FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Sierra Expeditionary Learning School Awarded $575,000

Truckee, CA, (April 20,2011) – Sierra Expeditionary Learning School (SELS), a tuition-free public school operating independently under TTUSD, has been awarded the Public Charter School Grant in the amount of $575,000. This federal grant is paid over two years and is intended to help new charter schools develop into highly performing schools. The grant focus is on funding professional and board development and assists with the implementation of effective student and staff assessment systems.

“We feel very fortunate to receive this support,”said SELS Director, David Manahan. “Through additional training, staffing, and resources, these funds will help us build a stronger overall school program. We are very excited for the benefits this grant will provide our students.”

Currently in its first year of operation, Sierra Expeditionary Learning School offers a hands-on Expeditionary Learning curriculum that adheres to district and state standards. SELS focuses on long-term study themes that integrate interdisciplinary study of the topic, peer support, character education, and community and environmental projects to encourage collaboration, curiosity, and a lifelong love of learning. For example, as part of their expedition about Truckee human history, Mrs. Welch’s 3rd grade students visited the Truckee Donner Senior Apartments to interview long-time Truckee residents and then incorporated their findings into their reports. Mrs. Brisbin’s 4th/5th grade class enlisted a local volunteer expert to help them do field study of Truckee’s ecological history through the use of petroglyphs found above Donner Lake. Expeditionary Learning curriculum, developed by Outward Bound©, has a 17-year track record of success in schools nationwide and has been credited with improving test scores and increasing student motivation and achievement.

Photo: Riley Thompson from SELS interviews long-time Truckee resident Marie Reichlin for his expedition report about Truckee human history. Photo by Cristina Wooley.