Who is Academias La Paz
Academia Cesar Chavez and El Colegio High School, two independent charter schools as of July 1, 2024 merged into one unified district: Academias La Paz. The name “La Paz,” inspired by the national historical landmark, The National Chavez Center, the grounds where civil rights leader, César Chávez, spent his last years and also the home of the César E. Chávez National Monument. This historical landmark symbolizes the place of refuge, peace and empowerment. It reflects our vision, a district where scholars find knowledge and a sense of belonging and purpose.
Academias La Paz is a PreK - 12th grade unified district for community-based, student-centered education that intently focuses on building critical consciousness and establishes high expectations for all students’ academic and social growth. Our program is tailored to children’s individual needs, readily accessible to families, culturally relevant, and equipped with the curricular and instructional tools necessary to ensure that students achieve high standards.
At Academias Laz Paz, our bilingual program is dedicated to creating the necessary learning environment that cultivates academic excellence to strengthen, recognize, and honor our students’ dignity, critical consciousness, identity, ancestral language, and bilingualism to become lifelong learners and authentic, powerful human beings. Using a mixture of language development strategies, our primary focus is on developing strong foundational skills in reading, writing, speaking, and listening in the Spanish and English languages for our multilingual community.
Academias La Paz currently has two campuses, one located in the Eastside of St. Paul, Academia Cesar Chavez Prek - 8th grade and one located in South Minneapolis, El Colegio High School 9th - 12th grade.
Authorizer
What is a charter school?
Charter schools are tuition-free, public schools. By law, charter schools are free and open to any student in the state of Minnesota. They are governed and operated jointly by licensed teachers, parents, and community members.
Charter schools operate on three basic principles: accountability, choice, and autonomy. Charter schools are accountable to improve student learning and remain fiscally solvent. Charter law provides that families should be able to choose what public school is best for their child. Charter school autonomy empowers teachers and parents to realize an educational vision at the school site.
Find out more about charter schools at the Minnesota Association of Charter Schools website.
What is an authorizer?
An authorizer is an organization which is approved by the Minnesota Department of Education to authorize charter schools in the state of Minnesota. All charter schools in Minnesota are required to have an authorizer. An authorizer grants the original charter allowing the school to open and operate, continually monitors and evaluates the school’s performance, and–based on the school’s performance–determines whether or not to renew the charter over time.
Who is Academia La Paz’s authorizer?
Academia La Paz’s Authorizer is the University of St. Thomas. The mission of the University of St. Thomas Charter Authorizing Program is to advance the common good by using quality authorizing practices and cross-sector university expertise to oversee and promote the health of charter schools that demonstrably assist students in reaching their full academic and human potential. The tenets UST seeks and highlights in its charter schools include:
● Education that Promotes Moral Responsibility
● Education That Promotes Critical Thinking
● Education that Promotes Wise Action
● Education that Promotes Skillful Work
● Education that Advances the Common Good
University of St. Thomas Charter Authorizing Program
Teresa Moffat
Charter School Liaison
1000 LaSalle Ave, Opus Hall 217, Minneapolis, MN 55403
Phone: (651) 962-4386
Email: tmoffatt@stthomas.edu