The philosophy of the Hope Connection School is the commitment and obligation of the entire staff to satisfy the statements which define the basic framework from which all goals, decisions and procedures are determined:

   1. Each student is a unique individual with his/her own talents, learning styles, experiences and personal goals.  Every student should be accepted where he/she currently is and move forward academically, socially, and vocationally in ways that the student finds meaningful.

   2. Education is a process that is life long and takes place in a variety of ways and places.  Because not all students can benefit from one type of school, alternative schools should meet the needs of these students. An alternative school should offer various approaches and opportunities from those of the traditional school. The student's learning should be recognized on and off campus.

   3. Many students come to the Hope Connection School with a feeling of failure and a low self-concept.  Students can develop a higher self-esteem and a sense of self-worth by:

         1. becoming aware of their personal strengths and weaknesses;
         2. experiencing success in learning;
         3. making positive decisions and accepting responsibilities;
         4. engaging in worthwhile employment while learning good work skills.

   4. The teacher student relationship is more than the teacher being just another authoritative figure; the teacher is a warm, caring, and concerned human being.  All young people need the opportunity to talk and relate to adults with these qualities.

   5. In order to work effectively with students, teachers in an alternative school should differ from one another and teach with a variety of teaching styles, having various lifestyles, and have other interests other than in their academic areas. A teacher in an alternative school has to be committed, be able to function as a stable adult role model, and have stamina, and humor. The teacher must be willing to constitute to help the student learn even when the student and parent(s) have given up.  In addition, the teacher must function as part of a team along with the entire staff, students, and parents.