Rice Lake Area School District (RLASD) recently received a grant to start a Marzano Academy right here in Rice Lake and we want your input! The success of and lessons learned from this charter school could change the face of other district schools in upcoming years, so we are reaching out to the entire community to see what you most value in your local schools.


A Marzano Academy makes the learning expectations clear so students can have a role in designing and executing learning plans so they develop a mindset and skillset of success. This is done through a system of highly coordinated, evidence-based instructional and assessment strategies that when executed together have a combined effect greater than the sum of their parts. The strategies come from the 40+ years of research by Dr. Bob Marzano.

The Marzano Academy, through their partnership with Rachel’s Challenge, will inspire students, providing them opportunities to fulfill their potential, build hope, and connect to things greater than self, as well as modeling and teaching the beliefs of Rachel’s Challenge.

1.      Look for the best in others
2.      Dream big
3.      Choose positive influences
4.      Speak with kindness, and
5.      Start your own chain reaction of kindness

Darrell Scott, father of Rachel Scott—the first student to lose her life in the Columbine school shooting—is the founder of Rachel’s Challenge. In addition to all of Dr. Marzano’s research-based practices, the five tenets of Rachel’s Challenge will undergird everything we do at the school.

Currently referred to as “RLASD R.I.S.E.: A Marzano Academy,” the name refers to a book written by Dr. Marzano and Darrell Scott called Awakening the Learner and stands for “Awakening Learners through Rigor, Innovation, and Socially-inclusive Education.”
We want to know the things you value in a local school. Below are several research-supported ways to increase student achievement, and create happy, confident citizens. Please use these definitions to complete the survey by ranking each in its level of importance to you for a school in your community.

Safe and Orderly Environment: Students and staff are respectful and appreciative of differences and diversity leading to a safe and orderly environment.

Student Efficacy and Agency: Learning experiences that develop mindsets and skillsets of success in all children, so they know they have the power to control their lives.

Instruct at Level of Challenge - Move on When Ready: Students receive instruction and assessment that is appropriately challenging, and they move to the next level of challenge when proficient.

High Reliability School Framework: Having a strategic planning framework to help schools focus on specific, research-based conditions for continuous school improvement. 

Critical Concepts: The learning expectations are clear and available to all learners, educators, parents, and community members.

Student Inspiration and Character/Rachel’s Challenge: The school inspires students by providing opportunities for self-actualization and connection to something greater than self through Rachel’s Challenge.

Teaching Model: Schools use an evidence-based framework of instruction and assessment that encourages students to apply the knowledge gained during a learning unit (project-based learning, service-based learning, etc…)

School Schedule-Alternate Calendar: Alternate school calendar is piloted (year-round, 45/15 or other) to reduce “summer slide” and provide more regular supports and opportunities to students.

School Schedule-All Day 4K: All day 4-year-old kindergarten (4K) is offered.

Other:_________________ (please write in any other high priority item/strategy for a school in your community and rank it accordingly)

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