Who We Are

Meet Rachael Cort

Founder & Lead Teacher

Rachael Cort is the founder of Redefine Learning Academy and a lifelong educator with more than 15 years of classroom teaching experience.

Throughout her career — teaching students in public schools and working with children and families across a variety of settings — she grew concerned that traditional school models struggle to meet the needs of individual learners. Some students fall behind and never receive the support they need; others are ready to move ahead but are required to wait.

Redefine Learning Academy was created to offer a different approach. Rachael believes students learn best when they are truly known, challenged at the right level, and free to progress at their own pace. Her vision for RLA is a small, personalized middle school where students build strong academic foundations, develop confidence and independence, and discover a genuine love of learning.

An Oregon native, Rachael lives in Bend with her husband and two children. As both an educator and a parent, she is passionate about creating the kind of learning environment she wants for her own kids — one where students are known, challenged, supported, and inspired to become confident lifelong learners.

Credentials & Experience

B.S. Child Development, Oregon State University
M.S. Education — Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment
Doctor of Education (Ed.D.), Candidate
15+ years classroom teaching experience
Founder, Redefine Learning Academy

Questions & Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost?

Tuition is $1,200 per month (if paid monthly over 12 months) for a total of $14,400, which covers $13,500 in tuition plus a $900 materials and program fee. The materials fee includes a student-issued laptop and all core learning materials. An optional summer session is available for families interested in a fully year-round schedule.

Is this accredited?

No we're not, and that's exactly why you should be interested. Not being accredited doesn't mean your child won't earn credits or graduate — it simply means we're free to teach each student personally and by mastery, rather than following a one-size-fits-all system. We stay aligned to academic standards and keep clear records of every student's progress.

How do you track progress?

We've built our own in-house system, centered on a diagnostic assessment tool that students and teachers use every day. Rather than measuring completion, it gives constant, goal-based feedback — so the student, parent, and teacher always know exactly what a student has mastered and what's next.

How do you ensure mastery?

At RLA, mastery means learning that lasts. We use principles from learning science to help students build strong foundations through practice, feedback, reflection, and review. Students progress when they demonstrate genuine understanding, allowing them to build confidence and connect new learning to what they already know.

Are you the only teacher?

To start with, yes. But as we add more students, we will add more teachers to ensure that we keep the 6:1 ratio that allows for individual instruction. Our ideal first cohort will have 12 students and at least 2 teachers. That's intentional so we can ensure the model is implemented with fidelity and each student gets consistent support.

How many students will there be?

We're intentionally keeping the founding group small so every student gets strong support and we build the culture the right way. We guarantee to always keep the research-based ratio of 6:1 to ensure one-to-one instruction for each student, in each core subject, each day.

What about socialization?

We believe a school's number one priority should be learning. The idea that kids get their socialization at school is outdated — today, most of their social interaction happens through extracurricular activities and, unfortunately, online. At RLA, students are still interacting throughout the day, but in a more meaningful way – collaborating, problem-solving, and learning together without the distractions and pressures of a large classroom. They also have breaks and lunch time to connect socially with others.

What about electives (PE, art, music)?

RLA is intentionally focused on building strong academic foundations in a more condensed school day. Many families pair this with after school activities – sports, arts, clubs – where students often get richer experiences.

What does a typical day actually look like?

Our school day runs Monday–Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 1:45 p.m., and Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. The day is built as a block schedule, and during each core subject block students move through a series of different labs designed to support all types of foundational learning within that subject. For example, during math block students don't just learn a new skill and test on it; they also spend time each day on logic and mathematical reasoning, automaticity and mental math, and applying new skills to real-world problems and projects.

Do you provide after school care?

If you need a little more time for pickup, that can be arranged. We'll also possibly be able to offer optional on-site extension and tutoring after the school day as an additional option.

Will my child be ready for high school?

In traditional models, students often fall behind because they're moved along before they're ready. At RLA, students move forward based on mastery – meaning they truly understand before progressing. This often leads to increased confidence and, in many cases, accelerated growth.

What if my child has learning differences?

We can support a range of learners, especially those who benefit from individualized pacing, and have systems in place to assess and make adjustments to a students' pathway when there are learning gaps to be filled. For students who need specialized or therapeutic support, we will want to make sure they're in the best environment for their needs.

Do I need to register as a homeschool family?

Actually, no. Because RLA operates as a private, independent learning program, families do not need to file homeschool paperwork or notify the state. Enrollment with RLA fully covers your child's educational setting.

Start the process

The first step is simple — send us an inquiry and we'll reach out to talk through whether RLA is the right fit for your family.

Inquire Now