A Free Public Charter School in Midvale, Utah
Two learning environments. Shared standards.
Designed to help students learn how to learn.
LEARNING ACCESS
Learning Access Changes with Environment
Students access learning differently. Rigorous instruction can exist through multiple environments — PFAL expands learning access without lowering expectations.
“Different environments. Shared standards.”
PATHWAYS
What Makes PFAL Different
Pathway 1
Pathway 1: Traditional Environment
Structured, teacher-guided instruction: direct teaching, guided practice, feedback, and standards alignment.
Pathway 2
Pathway 2: Applied Learning Environment
Project-based lessons curated by teachers to teach the same skills and standards in a different way.
MASTERY + ACCESS
Rigorous Standards. Flexible Access.
Mastery learning with formative assessment cycles, AP and CTE pathways, and collaborative planning systems.
Day 5 / Day 10 Cycles
Predictable rhythms for instruction, practice, and feedback.
Mastery Progression
Students move forward as they demonstrate understanding.
AP Readiness
Coursework that prepares students for college-level rigor.
CTE Pathways
Applied, career-connected pathways alongside academics.
Formative Feedback
Frequent, targeted feedback that guides revision and deepens understanding before final assessment.
Interest-Linked Standards
Academic standards anchored to topics of genuine student curiosity, turning interest into a pathway to mastery.
THE FRAMEWORK
The LEARN Model
Five commitments that shape every PFAL classroom.
01
Literacy
Students work on literacy in every class — reading, writing, spelling, and understanding text. Literacy is the core of our teaching: we work on it all the time, with every student, wherever they are, to bring them to grade level so they can learn better, faster, and more.
02
Equity
Equity means every student, including students with IEPs, has access to high expectations, meaningful support, and more than one way to learn and show what they know.
03
Agency
Students learn how to learn — and own their progress. They also have a voice with their teaching team in choosing which environment (Pathway 1 or Pathway 2) best fits them for each unit of study.
04
Relationships
Small cohorts and continuity across years — Special Education teachers loop with their students through all of elementary, then all of middle school, and then all of high school, so families build a lasting relationship with the same trusted teacher at each level.
05
Neurophysiology
Instruction informed by how the brain learns, grounded in research-based teaching methods including Project- and Community-Based Learning (PCBL), Universal Design for Learning (UDL), and mastery-based grading.
Our shared values
These are the values our teachers, staff, students, and families can count on.
We believe great teaching begins with respect, consistency, and the belief that every student is capable of learning at high levels.
WHY SMALL MATTERS
Small by Design
Smaller cohorts, stronger relationships, quicker responsiveness, and continuity across years build a community-centered school.
PROGRAMS
Program Highlights
- Learning Kitchen
- Cantina
- Maker's Space
- Robotics & Coding
- Seasonal Sports
- AP Coursework
- Business & Entrepreneurship
COMMUNITY
Who We Serve
PFAL serves families whose students need a different learning environment — for any reason.
Academic, sensory, social, emotional, or simply because the current setting is not working.
Students should not have to fail first to get what they need.
PFAL is built for capable learners who need more flexibility, consistency, and care.
Help Us Build PFAL
Add your family to our interest list, subscribe for updates, or join our community supporters.