1. What is the tuition to attend this charter school?
There is no tuition to attend. It is a free public charter school.
2. When does school start for the 2019-20 school year?
The first day of school is Monday, August 12, 2019.
3. Are uniforms required?
Yes, students are required to wear uniforms. (Dress Code Policy)
4. Will there be free transportation to the school?
No. Transportation is provided through RPSA at a cost of $10 per student per month. Please contact our office at (810)736-1281 if you need assistance in meeting these costs.
5. What is a typical daily schedule?
Generally, a typical school day schedule is described below:
7:50 a.m. School is open to all students
8:00 a.m. ELC School Day Begins
8:10 a.m. RPSA School Day Begins
– Reading
– Writing Workshop
– Mathematics
– Science
10:45 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Lunch – exact time depends on section and Recess
2:50 p.m. ELC Dismissed
3:00 p.m. RPSA Dismissed
6. My child has special needs, how do you provide for specialized services like speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy?
Speech therapy is provided through our two speech pathologists on site. If occupational or physical therapy is needed it is arranged through GISD.
7. Will students receive a hot lunch? If so, what is the cost?
All students at ELC and RPSA receive free breakfast and lunch.
8. Describe how disciplinary issues are handled and the general philosophy on discipline.
The school practices a Restorative Justice format.
A code of student conduct has been established by the Board of the Academy. It describes the school’s philosophy on discipline as follows:
“Discipline is the positive direction of behavior toward established standards of conduct, fully understood and based upon reason, judgment and consideration of the rights of others. Ideal discipline is self-directed and self-controlled. Schools, community and parents share the responsibility for helping students develop self-discipline. When self-control falters and self-discipline fails, disciplinary forces from outside the individual must be imposed to protect the rights of others and to ensure uninterrupted instruction by teachers for students.”
This code of conduct also lists the specific behaviors that warrant disciplinary action.
9. The information brochure mentions that parents are expected to volunteer two hours per month. What type of volunteer activity is expected of parents?
Parents are asked to volunteer in areas that meet their skills and interests. The specific tasks vary widely from reading to students, helping with popcorn, parent events, food drives, and copy/laminate.
10. Will students have to fund raise for the school?
Children are not required to participate in raising any funds for the school. There are volunteer opportunities for fundraising at grade level and district wide if parents want to participate.
11. I understand that a lottery is held if “too many” students apply. How is the lottery handled? How do you ensure that it is fair?
There is a two-week open enrollment period in all schools. During these two weeks, if the number of applicants exceeds the number of spaces in a given grade, a lottery is held. The lottery time and date are set forth in a legal notice in the newspaper during the open enrollment period. The lottery is open to the public. A member of the administrative staff of the school and a member of the Board of Directors are both in attendance at the lottery. First preference is given to siblings of students already enrolled. Once the slots are filled, the remaining names are drawn and put on the waiting list in the order drawn. As spaces are made available in those grades, students are taken from the waiting list. If there is no waiting list in any grade, students are taken on a first-come-first-serve basis.
12. How do you handle the standardized state tests? Are these administered just as they are in the local public schools?
State Tests are administered just like any other public school. We participate in the same tests and use this data to help drive our school improvement.
13. Why should parents be confident that the school’s curriculum would help children excel on the state’s standardized tests?
Parents should feel confident that the school’s curriculum would help a child excel on the state standardized test because our curriculum is aligned to the state Common Core Standards.
14. Is there any evidence that can be provided to help a parent assess the improvement of students who have been instructed using the school’s curriculum?
One way for parents to assess the improvement of their child is by attending parent conferences for data. Parents can also use report cards as a means of reviewing the improvement of the child. Other reports such as the Parent Report from NWEA test and the district wide assessment results can provide parents with the information needed to see the improvement that a child has made.
15. How does your method of instruction address the variety of learning styles?
We use Personalized Student Achievement Plans to help clarify and focus on the attainment of specific academic and social goals.
We use the “whole child” philosophy for instruction to ensure we meet the children’s individual needs.
