Phillips Academy
OUR MISSION
The mission of The Phillips Academy is to provide a comprehensive, positive, educational program for youth with complex behavioral, social, emotional and educational needs. A positive attitude toward learning, a sense of self-competence, and essential academic and social-emotional skills are developed through personalized education plans. We are committed to preparing students for successful transitions to public school programs, to post-secondary educational institutions and to vocational training programs, upon completion of our program.
Our History
In 1971, behavioral psychologist Dr. Laura Phillips established the Institute of Human Behavior, Research and Education which included the school, the Children’s Learning Center. Dr. Phillips established the school for her clients who were not being effectively served within the public schools. The school was founded on the belief that all students can learn if they are instructed properly. We became state certified in 1981 and moved to our current location in Alameda. Thus, we have worked collaboratively with over 16 Bay Area public school districts to serve the needs of students in special education for more than 40 years.
Our New Name
In the fall of 2012, the Children’s Learning Center changed the name of the school to The Phillips Academy to honor the life and work of Dr. Phillips. While our program has changed and grown over the years, we have maintained our commitment to sustaining a nurturing learning environment built on positive relationships, to assessing the effectiveness of our interventions, and to providing students with personalized educational plans that reflect best practice. Today, The Phillips Academy proudly serves approximately 70 middle and high school students.
WASC Accreditation
In 2013,The Phillips Academy received a 6 year accreditation by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. Our program was highly acclaimed for its dedicated staff and student support and for its individualized programming. Our schoolwide action plan for improvement included acquiring and integrating technology into our instruction. We have already accomplished this goal with the issuance of chromebooks for every student and the implementation of our blended learning instructional model. We will be having our 3 year mid-cycle review this Fall.
WORKABILITY PROGRAM
The Phillips Academy High School Workability Program, has partnered with the businesses in the Alameda and Oakland area, to provide our 16-19 year old students with the opportunity to obtain on the job training, while receiving a small stipend, provided by the student’s home district work-ability grant or by the Department of Rehabilitation. These opportunities allow our students to build self-confidence, develop their social skills and prepare for the world of work. Many of the local businesses participate in our program year after year, building a strong relationship with our school. Some businesses have retained our students as direct hires, offering full-time employment after graduation.
keywords: middle school, high school