ACE Curriculum

Academy of Cultural Excellence

Curriculum & Learning Approach

Curriculum at the Academy of Cultural Excellence (ACE)

What We Teach, How We Teach, and Why It Matters
At the Academy of Cultural Excellence (ACE), our curriculum choices are intentional. We have selected high-quality instructional programs that support strong academics, cultural responsiveness, and the development of essential life skills - what we call our ACE Core Competencies. Our goal is to ensure that every child experiences joyful, rigorous learning that builds confidence, curiosity, and a strong sense of self.

The Big Picture

All ACE curriculum choices are designed to help students grow as thinkers, readers, problem-solvers, and community members. Across all subject areas, students will develop:

ACE Core Competencies

Agency - Students demonstrate metacognition by understanding their personal strengths and needs, setting rigorous goals, and utilizing regular reflection to take active ownership of their unique learning journey and preparing for their future.
Collaboration - Learners build meaningful relationships through collaborative group work and peer discourse, respecting and leveraging diverse cultural assets to act as empathetic leaders within their school and local neighborhood.
Communication - Learners read, write, speak, and express ideas with clarity and confidence across multiple platforms, including digital, oral, and visual and performing arts, to honor their identity and advocate for themselves and others.
Critical Thinking - Learners approach complex challenges with curiosity and purpose, using inquiry-driven strategies and arts-integrated methods to analyze problems, generate innovative solutions, and adapt their thinking in real-world contexts.
Creativity - Learners demonstrate persistence and a growth mindset by navigating difficulty with self-regulation strategies, maintaining wellness and optimism while viewing challenges as essential opportunities for brain growth.
Academically Prepared - Students navigate competency-based pathways with flexibility, demonstrating mastery of standards through authentic application and evidence-based portfolios that prepare them for the demands of a changing world.

NYS Portrait of a Graduate

Global Citizen - Acts responsibly and ethically within local, global, and digital communities, employing civic knowledge, skills, and mindsets to promote sustainability and contribute positively to a culturally diverse, democratic society.
Academically Prepared - Demonstrates a strong foundation in the NYS learning standards and is equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to achieve success in college, careers, civic engagement, service, and life.
Reflective and Future Focused - Engages in self-reflection to identify strengths and areas for growth, sets meaningful goals, demonstrates supportive relationships, and makes responsible decisions that prioritize social, emotional, and mental well-being.
Effective Communicator - Articulates ideas clearly and confidently through speaking, writing, and the use of different types of media for various purposes, while engaging with diverse audiences and actively listening to different perspectives.
Critical Thinker - Analyzes information thoughtfully, evaluates evidence critically, and identifies patterns and connections between different pieces of information across multiple content areas to address complex issues and navigate the world with insight.
Creative Innovator - Utilizes imagination, curiosity, and flexible thinking to solve problems creatively and develop new ideas and products, while adapting to evolving circumstances and challenges.

Humanities Department

HMH (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)

HMH supports strong reading comprehension, writing, vocabulary, and discussion skills. Students engage with rich texts, storytelling, and purposeful writing. How this supports ACE competencies:

Builds Empowered Literacy through reading and writing across genres
Strengthens Critical Thinking by analyzing texts and sharing ideas
Encourages Self-Awareness as students reflect on their learning

Fundations (Phonics & Foundational Skills)

Fundations provides explicit, systematic phonics instruction, helping students build strong decoding, spelling, and early reading skills. How this supports ACE competencies:

Builds confidence and independence in reading (Empowered Literacy)
Supports Resilience by giving students clear strategies to tackle challenging words
Helps students advocate for themselves as readers (Self-Awareness & Advocacy)

Heggerty (Phonemic Awareness)

Heggerty focuses on listening skills, sound recognition, and early language development, which are critical for early readers. How this supports ACE competencies:

Strengthens early Critical Thinking through sound manipulation
Builds foundational literacy skills that support long-term success
Encourages persistence and growth (Adaptability & Resilience)

Amplify Caminos

Amplify Caminos is a K-5 Spanish Language Arts curriculum designed to support bilingual literacy development and accelerate reading comprehension in Spanish. Grounded in the Science of Reading and built specifically for Spanish rather than translated from an English curriculum, it integrates foundational literacy skills, knowledge-building, vocabulary development, and daily writing.

Why It Aligns with ACE's Vision:

Supports educational equity and biliteracy/multilingualism
Reflects culturally responsive, knowledge-rich instruction
Strengthens family and community connections
Honors and affirms students' linguistic and cultural identities

Social Studies

Passport for Social Studies

Passport for Social Studies helps students learn about communities, history, and the world, emphasizing identity, civic understanding, and belonging.

Hidden Voices (Supplemental Resource)

Hidden Voices is used to amplify perspectives that have historically been overlooked, ensuring students see themselves, and others, reflected in learning. How this supports ACE competencies:

Builds Cultural Awareness & Empathy by honoring diverse stories
Encourages respectful dialogue and perspective-taking
Strengthens Self-Awareness and identity development

Math & Science Department

Amplify Science

Amplify Science is an inquiry-based science curriculum where students learn by asking questions, conducting investigations, and explaining their thinking. How this supports ACE competencies:

Develops Critical Thinking & Problem-Solving through hands-on exploration
Encourages collaboration and discussion (Community & Empathy)
Builds confidence in explaining ideas (Empowered Literacy)

Amplify Desmos Math

Amplify Desmos Math is a comprehensive, curiosity-driven mathematics program that combines rich problem-based learning, engaging digital experiences, personalized practice, intervention support, and assessment tools into one coherent system, helping all learners develop deep mathematical understanding, strong problem-solving skills, and positive mathematical identities.

Why It Aligns with ACE's Vision:

Centers student-centered, inquiry-driven learning
Builds academic discourse and collaboration
Provides equitable access to rigorous instruction
Develops critical thinkers and problem-solvers

What Families Can Expect at ACE

Across all subjects, families can expect that:

Learning is engaging, joyful, and developmentally appropriate
Students are encouraged to think, talk, question, and reflect
Culture, identity, and student voice are honored daily
Teachers work collaboratively to ensure high-quality instruction for every child
Curriculum is a tool to support the whole child, not just academic outcomes

Closing Message to Families

At ACE, the curriculum is more than a set of books or programs, it is a pathway to developing confident, curious, and compassionate learners. Our instructional choices are designed to support not only what students learn, but who they become. We look forward to partnering with you as we bring this learning to life together.

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Curriculum & academics