Annual Charter Evaluations (ACE)
Annual Charter Evaluations (ACE) were developed in 2016 to provide interim school evaluations for years between initial charter approval and first charter renewal as well as between charter renewals thereafter. These reports are produced annually by the CSO for all charter schools (except those up for renewal that receive a Renewal Recommendation Report) and provide information on the three main areas of the Charter School Performance Framework: academic success, organizational compliance and viability, and financial health and sustainability. The ACE also provides student-subgroup information to assess a charter school’s academic performance by grade level, gender, race/ethnicity, and historically underserved categories.
Northwood Academy Charter School’s Comprehensive and Strategic Plans outline our goals and priorities for strengthening student achievement and supporting continued school improvement. These plans guide our work in areas such as teaching and learning, student support, professional development, school climate, and family engagement. Families and community members can review our current plans and related documents below.
Comprehensive Plan
Approved 2026-2029 PDE Approved Comprehensive Plan
Strategic Plan
Vision 2030: A Strategic Plan Rooted in Tradition that will Ensure Our Rise to Excellence
Families planning an educational trip during the school year must submit an Educational Trip Absence Form for approval in advance. Please complete the form with the requested trip information and return it to NACS before the planned absence. Families are encouraged to review the school’s attendance guidelines when planning trips that require students to miss school.
Keeping student health information up to date helps NACS provide a safe and healthy school environment. Families can find important health forms here, including forms for physical and dental examinations, medication administration, health conditions, and other student health needs. Please complete and return any required forms to the school nurse.
McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act
The McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act is a federal law that ensures that homeless children and youth will secure immediate enrollment in school, facilitating the stability of their education.
The term “homeless children and youth” refers to individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or similar reason.
If a child or youth is living:
- in a shelter
- in a motel or campground due to the lack of an alternative adequate accommodation
- in a car, park, abandoned building, or bus or train station
- doubled up with other people due to loss of housing or economic hardship
Eligible students have the right to:
- Receive a free, appropriate public education
- Enroll in school immediately, even if lacking documents normally required for enrollment
- Enroll in school and attend classes while the school gathers needed documents
- Enroll in the local school; or continue attending their school of origin (the school they attended when permanently housed or the school in which they were last enrolled), if that is their preference
- Receive transportation to and from the school of origin, if requested
- Receive educational services comparable to those provided to other students, according to the students’ needs
Please reach out to our Homelessness Liaison and School Social Worker, Dominique Harris, at 215-289-5606 or dominiqueharris@northwoodcs.org for questions and referrals.
Where can I find more information?
Pennsylvania requires students to have certain immunizations to attend school. Families are responsible for providing NACS with an up-to-date copy of their child’s immunization record and submitting any required updates. Please review the immunization requirements below and contact the school nurse if you have questions or need assistance understanding the requirements.
For attendance in all grades (K-8):
- Diphtheria, Tetanus and Acellular Pertussis (DTap); 5 doses
- Polio (IPV); 4 doses
- Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR); 2 doses
- Hepatitis B (HepB); 3 doses
- Varicella (VZV); 2 doses
For attendance in 7th grade:
- Diphtheria, Tetanus and Acellular Pertussis (DTap); 1 dose
- Meningococcal Conjugate (MCV4); 1 dose
The Pennsylvania P-EBT Inquiry Form is available for families who have questions or concerns about their P-EBT benefits. Families can use the form to request assistance with eligibility, benefit amounts, or other P-EBT-related questions. Please use the link below to submit an inquiry directly to the appropriate Pennsylvania program.
Please click THIS LINK for the Pennsylvania P-EBT Inquiry Form
Using a mobile phone? Click THIS LINK for mobile access to this form.
Select "What We Offer" from the dropdown menu.
If families or households would prefer to call, the P-EBT Hotline Number is 1-877-343-0179. PDE, DFN is also unable to assist families and households with inquiries.
The health and safety of our students and staff is a priority at Northwood Academy Charter School. NACS regularly tests drinking water sources for lead to help ensure our water is safe. If testing identifies a concern, the school takes appropriate steps to address it. Water testing results and important updates are shared with our school community as required.
- Lead Water Testing Report 2020
- Water Testing Report 2026
- Water Testing - The most recent water test results are pending and will be uploaded to the website upon receipt.
The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) created the Title I State Parent Advisory Council (SPAC) in 1990. SPAC includes parents of children participating in Title I. The purpose of this council is to share ideas with the Division of Federal Programs about involving Title I parents to increase student achievement. SPAC parents advise PDE on many aspects of Parent and Family Engagement-from working with children at home to developing partnerships among parents, teachers, administrators, and community leaders to create effective and engaging parent involvement programs.
