Palmetto Achievement Center for Excellence (PACE) Academy charter school, an Alternative Education Campus (AEC), will provide evidence-based, multi-sensory, structured language instruction to students in the South Carolina Midlands. According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), in 2017, only 29% of South Carolina 4th grade students and 30% of South Carolina 8th grade students were able to score at or above proficient on the reading assessment, placing South Carolina 47th in the nation for reading. (National Report Card) Despite the extra effort focused on literacy across the state, South Carolina has struggled to improve the literacy rate of students for the last decade. Though there are many factors that contribute to the low literacy rate of students in South Carolina, one highly over-looked reason is the fact that research now shows that 1 in 5 people have some level of dyslexia. The primary goal of PACE Academy is for all students to learn to read effectively and efficiently. With this goal in mind, PACE will ensure all teachers and classroom assistants are trained in multi-sensory, structured pedagogy, with the Orton-Gillingham Approach and are taught to implement such programs with intensity and fidelity. Teachers and classroom assistants will be provided with training in best practices and curriculum designed to meet the unique needs of dyslexic learners while meeting the needs of all learners. They will also be taught to use assessments to guide and differentiate their instruction to meet the individual needs of all students. Professional development will focus on multi-sensory/project-oriented instruction, student data analysis, technology, and social skill development to ensure the success of all students enrolled in PACE Academy.
