The Frederick Douglass Academy of Classical Education (FDACE) is a planned tuition-free public charter school on the West side of the Greater Madison Area, Wisconsin. FDACE will open in September 2026 as K-5. Every year an additional grade will be added until we reach our full K-12 scope.
FDACE plans to use the Hillsdale K-12 curriculum which emphasizes the core disciplines of math, science, literature, and history, as well as music, art, physical education, and foreign languages.
Classical education has been criticized as being ‘too-rigorous’ and ‘elitist’ by some. This criticism can be true of any educational program, if success relies heavily on support outside of school. We know that not all families have the resources to provide homework help, private tutoring, test coaching, or educational camps.
To address this fundamental inequity, we have designed a plan to attract, retain, and train the most qualified teaching staff to administer our classes and to implement our unique ‘safety-net’ program: an innovative afterschool program that is unique to Madison.
Our afterschool program provides premier quality study halls, tutoring, and afterschool care opportunities for all of our students, ensuring that each child, if needed, can do their learning at school.
In this way, each child has the opportunity to excel, regardless of the availability, education and/or language proficiencies of their caregivers.
To ensure that all our students can benefit from this program, the costs will be scaled based on family means. This progressive fee scale will provide the program for free to students that qualify for school meals, and is designed to avoid the “benefit cliff“. We are committed to the success of all our students.
Inside American Education
FDACE, through the planned Hillsdale K-12 curriculum, will provide a comprehensive K-12 curriculum that emphasizes the
core disciplines of math, science, literature, and history, as well as music, art, physical education, and
foreign languages. This approach to education is content-rich and balanced, with an emphasis on classical education methods and direct instruction.
Direct Instruction: “I do, We do, You do” – This method has been successfully employed around the world and has for centuries been an efficient, effective, and straight-forward method of teaching fundamental concepts as well as specific content. It has been proven to improve student academic performance for all including students struggling academically, students learning English as a second language, and students struggling with attention difficulties.
Content-Rich Curriculum: Rooted in Core Knowledge, our knowledge-based, content-rich curriculum is designed to build students’ knowledge and skills across various subject areas. The approach is based on the belief that knowledge builds upon itself, and students need a solid foundation of essential knowledge to become successful learners. Numerous studies and reports have shown positive student achievement associated with the Core Knowledge philosophy.
The Science of Reading: Reading is the basis for learning. As such, our curriculum will utilize a phonemes/phonics-focused approach based on the Science of Reading. This is an evidence-based approach built on over five decades of research with thousands of studies conducted in multiple languages. Led by cognitive science, a preponderance of evidence has associated positive outcomes with the Science of Reading and phonics instruction on student ability to read, write, and communicate, and succeed in academics and life.
Singapore Math: The educational philosophy of our math curriculum is rooted in the principles of a highly effective mathematics curriculum developed in Singapore. This philosophy emphasizes a mastery-based approach to mathematics education, focusing on building deep conceptual understanding, problem-solving skills, and a strong foundation in mathematical fundamentals. It emphasizes a systematic and coherent progression of mathematical concepts, starting with concrete materials and visual representations before moving to abstract symbols and algorithms. It places a strong emphasis on problem-solving, critical thinking, and mathematical reasoning, encouraging students to actively engage with mathematical concepts and apply them to real-world situations.
What Your Second Grader Needs to Know
The Purpose of Education
Our concept is best summarized by our school motto, “Meritum ~ Veritas ~ Decor“, which means ‘Merit, Truth, and Beauty’. We believe that given the right educational model, and the right supportive environment, all children can maximize their potential, earn their achievements, think for themselves, and find and appreciate the beauty in themselves and the world around them.
Ultimately, we are committed to creating an academic environment where our students are empowered to develop intellectually and personally through a rigorous curriculum, building the foundation for success in life.