The following points of this school wil be available for Japanese educators.
○　In Nevada City, CA　　　　From kindergarten through eighth grade with 220 students in
　　 September　1997
○　The Arts, drama, painting, music, drawing, modeling, etc., are integrated into the entire
　　academic　 curriculum, including mathematics and the sciences.
○　The Class Teacher takes the same class of children through eight years of elementary
　　school ( grade 1-8), teaching all the main subjects, although may teach specialty subjects
　　or main lessons.

○　Textbooks are not typiclly used in the elementary grade. Instead, the teacher creates the
　　 presentation and the children make their individual books for each subject taught.
○　Two Foreign Languages are taught beginning in first grade.
　　 The Sciences are taught experientially.　　　The Humanities Curriculum, which begins in
　　second　 and third grade. The Old Testament in grade three, and so forth.
○　"A Morning "Main Lesson", a two-hour period in which the main substance of the day is
　　presented,　 begins each school day.　　Special Subjects - The remainder of the day is spent
　　in specialty classes,such as foreign languages and music, and artistic and practical activities.
　　 Both boys and　 girls learn handwork, kitting, crocheting, sewing and so forth.

○　Governance and Decision Making
　　 This charter school is operated by the Twin Ridges Elementary School District (TRESD).
　　 The TRESD Board has final legal responsibility for the operation of the Charter. However, the
　　 School Boar, in recognizing the spirit and intent of the charter, does not wish to exert day to
　　day control or impose its own vision on the details of the YRCS's operation. It had, instead,
　　delegated that responsibility to the Charter Council.

○　Admission Requirment
　　 Upon acceptance and prior to admission, parents will be asked to sign a parent contract that
　　will request support on the following items, as well as other requirements:
　　　　- Limit of electronic media influences such as TV, video games, etc.
　　　　- Dress code
　　　 　- Commitment to providing a home environment that is nurturing and conductive to
　　　　　learning.

○　Class Assistants
　　 Each class has at least one parent who is the class assistant. In general, a class assistant is
　　 asked to: Convey messages to all parents of the class by starting the phone tree.
　　　　　　　　　See that parents provide an activity, food or other needs for school festivals,
　　　　　　　　　and so forth.

【Comment】 We will be able to get a lot of suggestions from their achievements, however have to
　　　　　　　　 consider more carefully of the situation of the Class Teacher's taking the same class
　　　　　　　　 through eight years in Japan. Thank you, Larry Kiser-san & Mic McPherson-san.

【Note】 Nevada City School of The Arts
　　　　　　　Wheatland Charter Academy
　　　These schools are very good schools,too. Thank you.

【Magnet Schools】
　　　　The information about magnet schoos below is taken North Las Vegas School District.
　　　　○　Magnet schools have some similarities and some differences when compared to charter
　　　　　　 schools.1.They provide a distinctive curriculum or instructional approach:
　　　　　　　　　　　　2. They attract students from outside an assigned neighborhood attendance
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　zone:
　　　　　　　　　　　　 3. They have diversity as an explicit purpose, such as academic achievement
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　through application of Gardner's learning styles.

　　　　　　Thank you, Michael Rossi. Ph.D.,Director of Learning Resources/ Ed Tech, Yuba County
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　of Education

May 25, At the Yuba County One-Stop Center in Marysville
Yuba County Superintendent of Schools Ric Teagarden acted as host.

○　Purpose 　　- Identify the characteristics of a world class community
　　　　　　　　　　 -　Discus the impact that education has on economic development
　　　　　　　　　　 - Better understand today's issues in education
○　Invited speakers
　　　　Tim Johnson: Executive Director, Yuba-Sutter Economid Development Corporation
　　　　Chrlie Peterson: Executive Director, North Central Counties Consortium
　　　　John "Jack" Padley,Jr: Chief, Northern Job Service Division, California Employment
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 Development Department
　　　　Nelson Chan: Director, Sacramento Regional Office, California Technolody, Trade &
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Commerce Agency
　　　　Nick Hansen: Studen, Live Oak High School
　　　　Dr. Marc Liebman: Superintendent, Maryville Joint Unified School District
　　　　Dr. Terry McAteer: Superintendent, Nevada County Office of Education
　　　　Robert Marez: Field Representative, U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer
　　　　Mary Jane Griego: Supervisor, Yuba County
　　　　Carmel Gabriel: Student, Marysville High School
　　As Lunch Speakers, Shoji Sugita and Akihiko Watari
　　　　Tall Matsushima: Director & Secretary of HONDA FOOD
　　　　Dr. Willie Wong: Superintendent, Yuba City Unified School District
　　　　Bill Simmons: Supervisor, Yuba County
　　　　Kim Davis: District Coordinator, State Senator K. Maurice Johnnessen
　　　　Leela Rai: President/CEO, Yuba-Sutter Chamber of Commerce
　　　　Nathan Harling: Student, Marysville High School

○　Points
　　　- How can we conquer the change and develop a plan of action?
　　　- What does a world class community look like? What stands in our way?
　　　- What are the chances for community-wide change?
　　　- There should be community report card, as well as one for the schools.
　　　- We need to have communities to provide jobs.
　　And Many of the panel put emphasis on self-esteem, individuals to achieve, and how to
　　reach it in the local communities.

　 Shoji Sugita reported that in Japan primary and secondary education is in excellent shape,
　 but he believes that more can be done in Japan with outstanding students and those who
　 are struggling, so he wanted to get some hints from the charter schools here.

【Note】 Appeal-Democrat reported the Summit on May 26.　　　By Gary Mortenson

I will express my gratitude to the Superintendent: Mr.Richard Teagarden and his wife. They
let me and Mr.W. stay at their home for five days and he had kindly taken us to some charter
schools, Education Summit and some others, and I could get a lot of informations and
suggestions from them.

His Yuba County Office of Education is located in the Northern Sacramento Valley ( 50 miles
North of Sacramento ) in Marysville, CA and serves over 14.000 students and families with in
the 5 districts and yuba College.

I was strongly impressed with their "The Counting on Character Program" and realized that
it allowed parents, teachers, and community members to work together in teaching children
shared value.

Mr. Teagarden was elected as the superintendent by the people in Yuba County ( now, the
second time ) and also he is Club President of Yuba Feather River Sunrise, a Alumna of
Marysville High, a k-12 STC Regional Lead, CA, a Pic & Governing Board Members of The
North Central Counties Consortium, a Regional Coordination of CA. Dept. of Educ. and
some others. Everywhere, he was called, "Ric, Ric" by the people with intimate friendship,
and I think he will be a better leader around there and over there in the future.
Thanks a lot for his and their hospitality, again.