ABSTRACT
This chapter describes a little different from the whole school academy model. It examines the ways in which a middle or high school can offer several theme-based academies within in a single school and how such academies can place a major focus on creative productivity rather than accelerated lesson learning. One afternoon a week all of the students and teachers at Johnson Middle School depart from their regular schedule to participate in a different “brand” of learning. The objectives of Academy of Inquiry and Talent Development (AITD) are based on two fundamental concepts around which all learning activities within the AITDs are organized. The AITD plan provides a certain amount of general direction in both the development of program objectives and in the procedures for pursuing these objectives. In some cases, advanced level competitions are ideal situations for participation in existing programs that require high levels of scholarship, involvement, and creativity.
