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      Keys to Success
SIATech specializes in reaching out-of-school youth who may not have had success in traditional educational settings. The four primary keys to success for SIATech are an individual student focus, competency-based academic program, an alignment with the student's career technical training, and a staff of caring adults.
Rollover and click on any of the four components below for more information on each key to success.
Individual Student Focus
The SIATech curriculum is individually-paced so students can work at a pace and in a style that is appropriate for their learning needs. Life, social, and employability skills are important components of the students' training. Student by student, SIATech works to transform "the whole child." Back to Top
Competency-Based Academic Program
SIATech is an academic program that is both classroom- and competency-based. The SIATech program is like traditional schools in that it is classroom-based. However, rather than a stand-and-deliver approach to curriculum delivery, students work within a classroom setting that is set up like a workplace. When they enter class, students go to their own computers and can begin working immediately.
The SIATech program is computer-assisted which results in students learning fundamental academic skills while improving their computer and technology skills. It also enhances the student’s capacity to take ownership of his or her learning. Rather than idly waiting for an instructor to answer his or her question, a student can access relevant and approriate academic resources in an effort to learn the answer independently. This lifelong learning skill is fundamental to success in the 21st century workplace and higher education. Back to Top
Career Tech
Through the partnership with Job Corps and individualization of the curriculum, SIATech students can learn the students based curriculum while gaining skills especially for their trade. So, if a student is learning carpentry, their math
Caring Adults
All SIATech teachers are highly qualified and certificated in their core subject area. One of the most important initiatives stressed by SIATech is that every instructor and every staff member is a continuous learner. SIATech provides leadership training for every person in our organization. One of the strengths of SIATech is its professional development program that emphasizes strategies especially for working with at-risk students. Professional development includes the New Staff Academy, subject-specific roundtables, an Induction program for teachers to earn their credential, annual conferences that bring experts and are open to all educators working with at-risk students, and outside opportunities. Back to Top |
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The SIATech program is student-focused. Upon entry to the program, each student is individually assessed and evaluated to create an individualized learning plan. The individualized learning plan acts as a road map for student goal setting and goal attainment. In order to ensure that the learning needs of each student are met, SIATech classes are small. In the small classroom setting, students receive extensive small group instruction and one-on-one attention. The curriculum is computer-assisted, and workplace-standard software is integrated and aligned with academic state standards. 
SIATech specializes in students who have been out-of-school. It is an open entry and open exit program, which means that students enter the program and graduate from the program throughout the year. If a previous dropout is ready to re-enter school, SIATech believes it is critical that the student is able to enter school as soon as possible. However, this can be problematic for traditional school settings and often students must wait for a new semester or school year. At SIATech, the driving force behind the way to deal with several new students coming in and leaving every week is a competency-based approach to education. 
A competency-based approach is a major benefit to our students because it enables them to move at an accelerated, or slower, pace through the coursework. Rather than relying on a set number of hours in the classroom, SIATech students advance through the program after demonstrating skill mastery. The SIATech curriculum encompasses the same core subjects as traditional schools and is aligned with state standards. Once students demonstrate subject mastery, they can move on to the next level of work in that subject. 
SIATech is career oriented. The mission of SIATech is to provide students with Real Learning for Real Life™. SIATech is a school where students see the connection between what they learn and where it can take them. SIATech is an award-winning dropout recovery program; however, once students enter SIATech, the program must focus on dropout prevention. In order to keep students engaged and motivated, SIATech ties learning with jobs and economic opportunities.
exercises will help refine their measurement, geometry, and other math skills required for expert wood working. SIATech students learn a host of industry-standard software programs as they progress through the curriculum which culminates in a senior portfolio. These programs include the Microsoft® Office Suite and the Adobe® Design and Web Standard Suites. 
SIATech's caring staff is highly qualified and supported by exemplary professional development. SIATech emphasizes the importance of a caring adult in the lives of our students. Most SIATech students did not have educational support in their home environment growing up, and due to the structure of the classrooms, SIATech instructors are able to provide extra attention to each student.
