About Charter Schools

	What is a Charter School? ~ Questions & Answers ~ Back to Main Page
	*"A quality education is the birthright of every child."*
	*About Charter Schools* A charter school is a public school and may provide instruction in any of grades K-12. A charter school is usually created or organized by a group of teachers, parents and community leaders or a community-based organization and is usually sponsored by an existing local public school board or county board of education. Specific goals and operating procedures for the charter school are detailed in a agreement (or "charter") between the sponsoring board and charter organizers.
	*Governance* A charter school is generally exempt from most laws governing school districts, except where specifically noted in the law. California public charter schools are required to participate in the statewide assessment test, called the STAR (Standardized Testing and Reporting) program. The law also requires that a public charter school be nonsectarian in its programs, admission policies, employment practices, and all other operations, and prohibits the conversion of a private school to a charter school. Public charter schools may not charge tuition and may not discriminate against any pupil on the basis of ethnicity, national origin, gender, or disability.
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	Questions and Answers *What is the purpose of a charter school?* The purpose of a charter school is to: improve pupil learning increase learning opportunities for all pupils, with special emphasis on expanded learning experiences for pupils identified as academically low achieving encourage the use of different and innovative teaching methods create new professional opportunities for teachers, including the opportunity to be responsible for the learning program at the school site provide parents and students with expanded educational opportunities within the public school system without the constraints of traditional rules and structures provide schools a way to shift from a rule-based to a performance-based system of accountability provide competition within the public school system to stimulate improvements in all public schools *For how long may a charter be granted? Is it renewable?* The charter may be initially granted for not more than five years. Charters may be renewed for an unspecified number of additional five-year periods. *What is the residency requirement for a charter school?* A pupil must be a resident of the State of California in order to enroll in a charter school. A charter school may not restrict its enrollment on the basis of residency of the pupil's parents. *Is there any tuition to attend the school?* No. This is a public school that is free to all since it is supported by public funds. *What about the after-school program?* A before- and after-school enrichment program is available for a reasonable fee. "Renaissance" begins at 6:30 a.m. and ends at 6:00 p.m. *Are there uniforms?* Yes, there are uniforms that parents must purchase. Both students and teachers wear uniforms at Hearns. *What is required of parents?* Parents must sign a contract agreement to help their child and to spend time volunteering in the school. Parents must first obtain fingerprint clearance before working directly with children. *What else should parents do?* Parents should supervise homework, read to their children daily, and sign work brought home. *Will my child be constructing things with hammers and nails?* No, unless the upper grades do a construction project. "Constructivist" projects, on the other hand, often involve creative writing and building models using common objects (paper plates, sticks, string, boxes, glue) to better understand a new concept or topic.
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	37721 N. 100th Street East Littlerock, California 93543 Phone (661) 944-9797 Facsimile (661) 944-9798