Iowa Department of Education Nonpublic School Accreditation — Application Narrative

This narrative is prepared for submission with the Iowa DE nonpublic school accreditation application. It addresses each review area specified under Iowa Code Chapter 256.

Applicant Information

1 Educational Program & Equivalent Instruction

The Von Der Becke Academy Corp provides comprehensive instruction in all subject areas required for a K–12 education under Iowa educational standards, including Mathematics, Science, English Language Arts, Social Studies, and Physical Education. Instruction is enriched by applied courses in Computer Science, Leadership Development, and the integrated Taekwondo discipline curriculum.

The school’s primary academic curriculum resource is the K12/Stride platform — a Cognia-accredited, nationally recognized curriculum covering all core subjects from kindergarten through grade 12. All course content is delivered and supplemented by direct instruction from the Head of School and supporting instructors.

The instructional model — the Whole-Part-Whole cycle — ensures that all students engage with high-level academic content in group instruction, receive individualized micro-instruction calibrated to their current mastery level, and demonstrate progress through group reconvening sessions approximately every hour. This model satisfies and exceeds the “equivalent instruction” standard required of Iowa nonpublic schools, providing individualized instructional attention that public classrooms with larger student-to-teacher ratios cannot replicate.

Student advancement is governed by demonstrated mastery, not seat time. This approach, grounded in Applied Behavior Analysis, ensures that no student advances without genuine competency, producing a more rigorous academic standard than calendar-based promotion.

2 Student Progress & Assessment

The VA School maintains individual academic progress records for every enrolled student, using a skill mastery log that documents the specific skills demonstrated, the date of mastery, and the assessment method. Mastery is assessed through direct performance demonstration — written, oral, and applied — with complex task demonstration accepted as evidence of constituent skill mastery (hierarchical competency assessment).

Behavioral progress is tracked through the school’s Pivotal Behavior framework, monitoring three domains: self-control, self-awareness, and strength of character. These records are maintained using a structured behavioral progress template (see Document 6) rated on a five-point generalization scale.

The school maintains a formal records management system aligned with best practices for nonpublic school documentation. All records are maintained for a minimum of seven years.

3 Instructor Qualifications

The Von Der Becke Academy Corp is led by Robert Von Der Becke, a career educator and behavioral specialist with 22 years in education, behavioral intervention, and martial arts instruction (since 2004). He holds masters-level preparation in Applied Behavior Analysis, Taekwondo instruction, Education, and Clinical Mental Health Counseling, and has been the primary instructor and school administrator since the school’s founding in 2012.

Iowa does not require teacher certification for nonpublic school instructors. The VA School goes beyond this baseline by requiring all instructors to complete foundational training in both ABA instructional principles and Taekwondo values as a condition of employment. This ensures consistency in instructional approach and behavioral framework across all staff. Background check clearance is required prior to any student contact.

4 School Policies & Governance

The Von Der Becke Academy Corp operates under the governance of its founding director, Robert Von Der Becke, with a nonprofit board structure. The school maintains a comprehensive Student & Family Handbook (Document 4 of this package) covering enrollment, attendance, behavioral expectations, graduation requirements, and family rights. All families receive and sign an acknowledgment of the Handbook at enrollment.

Disciplinary practices at The VA School are non-punitive and grounded in ABA coaching methodology. No exclusionary discipline is used as a first response. All behavioral challenges are addressed through direct coaching, functional analysis, and skill development, consistent with best practices in behavioral intervention.

5 Physical Facility

A seven-room facility with instructional spaces organized by cohort group, a dedicated Taekwondo training room, restroom facilities, and a lunchroom. The facility is located at 503 Lake Ave, Storm Lake, Iowa 50588 and meets applicable health and safety codes for an educational setting. Fire and health inspection certificates are provided as attachments to this application.

The school is actively seeking a larger facility to accommodate program growth and The VA Higher Institute expansion. This accreditation and the associated access to Iowa ESA school choice funding are the primary mechanisms through which the school will finance a facility upgrade.

6 Summary Statement

The Von Der Becke Academy Corp has served Iowa students and families for 6 consecutive years, and has operated as an institution for 14 years in total, with a distinctive, research-grounded instructional model that holds every student to the highest standard — and provides the individual support to reach it. The school’s integration of Applied Behavior Analysis, Taekwondo discipline, mastery-based progression, and character development produces graduates who are academically prepared, behaviorally self-sufficient, and professionally confident.

Accreditation by the Iowa Department of Education would formalize what 14 years of operational history has already demonstrated: The VA School is a genuine, capable, and distinctive nonpublic school deserving of full recognition under Iowa Code Chapter 256.