Meadowlark Academy
Accreditation
Meadowlark Academy is accredited through Cognia, making a commitment to providing high-quality education by undergoing a rigorous process of self-assessment and third-party evaluation by Cognia experts. Cognia Accreditation signifies that a school meets or exceeds rigorous standards of educational quality and effectiveness, which can enhance the credibility of the institution and the academic preparation of its students.
Admissions
Meadowlark Academy is a Court-Ordered placement of students (COMPS) program, as defined by Wyoming Statute 21-13-315. Meadowlark Academy accepts male youth between the ages of 12–18. All youth enrolled at Meadowlark Academy have been court-ordered by a judge.
Meadowlark Academy uses historical and present information to create individualized, evidence-based education and treatment programs to achieve the goals of the students and families and to support students’ individualized needs. Assessment data is gathered through various means, including face-to-face interviews, written materials, and input from individuals such as the potential student, the family, and external sources such as Probation Offices, Social Workers, and Health and Human Services.
Daily Educational Programming
Instruction at Meadowlark Academy is supported through a blended learning environment. Direct instruction is provided by teachers using the Edmentum curriculum. Teachers prepare daily lesson plans across all content areas that provide students with multimodal learning opportunities.
Educational programming is a major component of each student’s day. According to the daily schedule, each core content area has a designated block. During each block, students work in small groups with teachers guiding instruction based on the classes assigned to each student. This setup fosters collaboration among students and with educational staff, creating opportunities for both academic learning and the development of life skills that can be applied in the community.
Career and Technical Education
Career and Technical Education that emphasizes training, certification, and employability is a priority at Meadowlark Academy. The CTE program begins with Career Exploration classes, where “pre-employment” certifications are offered to all students. These include Adult and Infant CPR and First Aid, General Industry OSHA, ServSafe Food Handler, and basic computer literacy certifications.
In Career Exploration, all students are required to contribute to their Academic and Career Portfolio, which includes a resume, cover letter, thank-you letter, and a reflective letter that ties their interests, skills, and long-range goals into a professional portfolio that can be presented to an employer.