On August 26, 2011 JusticeWorks will open its Compass Academy in Mt. Carmel (Northumberland County), PA.

Compass Academy is licensed by the PA Department of Education as an Alternative School for Disruptive Youth and will serve high school students with behavioral problems and academic underachievement.

Compass Academy incorporates two Evidence Based Practices: PositiveBehavioral Interaction and WhyTry to establish a positive culture of learning; a value for lifelong education; and helping students attend school every day.

In addition to teachers, Compass Academy has on-site behavioral counseling aid. We use local school district curricula and help students perform at grade-level. We use the community as a classroom and create enjoyable teachable moments and provide valuable community service. We are flexible in our approach and rigorous in our standards.

We invite community members into the school to help students see a positive future for themselves. We reach out proactively to our students’ parents to help them maintain homework and behavioral boundaries.

Several Northumberland School Districts have contracted with CompassAcademy and we’ll be able to serve about 50 students. We’re excited that summer’s just about over and school’s in!