Another prep basketball academy is coming into the Valley. Aspire Basketball Academy struck a partnership with Bella Vista College Prep, a K-12, fully accredited private school in north Scottsdale ...

The showcase is part of Aspire Johnson County’s School to Work Program. Submitted photo Aspire officials chose to have educators make up the team because of their unique perspectives.

Aspire had 18 residents in the first year of the program in 2010 and 19 this year, attracting recent college grads as well as career changers. The program had about seven applicants for every spot.

Aspire Public Schools, the state’s largest charter school system, is convinced that its intensive year-long residency program is the best method to train teachers, but it’s expensive. By launching ...