WSU Charter Academy: A Living Lab for Learning and Teaching

Weber State University Charter Academy serves as a Lab School—an on-campus learning environment where high-quality education for young children and high-quality preparation for future educators happen side by side. The Charter Academy provides quality care and early learning for children from infancy through kindergarten age while also serving as a field experience site and research lab for Weber State University students and faculty, creating a bridge between classroom theory and real-world practice.

As a Lab School, the Charter Academy is used to support hands-on training for WSU teacher candidates and related professionals through supervised observations, practica, and coaching cycles. It also supports faculty-led research and innovation focused on early learning, child development, instructional practices, and all-encompassing support systems. The result is a setting where children benefit from thoughtful, evidence-informed instruction, and university students benefit from meaningful, guided experiences that strengthen their skills and readiness to serve families and learners.

For more information: Abbott, J., Gailey, S., Taft, M., Rushton, S., & Bates, V. (2026). Turning teacher education inside out: Perceptions of teacher candidates, university faculty, and K-6 teachers about experiences with site-based elementary methods courses. Teaching and Teacher Education, 172, 105359.