At the Newark Center for Creative Learning (NCCL), students from 5 through 14 get a well-rounded, hands-on education designed to prepare them for college and life beyond. The students are very comfortable with their own education, says teacher Ann Brown, because they're very comfortable with teachers, adults, and their mentors.

The feedback from high schools and college campuses is positive, says Brown. NCCL students are able to develop an immediate rapport with their high school teachers, and are very comfortable in the college learning environment as a result of their background.

The learning environment at NCCL fosters a child' creativity through a variety of strategies that parents also can apply at home. Listen to children, talk to them a lot - the role of language is more crucial than any other factor in their development - and demonstrate a respect for the child's thoughts and feelings. The child will learn self respect and respect for others. The center tries to create programs that are developmentally appropriate and involve the child, so it fosters their creativity and self-esteem. The children are involved in designing their own education, with each age group immersed in challenging and developmentally appropriate activities as part of a curriculum modeled around the interests of the children.