Education

What We Fund

Improving educational outcomes for children in the City of Beloit.
Increasing choices and educational options available to Beloit families.

Education can change a path.
It can make an immediate and future difference in a child’s life.
Education has the power to create generational impact.

The Lincoln Academy

The Lincoln Academy (TLA) is a K4-12 grade independent charter school located in Beloit. An innovative, high-quality, free public school option that developed out of a community-level commitment to improve academic achievement and preparedness of Beloit students for life after high school, TLA’s vision is to be the premier K4-12 school in Wisconsin, providing college and career pathways for scholars to lead happy, choice-filled lives.

The school is committed to reflecting the diversity of the Beloit community and has embedded the lived school values of: Children First, Trusting Community, Get It Done, Find the Joy and Community Focus into the environment.

Chartered through the University of Wisconsin Office of Educational Opportunity in 2020, TLA serves more than 700 scholars and has a 4-star rating of Exceeds Expectations from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction based upon the 2022-2023 school report card, the most current report card available.

Education can change a path.
It can make an immediate and future difference in a child’s life.
Education has the power to create generational impact.

The Lincoln Academy

The Lincoln Academy (TLA) is a K4-12 grade independent charter school located in Beloit. An innovative, high-quality, free public school option that developed out of a community-level commitment to improve academic achievement and preparedness of Beloit students for life after high school, TLA’s vision is to be the premier K4-12 school in Wisconsin, providing college and career pathways for scholars to lead happy, choice-filled lives.

The school is committed to reflecting the diversity of the Beloit community and has embedded the lived school values of: Children First, Trusting Community, Get It Done, Find the Joy and Community Focus into the environment.

Chartered through the University of Wisconsin Office of Educational Opportunity in 2020, TLA serves more than 700 scholars and has a 4-star rating of Exceeds Expectations from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction based upon the 2022-2023 school report card, the most current report card available.

“I truly love TLA. I tell everyone how awesome my scholar is doing academically!”

TLA Parent

“I truly love TLA. I tell everyone how awesome my scholar is doing academically!”

TLA Parent

Focus on Three Pillars

TLA is grounded in a focus on three pillars.

The project-based, experiential learning model utilized at TLA integrates all three pillars into the curriculum at every grade-level.

Academic Rigor

The school’s unique instructional model is designed to ensure scholars receive extended instruction, an integrated reading/writing curriculum and targeted intervention, as needed, each day.

TLA schoolwide 2023-2024 NWEA MAP Results exceeded individual growth targets in reading and math by an average of 13.5%. Class growth targets were achieved in both areas.
75% of K5–3rd grade scholars achieved proficiency in foundational reading skills.
40% of 9–11th grade scholars were on the honor roll during the 4th Quarter.

The school’s unique instructional model is designed to ensure scholars receive extended instruction, an integrated reading/writing curriculum and targeted intervention, as needed, each day.

TLA school wide 2022-2023 NWEA MAP Results exceeded individual growth targets by an average of 14.5% and class growth targets by an average of 16.5% in reading and math.
71% of K5-4th grade scholars achieved proficiency in foundational reading skills.
41% of 9th and 10th grade scholars were on the honor roll during the 4th Quarter.

Academic Rigor

The school’s unique instructional model is designed to ensure scholars receive extended instruction, an integrated reading/writing curriculum and targeted intervention, as needed, each day.

TLA schoolwide 2023-2024 NWEA MAP Results exceeded individual growth targets in reading and math by an average of 13.5%. Class growth targets were achieved in both areas.
75% of K5–3rd grade scholars achieved proficiency in foundational reading skills.
40% of 9–11th grade scholars were on the honor roll during the 4th Quarter.

The school’s unique instructional model is designed to ensure scholars receive extended instruction, an integrated reading/writing curriculum and targeted intervention, as needed, each day.

TLA school wide 2022-2023 NWEA MAP Results exceeded individual growth targets by an average of 14.5% and class growth targets by an average of 16.5% in reading and math.
71% of K5-4th grade scholars achieved proficiency in foundational reading skills.
41% of 9th and 10th grade scholars were on the honor roll during the 4th Quarter.

Character Development

Character development is integrated through a focus on character virtues infused in all curricular subject content and taught through direct instruction.

827 Character Awards.
Scholars undertook 2,250+ hours of Service Learning.

Character development is integrated through a focus on character virtues infused in all curricular subject content and taught through direct instruction.

827 Character Awards.
Scholars undertook 2,000+ hours of Service Learning.

Character Development

Character development is integrated through a focus on character virtues infused in all curricular subject content and taught through direct instruction.

827 Character Awards.
Scholars undertook 2,250+ hours of Service Learning.

Character development is integrated through a focus on character virtues infused in all curricular subject content and taught through direct instruction.

827 Character Awards.
Scholars undertook 2,000+ hours of Service Learning.

Career Exploration

Scholars are encouraged to explore and dream. Every scholar in grades K4-12 creates an age-appropriate Individual Learning Plan for themselves that includes career exploration focused goals.

Scholars in the 8th and 12th grades present the plan to a review panel as part of their graduation requirements.

98% of 10th grade scholars completed job shadows.
98% of K5-11th grade scholars completed Xello career lessons.
100% of 8th grade scholars presented their Individualized Learning Plan.
90% of 6-10th grade scholars attended a college visit.
7 dual enrollment courses were offered through the Start College Now and Early College Credit programs, with 210 credits earned and $31,000 in scholar savings toward college credits during the 2023-2024 school year. Since the school’s inception, scholars have earned 345 credits resulting in $48,931 in scholar savings toward college credits

Scholars are encouraged to explore and dream. Every scholar in grades K4-12 creates an age-appropriate Individual Learning Plan for themselves that includes career exploration focused goals.

Scholars in the 8th and 12th grades present the plan to a review panel as part of their graduation requirements.

100% of 10th grade scholars completed job shadows.
95% of K5-10th grade scholars completed Xello career lessons.
98% of 8th grade scholars presented their Individualized Learning Plan.
94% of 6-10th grade scholars attended a college visit.
6 dual enrollment courses were offered with 135 college credits earned and $17,931 in scholar savings toward college credits.

Career Exploration

Scholars are encouraged to explore and dream. Every scholar in grades K4-12 creates an age-appropriate Individual Learning Plan for themselves that includes career exploration focused goals.

Scholars in the 8th and 12th grades present the plan to a review panel as part of their graduation requirements.

98% of 10th grade scholars completed job shadows.
98% of K5-11th grade scholars completed Xello career lessons.
100% of 8th grade scholars presented their Individualized Learning Plan.
90% of 6-10th grade scholars attended a college visit.
7 dual enrollment courses were offered through the Start College Now and Early College Credit programs, with 210 credits earned and $31,000 in scholar savings toward college credits during the 2023-2024 school year. Since the school’s inception, scholars have earned 345 credits resulting in $48,931 in scholar savings toward college credits

Scholars are encouraged to explore and dream. Every scholar in grades K4-12 creates an age-appropriate Individual Learning Plan for themselves that includes career exploration focused goals.

Scholars in the 8th and 12th grades present the plan to a review panel as part of their graduation requirements.

100% of 10th grade scholars completed job shadows.
95% of K5-10th grade scholars completed Xello career lessons.
98% of 8th grade scholars presented their Individualized Learning Plan.
94% of 6-10th grade scholars attended a college visit.
6 dual enrollment courses were offered with 135 college credits earned and $17,931 in scholar savings toward college credits.

Additional details about the most recent school year at The Lincoln Academy can be found here.

The Lincoln Academy
2023 - 2024 Year in Review

The Lincoln Academy
2022 - 2023 Year in Review

Additional details about the most recent school year at The Lincoln Academy can be found here.

The Lincoln Academy
2023 - 2024 Year in Review

The Lincoln Academy
2022 - 2023 Year in Review

The Foundation’s Education priority is focused on strategies that improve educational outcomes for Beloit children and increase choices and educational options available to Beloit families. We, along with many others, have grown increasingly concerned about educational outcomes in our city and have worked with community members from every corner of Beloit to bring TLA to life.

Through its investment of time, talent and resources in The Lincoln Academy, including making a significant financial commitment to closing the per pupil funding gap that creates an ongoing challenge for independent charter schools, the Foundation helps to ensure local scholars are provided an environment conducive to the learning process; proving what is possible when scholars are given the right combination of school culture, strong academics, career integration and a mission-driven staff.

The Lincoln Academy Website

The Foundation’s Education priority is focused on strategies that improve educational outcomes for Beloit children and increase choices and educational options available to Beloit families. We, along with many others, have grown increasingly concerned about educational outcomes in our city and have worked with community members from every corner of Beloit to bring TLA to life.

Through its investment of time, talent and resources in The Lincoln Academy, including making a significant financial commitment to closing the per pupil funding gap that creates an ongoing challenge for independent charter schools, the Foundation helps to ensure local scholars are provided an environment conducive to the learning process; proving what is possible when scholars are given the right combination of school culture, strong academics, career integration and a mission-driven staff.

The Lincoln Academy Website

Insights

Insights Archive

Lockers, Boys & Girls Club | Hendricks Family Foundation

Education

The Impact of Choice

Our goals are to bring more options to children and families, to improve academic outcomes, to extend learning beyond the classroom and to seed innovation.

Education

Rewarding Success and Empowering Parents

All children deserve an educational option that enables them to learn and grow; they all deserve to have the supports they need to be able to create a successful life after high school.

Education

Little Lambs Childcare Center Receives HFF Impact Grant

In 2022, there were 3.1 children under 5 years of age for every one childcare space in Beloit.

Education

Parker Arts Academy Receives Start-Up Funding

Preparing Arts-Focused Students for the Future

Education

Hendricks Education Center | Janesville Performing Arts Center

JPAC’s exponential growth as a driving factor necessitating its expansion. JPAC needed a separate space dedicated to performing arts education. When planning for the future it was important to the Board and JPAC staff to have a permanent structure like this in place.

Education

Boosting Literacy – Beloit Daily News

Beloit Memorial High School National Honor Society students have been rounding up books and shelves to help boost early literacy. Student Gloria Heiss and fellow students will be hosting a book giveaway event from noon - 1 p.m. on May 11 at the Beloit Public Library.

Education

Preparing Our Youth – Youth Opportunities

There’s little doubt that Beloit has a plethora of committed agencies and organizations reaching out to help youth in many areas.