Mission Statement
The mission of ALBA School is founded on the conviction that bilingual students can reach their full potential academically, in English and Spanish, when challenged through a rigorous curriculum that develops critical thinking, problem solving, and creativity through the integration of the fine arts. Our students will develop self-confidence and self-worth as their Hispanic cultural identity is both recognized and valued through the curriculum as they prepare to be internationally minded life-long learners. Parents are vital partners in this mission.
ALBA students participate in a developmental bilingual program. This means students are first instructed in their native language—Spanish. We make certain that students possess strong literacy skills in Spanish, before they begin to learn English. Students begin informal English language instruction through the support of an ESL (English as a Second Language) Specialist.
We believe each student is different, and that there is no one approach that fits all students. For example, one student will be ready for formal English language instruction in the middle of the year in Grade 2, while another will not be ready until early in Grade 3. Individual students will also learn languages at different rates.
In each of the primary grade levels (Kindergarten – Grade 2) the amount of English instruction increases until the students in Grade 3 or Grade 4 reach a 50/50 level. For example, third and fourth graders at a 50/50 level have worked up to a routine of receiving one week of instruction in English and one week in Spanish. Bilingual skills are important, and so students continue to receive Reading instruction in both languages everyday from Grades 3 through 6. To truly be bilingual, students must maintain Spanish skills throughout Elementary school. For more information please see our Language Policy.
Enrollment
ALBA Charter School is a bilingual school that was designed to serve pupils whose first language is Spanish. All students, regardless of first language or disability, are enrolled in the school’s bilingual Spanish/English program. ALBA School does not provide transportation for any students, except as a related service if required in the student’s IEP. Families desiring to enroll their child at ALBA must apply during the MPS district kindergarten open enrollment time period each winter. In the case that more students apply than seats are available, a lottery is conducted. Notification is sent to families in the spring of their acceptance or if put on the waitlist. For any available middle school seats families apply during the MPS district Kindergarten open enrollment period. In accordance with Charter School Law, Wis. Stat.118.40(3)g2., as a Charter School ALBA gives preference for enrollment to: pupils who were enrolled in ALBA School in the previous school year; to siblings of pupils who are enrolled in the ALBA School and to children of the school’s founders, governing board members, and full-time employees, with a limit of such children to no more than 10% of the total enrollment.
Charter school audits can be found here:
Annual Performance/Compliance: https://drive.google.com
Biannual Financial: https://drive.google.com/file/
Annual Wisconsin Charter School Program 20-21: Audit 2020-2021
Support Services
Special Education
Speech and Language Services
The Speech and Language Disabilities Program serves approximately 6,000 students in public, private, and parochial schools within the corporate boundaries of the district. Spoken communication is the foundation for reading, writing, and all human interaction. Speech-language pathologists emphasize the delivery of collaborative, curriculum-aligned services to all students to help them develop competency in listening, speaking, reading, and writing. The Speech Pathologists at proudly bilingual, providing IEP services to students in their native language.
Psychological Services
School Social Work
School Counseling
Academic Achievement
Annually students in 3rd-6th grade take the Forward Exam. The test covers English Language Arts and Math. In fourth grade students are tested in Science and Social Studies as well. These results are used in part to determine the annual school report card. On the 2020-2021 Wisconsin School Report Card ALBA was graded as Exceeding Expectations with 71.8 points. To see the ALBA School Report Card in detail, follow this link: https://drive.google.com/file/
Student achievement data by subgroup is seen in the report below. To learn more about the School Report Card please visit https://apps2.dpi.wi.gov/reportcards/
More information about the scoring for school report cards can be found at: https://dpi.wi.gov/accountability/resources.
Links to Academic Standards
- Common Core State Standards http://www.corestandards.org
- Common Core State Standards en español https://commoncore-espanol.sdcoe.net/
- WIDA English Language Development Standards https://www.wida.us/standards/eld.aspx
- Next Generation Science Standards http://www.nextgenscience.org/
A sampling of the textbooks and programs used at ALBA:
- Envisions Math K-2nd grades
- EngageNY Math 3rd through 5th grade
- Eureka Math 6th-8th grades
- Houghton Mifflin Science
- Arriba la lectura Spanish Reading Series K-6th
- Galería de la lectura 7th & 8th grades
- Cancionero Program by Hampton-Brown
- La Cartilla Fonética by Santillana
- Estrellita
- Core Knowledge Language Arts, CKLA, English Reading Series 2nd-5th grades
- Amplify ELA 6th-8th grades
- Lucy Caulkins Units of Study Writing
Academic Links
- MPS Student Toolbox https://clever.com
- Math IXL https://www.ixl.com/signin/alba
- Math Zearn https://www.zearn.org
- RazKids https://www.raz-kids.com