounded in time-honored texts. The English language is complex; a systematic, explicit teaching strategy is necessary to help scholars learn phonics, pronunciation, and spellings and to become familiar with exceptions to most spellings. With a strategic, consistent plan and by encouraging scholars to read aloud, teachers guide them toward mastery in literacy.

In addition to phonics, grammar and vocabulary development are emphasized. Classical Education also encompasses public speaking for young scholars — they’re given many opportunities to prepare and present topics to the rest of the class.

With the smaller class sizes in classical classrooms, more time and attention can be given to scholars to foster reading fluency and comprehension.

How Leman Academy Supports Strong Literacy Outcomes

The National Reading Panel and its Science of Reading strategy synthesized research-based findings on how people learn to read. Having instilled five pillars for the successful development of reading ability, Classical Education embraces these pillars in its curricula for teaching literacy. The five pillars are:

  • Phonetic Awareness
  • Phonics
  • Fluency
  • Vocabulary
  • Comprehension

The Leman Academy of Excellence, a Classical Education school, fosters literacy by emphasizing books that bring subjects to life for the reader, writing in copybooks, and narrating what they have read in their own words.

Using classical literature that stresses moral topics and critical thinking, for example, Aesop’s fables, early readers are shown how to decode words with letter-sound relationships. From simple to more complex words, grammar scholars build their vocabularies, read more fluently, and are then able to comprehend what they read. Tied to topics of history and morals, scholars’ writings demonstrate mastery of phonics and spelling.

With a high level of parent involvement at school and at home, Leman’s scholars’ reading and writing progress is transparently monitored.

Why Parents Are Choosing Alternatives to Public Schools

Among teaching shortages, inconsistent implementation of strategies in literacy teaching, and time spent on test preparation, parents are looking for an alternative to traditional school models to help their children learn to read and write. The early elementary years are the most critical because any reading delays during these years make it difficult for scholars to catch up later on.

Parents want an education model with a clear, proven literacy strategy. They want their children to grow into exceptional readers with the ability to not only comprehend what they read but also apply higher-order thinking skills such as inference, reasoning, logic, and conclusion.

The Leman Academy of Excellence is a tuition-free Classical Education charter school teaching K-8 in Colorado and Arizona. Leman Academy also offers virtual education for students anywhere in the state of Arizona. Leman excels with superior literacy outcomes, with 67% of scholars scoring at or above the proficient level of reading. Compare that to the state of Arizona’s NAEP score of 46.4% in 2024, which was lower than the national average.

Conclusion

Arizona’s Reading Framework, with its Move on When Reading law implemented in 2013, is ambitious. Many traditional schools are falling short of the goals outlined in this legislation.

However, if you’re a parent who’s looking for a different educational model, check out The Leman Academy of Excellence. They’re rising to the challenge and exceeding with clear, results-driven reading instruction.

Explore How Leman Academy Can Help Your Child Become A Confident, Proficient Reader!

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When you hear a stampede in the next five years, don’t think of either horses or zebras. Think Generation Z. They’re the individuals who will make up over one-third of our workforce by the year 2030. Just as our society has changed drastically over the last 20 years, so have the demands of our workforce.

Currently, the skills gap is widening rapidly in the workplace; this means the difference between employees’ skills and those needed by employers does not match — only 30% of today’s employees possess the skills to perform their jobs effectively. Is this the fault of school educators or graduation rates? No, it’s simply the result of changes in workplace needs, outdated training strategies, and high turnover rates on jobs. So, what kinds of skills should today’s schools focus on to best prepare their scholars for successful careers?

It’s no longer enough for students to concentrate solely on academics or job-specific knowledge because the impact of evolving technology requires sets of skills that go beyond these knowledge bases. Today, workers need skills in addition to their knowledge base to be successful; they need soft skills, and they need technological skills. Which type of skill matters the most?

To find out, let’s explore workplace needs for the 21st century and see how we can prepare today’s scholars for the needs of a rapidly changing workplace. In this blog, we’ll examine:

  • Definitions of Soft Skills and Technological Skills
  • The Importance of Soft Skills in Today’s World
  • Why Technical Skills Still Matter
  • Why Scholars Need Both Types of Skills
  • Tips for Parents and Educators
  • How Leman Academy of Excellence Approaches Skill Set Development

 What are Soft Skills and Technological Skills?

Soft skills can be defined as those that help people get along well with their coworkers, clients, and other job-related personnel. Skills such as the ability to network, communicate, engage in teamwork, and use critical thinking are those that are called “soft skills”.

LinkedIn recently published a list of the top 15 soft skills needed for success in the working environment. They predict that by 2030, 70% of traditional skills used on the job will have changed. Their recommended number one skill that all workers should embrace is AI literacy. Skills that follow AI literacy are conflict mitigation, adaptability, process optimization, and innovative thinking. People develop soft skills through social interaction, character building and real-world life experiences. They can’t be explicitly taught but are acquired through a person’s conscious shaping of his or her behavior.

Technological skills, however, can be taught. These are the abilities to manage and interact with computer-based technology. Examples include coding, math proficiency, data analysis, cloud computing, and digital marketing. Such skills are usually taught in academic settings.

The Importance of Soft Skills in Today’s World

According to a Pew Research Center, 35% of post-Covid employees are working remotely full-time, and 41% work in a hybrid arrangement, with some work in the office and some at home. In these situations, where work is discussed via phone, text, and email, there’s a significant need for workers who can develop positive communication skills and build relationships with coworkers.

Due to this trend, most employers today are prioritizing soft skill abilities. Some even view it as more important than work readiness, with a “hire for attitude, train for skill” approach.

The benefits of soft skills include stronger leadership, improved problem-solving, better teamwork, and enhanced efficiency and productivity.

Despite the importance of soft skill abilities, LinkedIn CEO Jeff Weiner has stated that the lack of soft skills currently makes up the largest skill gap in the U.S.

Why Technical Skills Still Matter

Although today’s workforce places a higher importance on soft skills now more than ever, technical skills are still needed to fill the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields in modern industries. Having acquired these skills, graduates are finding occupations as data engineers, software engineers, network/cloud architects, cybersecurity specialists, systems engineers, programmers, and analysts.

Digital literacy, the ability to work using computer technology, is paramount in today’s workforce. In this tech-driven world, the importance of digital literacy cannot be overstated. Even for people who do not work in technological fields, it’s important for people to know how to protect themselves by safeguarding their personal data, recognizing phishing attempts, and understanding cybersecurity risks.

Bridging the Gap: Why Today’s Scholars Need Both Types of Skills

Although both technical and soft skills are desired in today’s modern workforce, they’re not absolute. Most occupations require a mixture of both to be successful in work. Today’s employers are seeking a hybrid skillset in their candidates to develop a talented workforce.

Strong hybrid skillsets are found in such tasks as AI prompting, asynchronous communications, software debugging, and quality assurance.

How can today’s schools prepare scholars for these skill sets? Classrooms can foster skill growth by engaging scholars in discussions, projects that require collaboration, and organizing scholar presentations. By encouraging participation in interactive learning, practicing real-world problem-solving scenarios, and emphasizing the importance of ethics, empathy, and leadership, teachers guide scholars in developing soft skills as well as technical skills for the modern workforce.

Tips for Parents and Educators

Just as learning to read, write, and calculate can be encouraged in the home environment, so can soft skills be nurtured at home. As a parent, you can encourage your children to practice good communication skills when they answer the phone and take messages, provide opportunities for your child to develop skills working within a team, and help them develop empathy for others.

Likewise, technical skills can be encouraged at home, too. Provide supervised time for your children to “work” on the computer. Many children enjoy computer games and, in this way, learn their way around technical jargon and keystrokes. Special coding classes for kids are available, too. You can check out Coding with Kids, CodaKid, and coding summer camps.

By practicing both soft and technical skills at home, you prepare your children to be well-rounded adults.

How Leman Academy of Excellence Approaches Skillset Development

Leman Academy of Excellence, a Classical Education K-8 charter school with campuses in both Arizona and Colorado, promotes development in both soft and technical skills.

Character development is a fundamental goal of the Classical Education model. Virtues such as wisdom, courage, and justice are intertwined with the academic curriculum. Scholars study classical literature and then follow up with discussions about the virtues integrated into the literature. At the rhetorical stage of classical learning, scholars adopt positions on social issues and present their arguments.

In addition to soft skill development, Leman Academy supports logic, reasoning and hands-on learning in fields that contribute to the development of technical abilities. Its emphasis on critical thinking and analytical skills are imperative for solving complex technical challenges. Leman also offers extracurricular activities, including clubs, projects and activities in which scholars explore the uses and benefits of technology.

Conclusion

Preparing scholars for the future workforce involves preparing the whole child. While most public schools emphasize acquiring knowledge with the goal of passing exams, it’s important to shape our scholars’ abilities to communicate well and be fair, kind, and supportive of others in their endeavors. It’s likewise crucial to help our scholars grow with the technological skills they’ll need to excel in the adult world. All of these factors, knowledge, social skills, and technical skills are necessary in nurturing today’s youth for them to be successful in life.

See How The Leman Academy of Excellence Prepares Their Scholars for Success

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Colorado is home to one of the most extensive school-choice landscapes in the country. Parents seeking a school to match their children’s needs and styles of learning can choose between traditional public schools, charter schools, private institutions, online programs, and homeschooling. As an open enrollment state, scholars can enroll across district boundaries to attend the school of their choice. 

In nearly all cases, the driving factor for school choice is the underperformance of neighborhood district schools. Charter schools outperform traditional public schools in state assessments, including those in high-poverty areas. Since charter schools are also tuition-free public schools, families are withdrawing their children from traditional schools to enroll them in one of Colorado’s 269 charter schools. 

Charter schools teach the core subjects as required by the state, but each school is free to design its own curriculum and pedagogies. Also, with fewer scholars in their classes, they receive more time and attention. Thus, with flexibility in educational design and smaller class sizes, parents find these schools to be a better match for their children’s needs.

This blog will highlight the differences between traditional and charter schools and explain why a charter education would be advantageous for your child. You’ll read about:

  • Charter Schools vs. Traditional Public Schools: Key Differences
  • Higher Academic Standards and Student Success
  • Personalized Learning and Smaller Classes
  • A Focus on Charter Education and Stronger School Culture
  • Addressing Colorado’s Educational Challenges
  • Why More Families are Choosing Charter Schools

Charter Schools vs. Traditional Public Schools: Key Differences

Grant, Seth, and Sydney live on the same suburban street, but they all attend different charter schools. Grant, a sixth-grader, spends most of his time absorbed in science, technology, engineering, and math in a STEM-based curriculum at his school. 

Seth, who benefits best from tactile and hands-on materials, learns with a Montessori program in his school. 

Sydney attends a classical education charter school where she studies humanities and applies critical thinking and problem-solving skills in her learning journey. 

Each child attends a charter school, but their paths of learning differ widely because charter schools are free to design their own teaching approaches.

In contrast, traditional public schools must work with a rigid curriculum in which certain subjects are taught a certain way. Teachers don’t have the class time to explore innovative teaching methods. In their classrooms, one size must fit all. 

You might be wondering how charter schools are held accountable since they have these freedoms. The Colorado Charter School Institute (CSI) contracts with the state’s charter schools. These contracts grant autonomy in areas like curriculum and staffing, but require them to meet specific academic, financial, and organizational obligations to ensure their responsibility for student outcomes. 

Another major difference between the two types of schools is that charters consistently demonstrate higher proficiency on state assessments in English Language Arts and Math. Showing up to a 5% lead on the Colorado Measures of Academic Success (CMAS), scholars are mastering these subjects. 

A final key difference is the manner in which their education is funded. In Colorado, The Public School Finance Act ensures funding for both types of schools. They both receive state funding based on Per Pupil Operating Revenue, which is determined using the enrollment numbers from each school. 

Financial support for traditional schools is supplied via a combination of state funds and local revenue, including property taxes. Traditional schools also have access to local bond measures and levies that support capital projects such as school maintenance and the construction of new schools. 

In contrast, charter schools don’t receive property tax funds. Instead, the state provides additional support to offset the difference. Nor can charter schools hold levies for capital support. 

They do, however, receive grants and donations from corporations, organizations, and individuals, which provide an additional boost to their financial base. 

Even though charter schools have different funding structures than traditional schools, they are tuition-free public schools and are free for scholars to attend. 

Higher Academic Standards and Student Success

Scholars at The Leman Academy of Excellence, with campuses in Arizona and Colorado, have shown tremendous success in their standardized test scores for 2025. In Parker, Colorado, 57% of scholars achieved a proficiency level or higher in reading, surpassing the state average of 45%. In mathematics, 40% of Leman’s scholars were proficient compared to the state average of 32%. 

How are Leman Academy’s scholars able to perform so well? There are several reasons. Here are a few: 

  • With a rigorous Classical Education model, scholars at Leman follow the Trivium, which includes the Grammar stage for ages 5-11 and the Logic stage for ages 12-14. Leman’s schools teach grades K-8, but scholars are adequately prepared for the Rhetoric stage in their high school years. 
  • Leman also offers a unique approach to mathematics; scholars begin the first grade level of math in their kindergarten years. By eighth grade, they’re studying Algebra I, which is normally covered in the freshman year of high school. 
  • Debate classes and the study of logic occur during the Logic stage of the Trivium, when scholars learn the art of reasoning and argument. With a focus on critical thinking, they become independent thinkers and effective communicators. 
  • The Classical Education model incorporates the Socratic Method of teaching. It challenges scholars to learn new information, delving deeply into subjects, by asking questions and leading discussions. 
  • Lastly, Leman’s Classical Education approach encourages academic achievement with the Trivium through its integrated studies in humanities, philosophy, literature, mathematics, science, and languages. Leman ranks in the top 30% of public schools in Colorado, reflecting the school’s commitment to academic excellence. 

Personalized Learning and Smaller Class Sizes

Many charter schools place a cap on enrollment to ensure smaller class sizes. In this way, teachers can spend more one-on-one time with their scholars. This way, they’re better able to identify their challenges and learning styles more easily. In a classroom with fewer students, teachers can provide customized support for those who need more help and those who need more advanced material. 

In addition to smaller classes, charter schools are free to design their own curricula to align with their individual philosophy or teaching method. Teachers practice innovative teaching and personalized learning, giving scholars abundant opportunities to learn at their best. 

The impact of a personalized education in a charter school can be felt for a lifetime. Follow these two charter school alumni to understand how it affected them: 

  1. When Maya was 17 years old, she enrolled in New Dawn Charter High School in Brooklyn, New York. Prior to her enrollment, she was behind in credits and struggled with attendance. Her experience in a traditional large class left her feeling disconnected and alone. But Maya discovered a completely different atmosphere at New Dawn. There, she received tailored support and mentorship, individualized learning plans, and flexible scheduling. Not only did Maya catch up academically, but she began to enjoy learning again. 
  2. In 2017, scholar Raven Osborne earned a bachelor’s degree from Purdue University Northwest a few weeks before graduating from high school. He attended 21st Century Charter School in Gary, Indiana, and with a combination of personalized education plans and dual credits earned in high school, he received his high school and college diplomas in the same season. 

Every scholar has his or her individual strengths. Charter school teachers are better able to encourage them to develop their strengths and make the most of their time in school. 

A Focus on Character Education and a Stronger School Culture

Scholars spend an average of 32.5 hours each week in school. In the school setting, they engage with many other people at any given time, creating an environment ideally suited to learning how to be kind, ethical, and supportive people. Character education, the building of core values such as respect, honesty, responsibility, fairness, and compassion, gives scholars a moral compass to guide their behavior both in and out of the classroom. 

Young people enrolled at The Leman Academy of Excellence follow six virtues that are woven into the curriculum and daily interactions: caring, citizenship, perseverance, respect, responsibility, and trustworthiness. Along with these virtues, scholars study moral dilemmas within classical literature and historical texts, which lead them to a deep understanding of ethical principles. 

At Leman, parents are considered “partners” in their children’s learning. As a cornerstone of student success, parental involvement has a healthy impact on their children’s academic and character growth.

Addressing Colorado’s Educational Challenges

If you live in Colorado and you’re exploring school choice options, discovering what charter schools have to offer your children may be your solution to underperforming traditional schools. Given the benefits of the attention teachers can give your child, an interesting and challenging curriculum, and a strong emphasis on academics and character development, your children might thrive in a charter school environment. 

Furthermore, charter schools can extend their access to quality education to communities that face barriers to scholastic resources, such as well-funded schools and libraries. They are geographically dispersed throughout Colorado, serving families in over 70 regions in urban, suburban, and rural areas. A wide distribution of charter schools allows families from low-income areas to have school choices.  

A tremendous amount of support for Colorado’s charter schools comes from the state’s governor, Jared Polis. His commitment to school choice is seen in his opposition to House Bill 24-1363, which would weaken school choice. Revoking and not renewing some existing charters, this bill threatened to weaken charter schools’ ability to appeal local school board decisions to the state board and eliminate waivers to certain state statutes. Facing wild opposition from parents, school administrators and other charter school advocates, the bill was defeated by an 8-3 vote. 

As you can see, the communities and the government in Colorado strongly support your choice of a charter school education for your children.  

Why More Families are Choosing Charter Schools 

As traditional schools struggle to provide a quality education, Colorado has witnessed an accelerated demand for charter school education. From 2011 to 2022, the number of students enrolled in charter schools increased 65% and continues to do so. Let’s hear why they chose charter schools:

“My son Griffin was falling through the cracks in the large school setting of our district school.  But, after enrolling him in the Denver School of Science and Technology, he experienced a smaller class size and hands-on structure that significantly increased his academic performance. His younger brother, who struggled with math, earned high academic honors in mathematics at DSST.” 

— Denver Parent

“A parent at French American School of Denver values the school’s dual language immersion program. Marie Elalem shared that her son wakes up excited to attend school daily, thriving in the French immersion environment. Another parent highlighted the school’s creative projects and global perspective, noting the unique opportunity for their child to learn a second language in a tuition-free setting.”  

— From the Community

If you would like to enroll your child in one of Colorado’s impressive charter schools, first find out the enrollment procedures and dates of your chosen school. Once you’ve applied, if the amount of applications exceeds the number of seats available, the school will use a random lottery to fairly select the candidates for open spots. After that, any child not selected will be put on a waitlist. 

The Leman Academy of Excellence hosts open enrollment that typically runs from November 1 to the end of December each year. For the year 2025, an open enrollment is also held January 22 until August 2, 2025. To enroll in Leman, go to the Douglas County School District (DCSD) open-enrollment page and set up an account. Use the portal to select The Leman Academy of Excellence as your school of choice. 

Conclusion

Public education in Colorado is improving with the increasing demand for charter schools. 

Take advantage of Colorado’s school choice landscape and find the best school for your children. You’ll be setting them off onto a lifelong path of opportunity, achievement, and success. 

Learn More About Leman Academy and How It Provides a High-Quality, Tuition-Free Education in Colorado!

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