A.C.E. Curriculum and Program

Since its beginning, V.C.A. has used the A.C.E. curriculum and program. A.C.E was started in 1969 and has been providing quality academic material with a Christian theme since then. The A.C.E. program is the best available because it meets each student right where they are at in their education. The Educational Philosophy of A.C.E. is based upon the 5 Laws of Learning which state:

The student must be placed on a level of curriculum where he can best perform.
The student must set reasonable and appropriate goals that he can be expected to achieve in a reasonable and prescribed period.
The student must receive motivation through encouragement and support and achieve control through guidance and discipline to assimilate, use, and experience the educational material.
The student's learning must have appropriate measurements applied to the results.
The student's learning must receive recognition and reward for its value, effort, and significance.

Based upon this philosophy A.C.E. has set out to better help students learn the material. Learning is the constant, not time. The A.C.E. program has certain distinctives and they are:

Individualization

Each student who is enrolled at V.C.A. will be given a diagnostic test to identify their academic performance level. This test will also identify any learning gaps that a student may have developed in their academic career. When the student has completed their diagnostic testing they will be assigned curriculum to first fill their learning gaps and then they will proceed from their learning level. Each student progresses through the curriculum at their rate.

Goal Setting

Students at V.C.A. are taught to set achievable goals that they can complete within the time that they have available. These goals are both long-term (yearly and quarterly) and short-term (weekly and daily). The ability to set and achieve personal goals prepares students for college and to succeed in life.

Motivation and Control

Every Student must be motivated to accomplish the task before them with privileges that they will enjoy. We attempt to provide these motivations through a variety of positive events and opportunities for the student to participate in. Students must also be controlled. It has been wisely stated that "you cannot teach a child that you cannot control." The staff of V.C.A. attempts to guide and discipline their students as needed to help them learn. We have more information concerning the motivations and controls that V.C.A. implements in a later section.

Measurement

How do you or I know what a student has learned unless their learning is measured? The measurement begins with the proper diagnosis of a student's learning. This measurement continues as the students work through the curriculum with Checkups, Self Tests, and PACE Tests. V.C.A. also participates in the standardized testing provided by the Stafford Achievement Test which the students will take in the spring of each school year.

Self-Instructional and Mastery-Based

Students work through the curriculum independently under supervision in the Learning Center. The staff of V.C.A. is not responsible for teaching. The staff provides the academic assistance that is necessary to facilitate student learning. Students must demonstrate mastery of the material before they are permitted to proceed. Learning must take place before a student can advance.

For more information and to watch a short video on the ACE Curriculum, CLICK HERE!