CuRRICulum

Welcome to the Office of Curriculum and Instruction

Curriculum, Instruction, and Accountability at Albany Leadership Charter School for Girls

At Albany Leadership Charter School for Girls, our academic vision is centered on the belief that every scholar deserves access to rigorous, inclusive, and culturally responsive learning experiences. Our curriculum is designed to challenge and support students in building the skills, knowledge, and confidence needed to succeed in college, career, and beyond.

Our instructional approach is grounded in the belief that great teaching grows through reflection and collaboration. We invest in our teachers through weekly Professional Learning Fridays focused on:

  • Using strong, standards-based curriculum
  • Looking at data to guide instruction
  • Keeping students actively engaged and thinking deeply
  • Bringing culturally responsive practices into every classroom
  • Centering equity, identity, and student voice in our work

In addition to preparing students for NYS Exams and Regents Assessments, we prioritize inquiry-based learning, allowing scholars to engage with real-world issues and apply critical thinking in meaningful, relevant ways. These learning experiences are designed to help students see the relevance of their education and take ownership of their academic growth.

Accountability at ALCS is not just about assessments—it’s about ensuring that every student is making measurable progress, every educator is growing in their practice, and our entire community is working together to uphold a shared vision of excellence.

At Albany Leadership, we close every gap, challenge every scholar, and support every teacher with purpose and intention. Because here, we choose to “Be Excellent on Purpose”—every day, in every classroom, for every scholar.

Educationally Yours,

Ms. Tamara Smith

Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Accountability

Albany Leadership Charter School for Girls

Academics at Albany Leadership

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Humanities: English Language Arts

Using diverse novels, our students explore and interpret compelling literary works of all kind through discussions, debates, and written responses.
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Humanities: Social Studies

Our students generate understanding through the investigation of ideas and movements that continue to shape our world.
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STEM: Math

Using the enVisions curriculum to build on understanding, students gain a deeper understanding of concepts and critical thinking resulting in them being confident problem solvers in our mathematics program
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STEM: Science

Middle school students build on the knowledge learned in primary school using focuses such as life and physical sciences to prepare them for high school.
Building on the technical skills that are formed in middle school, our high school students develop deeper understanding of biology, chemistry, earth science, and space science using interactive learning to foster their curiosity and discovery.

The Whole Child

Scholars become more self-aware while navigating positive relationships and social conflict. Specialists support the development and implementation of emotional wellness initiatives school-wide, in small groups, and through one-on-one instruction. Social-emotional learning is a key piece of the whole child curriculum. Our curriculum follows the New York State Social Emotional Learning Benchmarks which is aligned with the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) benchmarks.

AVID

AVID stands for Advancement Via Individual Determination
 
AVID is a college readiness program designed to help students develop the skills they need to be successful in college. Our AVID program places special emphasis on WICOR: writing, inquiry/critical thinking, teamwork/collaboration, organization and reading skills.  
 
Our nation’s schools are full of students who possess a desire to go to college and the willingness to work hard, but many of them do not truly have the opportunity to be college-ready. These are often the students who will be the first in their families to attend college and are from groups traditionally underrepresented in higher education. AVID Secondary equips teachers and schools with what they need to help these students succeed on a path to college and career success.
 
To address this need, AVID has developed the AVID Elective course. For one period a day, students receive the additional academic, social, and emotional support that will help them succeed in their school’s most rigorous courses.
The power of AVID Secondary is the ability to impact students in the AVID Elective class and all students throughout the campus.
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