Underpinning all the educational ideas and practices at DCS in specific curricula areas are the nine Principles of Learning developed by the University of Pittsburgh’s “Institute of Learning,” under the direction of Dr. Lauren Resnick. The nine principles are: (1) Organizing for Effort; (2) Clear Expectations; (3) Fair and Credible Evaluations; (4) Recognition of Accomplishment; (5) Academic Rigor in a Thinking Curriculum; (6) Accountable Talk; (7) Socializing Intelligence; (8) Management of Learning; and (9) Learning as Apprenticeship.

The Balanced Literacy approach, based on the work of Marie Clay, will be adapted for use in DREAM. Most importantly, Balanced Literacy is designed to meet the individual needs of each student within a general education classroom. To guide and focus its reading work, DREAM will use two basic curricula to ensure that students are learning the basic phonetic skills necessary to decode text (Fundations) and also the necessary comprehension strategies required to understand what is being read (Making Meaning Reading Program). However, DCS’ literacy education will be driven by the needs of its students, not the confines of a curriculum.

DREAM Charter School's mathematics program will consist of two parts, Ten Minute Math and Investigations In Number Data and Space (INDS). At the core will be the INDS curriculum published by TERC. Ten Minute math lessons to build basic skills will occur each day organized by skill and implemented to review, reinforce and introduce new basic math skills.

Our Science program will: (1) develop students’ science literacy and experiences; (2) create stronger logical reasoning skills in students; (3) further integrate science into other content areas such as reading, writing and mathematics; and (4) emphasize scientific understandings to promote wise nutritional and fitness decisions. To further support the teaching of science, DREAM will feature the Full Option Science System (FOSS) from Delta Education.

DREAM's Social Studies curriculum will be thematic, literacy-rich and content specific and will be geared to help students make sense of their world, appreciate cultural diversity and better understand themselves, their environment and their community. Classes will engage in three ‘studies’ each year with the goals of generating ‘enduring understandings’ and gaining specific knowledge of social, political, historical and economic themes. Classes will make regular field trips to sites in the community and throughout the tri-state area, forging links between local cultural and thematically appropriate resources and school studies. The Social Studies curriculum will be enriched by regularly integrating the Arts, as well as conflict resolution concepts.

Finally, DREAM Charter School will develop a Coordinated School Health Program Model (CSHP), which originates from the Center for Disease Control’s Department of Adolescent and School Health (DASH). DCS’ CSHP will grow over time to include eight interactive components that will support each student’s physical, social and emotional health. These components, which will be provided by qualified, trained professional health educators, physical educators and counselors will include: Health Education; Physical Education; Health Services; Nutrition Services; Counseling and Psychological services; Family/Community Involvement; and a Healthy School Environment.