Schools That Can

Eylastine Green-Davis, Former Superintendent:

What We Stand For:

The Detroit Service Learning Academy is passionate about providing our children with a world class education in a safe clean environment. Through Service-Learning, we integrate community service with academic achievement. Our highly qualified teams of professionals have designed a curriculum appropriate for every stage of academic development. We offer services, programs, activities and special events to expose our students to opportunities outside of their everyday experiences. We combine innovative teaching strategies and technological resources with a nurturing environment to help groom students for success throughout their academic career.

Effective Practices:

The Detroit Service Learning Academy is divided into 3 smaller Academies, Primary K-2, Elementary 3-5 and Junior Academy (JA) 6-8. This division promotes a safe, secure academic environment where students do not feel overwhelmed and management is more efficient. The longer school day allows more instruction and preparation for academic success.

Reading programs such as Everybody Can Read and Open Court combine whole language with phonics for early literacy preparedness.

Our technology driven curriculum provides every classroom with 2 computers, 3 additional computer labs, interactive smart boards in grades 3 through 8 and our award winning robotics classes.

The curriculum is aligned with state and national standards.

Family and student support teams work together with the school counselor to identify and provide additional resources for students who may need specific attention. This process recognizes each child as an individual and provides intervention and specialized services.

Continued professional development for staff once a month helps to promote a spirit of life long learning and ensure that staff continue to be highly qualified.

Parent University for our families and neighborhood community provide monthly informative workshops on health, wealth, legal issues, career development and more.

Student learning contracts,the implementation of our online grading system and frequent progress reports keep parents informed and prepared to assist children as needed.

Service Learning projects and monthly school wide character development assemblies help students build character and take responsibility for themselves, their neighborhood, and community.

The Parent Involvement Coordinator works in conjunction with the parent organization to stimulate involvement through volunteerism and meeting facilitation. This position is an important factor in servicing our parent needs. A parent resource room was created as a hub for parents to feel comfortable, this multi-media room has a coffee center, full library, flat screen HD TV, free notary services, and a computer lab.

We further prove our commitment to early literacy with an up to date library of over 6000 multi-media resources, and the yearly “A Book for Me” giveaway of 5,000 books to help develop our student’s personal libraries.

Recent Accomplishments:

Michigan Association of Public School Academy Recognition, We were recognized as a “Beating the Odds” academy, this accolade is given to schools that achieve high on state assessments while servicing a 50% or more free or reduced lunch population

Governor Granholms Literacy Award,

Skillman Foundation Award Recipient, Recognized as a “High Performing School” in Detroit

Detroit Spirit Award

7 year Charter Renewal from Lake State Superior University (LSSU), this is the first time a charter has received a renewal of this length, typically renewals are only 5 years

Extracurricular Activity Awards: for Robotics, Cheerleading, Art, Recycling, Academic Games, and DSLA Gator boys’ basketball team

Collaborations, Partnerships & Community Outreach, Eastern Michigan University, Oakland University, Lake Superior State University, Learn and Serve Commission, Farmers Insurance, Grace Shelter Centers of Hope, YMCA Latch Key, Magic in the Middle abstinence programs, Ronald McDonald House, COTS homeless Shelter, Children’s Hospitals Pennies for Patients, For Kids Only Clothing and uniform store, Detroit Northwest City Hall, Burger King, Apollo grocery store, and many more

Grants: Skillman Foundation “Good School Initiative” Perkins Malo Hunter Foundation, Michigan Compact, Michigan Surgeon General Grant, and the Michigan Association of Public School Academies Dissemination Grant for Parent Involvement

Staff Accomplishments: 100% Highly Qualified, Workshop Presenters statewide, Team Model, Leadership Opportunities, Service learning Model, Parent Involvement Model

Culture: High Expectations for Achievement, zero tolerance for inappropriate student behavior, Student/Staff accomplishment celebrations, Service Learning staff buy in, and Inclusion of students with special needs