From Brick-and-Mortar to Virtual School: Embracing Prototyping to Scale

Schools across the country are faced with trying to quickly reinvent their learning. PLA has gotten a head start by converting our summer learning program from in-person to virtual for the first time this year. Learn more about how we implemented virtual summer learning and how we will scale it for the fall by clicking the headline above.

PLA Works to Prevent Learning Loss and Inspire Students

PLA Founder & CEO Featured Panelists on Reinventing America's Schools': Racism in K-12 Education Webinar

Join PLA Founder & CEO, Earl Martin Phalen, for a very special webinar as part of the Progressive Policy Institute's Reinventing America's Schools Project. Don't miss this esteemed, diverse panel of education professionals discuss race & racism in K-12 education on June 17th @ 3 pm EST. Click the headline above to register today!

Turning Around Turnaround: Reinventing from Culture, Competence and Love at PLA

PLA featured in Transcend Education's ongoing series on leading during coronavirus.

Phalen Launches Tuition-Free Online K-12 School for Indiana Students

PLA Virtual will provide high-quality e-learning through dynamic virtual classrooms where educators will provide real-time, personalized instruction to scholars.

Summer Advantage Registration Open

Summer is almost here and PLA is offering a free summer program at six schools across the country. For 5 weeks scholars will engage virtually with their peers and teachers in fun virtual clubs, learn math and reading, hear from special guest speakers, and go on virtual field trips! Scholars will also receive an iPad or Chromebook + a backpack full of supplies to support their continued summer learning. Space is limited. Sign up today at your PLA campus!

eLearning Help Desk is Now Available!

We are excited to announce that our eLearning Help Center is now available! We know that remote learning comes with some challenges and we are here to help! Parents and scholars can chat with a Help Desk person Monday - Friday, 8 am - 8 pm. Visit the PLA eLearning homepage at phalenacademies.org/elearning to get help today.

Congratulations to PLA Teacher & Support Staff of the Year!

We have incredible teachers and support staff at Phalen Leadership Academies! We love to celebrate all of their accomplishments and the hard work they do to help our scholars soar!

Happy Teacher Appreciation Week from Phalen Leadership Academies 💖

Thank you to all our wonderful PLA educators! We appreciate all you do to support our scholars and schools.

The Learning Continues!

Learning from home can be as easy as 1-2-3. Enter your virtual classroom today by following these steps!

Thank You PLA Teachers!

Our teachers are at the heart of all that we do. We would like to say thank you for your dedication to our schools and scholars!

90% of the world's students are in lockdown. It's going to hit poor kids much harder than rich ones

PLA Featured in CNN News

PLA CEO Featured in Virtual Town Hall Meeting on Educational Changes Amid Covid-19

Watch PLA CEO & Founder, Earl Martin Phalen, in this special virtual town hall meeting as he discusses how to help Indy families adapt to educational changes amid the COVID-19 crisis. Don't miss this exciting panel put on by the Indianapolis Recorder with some of Indy's top leaders in education.

Schools Adapting to COV-19: Phalen Academies to Launch E-Learning Platforms at Its 22 Schools Across the Country

Despite the challenges the COVID-19 pandemic has posed, we are determined to continue to meet the unique needs of each scholar in each of our schools. Support our scholars as they strive to maintain learning gains.

POSTPONED: Arts & Culture Center Ribbon Cutting Postponed Until Further Notice

In light of the national health crisis that we are facing, we are postponing the ribbon cutting ceremony to a later date. We will release an announcement when a new date has been identified. Thank you for your interest in supporting the development of this project and much needed resource for our community. We look forward to the opportunity to celebrate with you in the near future!

PLA Announces Texas Hiring Event and Open House

Parents, scholars, and families in Texas are invited to Experience the PLA Difference on Saturday, February 29th at 10am.

Phalen Leadership Academies Announce National Hiring Recruitment Efforts

We're Hiring! View available positions and apply today! Here's your opportunity to make a difference in the lives of children!

PLA CEO Named Re-Envisioning Foster Care in American (REFCA) Champion

Largest African-American School Turnaround Operator Named Re-Envisioning Foster Care in America (REFCA) Champion

Washington Informer Feature: Talent First: How the Phalen Leadership Academies Closed Achievement Gaps Through Effective Teaching

Six years ago, Earl Martin Phalen founded what has quickly become the largest African American-run charter school network in the country.

PLA Honing in on Strengthening Partner School Climate and Culture

The goal is to provide a safe and supportive school climate by creating consistency across all PLA schools and meeting the unique needs of students at varying levels of behavioral and social/emotional development.

PLA: Reinventing America's Schools

Phalen Leadership Academies featured for blazing new trails in the book "Reinventing America's Schools ."

PLA Scholars are Back for the 2019-2020 School Year!

PLA schools across the country are officially back in session. Welcome back to our amazing teachers and our extraordinary scholars. We missed you! Let's get ready for an incredible school year!

College and Career Readiness for Students on Indy’s Far Eastside Phalen Leadership Academies Awarded $125K Glick Fund Grant

PLA has been awarded a $125K grant from Glick Fund to build a college and career readiness program aiding scholars in one of the city’s most underserved communities.

Jones-Clark and Smith Middle School Gain New Resources Under Phalen Leadership Academies

With the help of Phalen Leadership Academies (PLA), Mae Jones-Clark Elementary School and Willie Ray Smith Middle School will receive an infusion of technology and resources that support teacher development, scholar learning and overall student growth.

It’s a New School Year and Jones-Clark Elementary and Smith Middle School Are On The Rise!

“At PLA’s core, we put children first, we show gratitude for our scholars, families and community, and we believe in having determination in making sure that our scholars and schools reach their goals. PLA, Smith Middle and Jones Clark Elementary are amazing partners; and we know that our scholars and families will be able to feel that this fall.”

PLA Talks Making a Difference in the Lives of Scholars on Indy's 1310 The Light

Phalen Leadership Academies Live on air at 1310 The Light with Tina Cosby

Phalen: We Need Bold Action to Transform Our Schools

This essay is part of a special series commemorating the 65th anniversary of the landmark Brown v. Board of Education school desegregation case.

RTV 6 Feature: Changing Lives for Scholars on the Far Eastside

"You will never feel nothing like it," Eric Faden, an 8th grader at the school, said. "They care so much - it's unreal how much they care."

Far east side church converting into new community arts center: ‘This is going to transform their lives’

Story by Melissa Crash, Fox 59

Founder of Phalen Academies to Talk With Arts Leaders About New Arts Center

Thanks to a $3,045,350 grant from the Lilly Endowment Inc., Phalen Leadership Academies is transforming an old church into an arts center. On Thursday, April 4, 10 a.m., Earl Martin Phalen, the Founder & CEO of the school network will meet with local arts organizations and arts education advocates to solicit their feedback.

PLA Joins the Beaumont Community

'We believe our scholars have the ability to be the best.'

Phalen Leadership Academies Partners with Beaumont Schools to Ensure Scholar Success

“We are excited to meet and support the scholars, parents and teachers at Jones Clark Elementary and Smith Middle,” said PLA CEO and Founder Earl Martin Phalen.

PLA STEM Scholars Featured on WISH-TV

PLA serves 16 schools across the country with 4 A-Rated schools in Indianapolis

Fight For Life Foundation Works to “Be A Blessing” to PLA Families

Over 700 PLA scholars got toys for the holidays, enjoyed a pizza party, games, and activities from Jack and Jill Magazine.

PLA to Help Transform Community by Providing Beauty and Art on Indy’s Far Eastside

Phalen Leadership Academies (PLA) has received a grant of $3 million as part of Lilly Endowment Inc.’s Strengthening Indianapolis Through Arts and Cultural Innovation initiative.

Grand Slam: All 4 PLA Indy Schools Now A-Rated

"Our scholars can and will continue to improve, but to note that all four of our Indy schools are A-rated is a grand slam. We are working to create a new narrative in school turnaround.”

Looking ahead: Tampa teacher plans fair to empower parents

Tampa Bay Teacher at PLA Partner School Working to Empower Parents

Thank You! Hundreds of Indy Families Come Out for the PLA Trunk-or-Treat

On Tuesday, October 30, Phalen Leadership Academies hosted its first annual Trunk-or-Treat in partnership with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department. Other community partners included The Indianapolis Public Library and Covering Kids & Families Indiana (Advocating Health Coverage for Central Indiana). The event welcomed over 700 people (an estimated 800 attendees with 700 confirmed) to George and Veronica Phalen Leadership Academies.

Join Phalen Leadership Academies and the IMPD at PLA’s First Annual Trunk-or-Treat

The event will be held at George and Veronica Phalen Leadership Academy [2323 N. Illinois Street] from 5:30pm-7:30pm and is open to the public. PLA CEO and Founder Earl Martin Phalen encourages Phalen scholars, parents, and community to attend.

PLA for the Win! Organization Delivers on its Promise as Scholars Outperform Local Schools

PLA’s schools and scholars have been working to master and improve academic performance. This years’ ISTEP results show they did just that with all four PLA Indy schools outperforming local peers.

PLA Indy Scholars and Self Empowerment Theatre

I am smart. I am important. I am unique. I am strong.

PLA's STEM Program Earns Apple Sponsorship

The partnership supports student learning the Swift programming, a powerful and intuitive programming language for macOS, iOS, watchOS and tvOS.

Changing Lives Through Education

Watch Now: PLA Founder and CEO for The Kauffman Foundation

Phalen Leadership Academies Launches New Mobile App

Parent and community engagement enhanced with new PLA mobile app

PLA Pushes for Teacher and Scholar Success with the PLA Coaching Cycle

“At Phalen Leadership Academies, we are really blessed with amazing teachers and scholars,” said PLA Founder and CEO Earl Martin Phalen. “If we want to continue to be our best, we have to consciously seek opportunities to grow and get better each day."

Young Actors Theatre Joins Phalen Leadership Academies

The drama education program, also known as Self-Empowerment Theatre, is an award winner with National Youth Theatre Group and is one of the nation’s most progressive youth theatres.

PLA Featured in NY Publication for Redefining Education

"We really love our scholars..and we want to make sure that they are getting the education they deserve."

Merrillville School HIAT Joins the PLA Network

A new school is joining the Phalen Leadership Academy network. The Higher Institute of Arts and Technology (HIAT) located in Merrillville, Indiana is in the process of joining the PLA family.

PLA Scholar Featured on WISH TV

A 3rd grade scholar at Phalen Leadership Academies (PLA) has added a rare accolade to her name—author. Samiah Turner, who participates in PLA’s STEMNASIUM partnership has released her debut autobiography “My Life as an 8-Year Old Engineer.”

Education Week Features Partnership between Indianapolis Public Schools and Phalen Leadership Academies

Creating District-Charter Alliances – Meet Lewis Ferebee, 2016 Leader to Learn From

PLA Expands to Tampa

As the story goes, Phalen Leadership Academies (PLA) started as a summer program, expanded into innovative charter schools, and now, with the support of excellent staff, PLA has sparked partnerships with school districts across the country to improve the educational experiences of scholars. Now, PLA’s next stop is Tampa, Florida.

All PLA-JRP 8th Graders Eligible for Full-Ride College Scholarships

All 8th grade scholars at James and Rosemary Phalen Leadership Academy (JRPLA) have been given a golden opportunity to have their college tuitions paid in full by Indiana’s 21st Century Scholars Program–saving parents and scholars up to $40,000 in college tuition.

Elementary Students Build Drones, Mobile Apps, and Excitement for STEM

PLA Detroit Charter Schools to Continue in Excellence

PLA is working with both Central Michigan University (CMU) and the MECC Board to have CMU as their new charter authorizer for Stewart, Trix, and Murphy Academies in Detroit.​