FAQs
Listed below are some of the most frequently asked questions regarding Charter Schools. They are divided in into 3 sections, General, Charter School Myths and Enrollment Questions.
WHAT IS A CHARTER SCHOOL?
A charter school is a public school whose operation is based on a contract with an authorizer (in Utah this is the state board of education), and is funded by the government, but may be initiated and run by parents, teachers, corporations, or community members. 40 states have charter schools. Charter school laws allow differing degrees of autonomy for charter schools, from blanket waivers of state laws and rules to no waivers from regulation. The purpose of charter schools is to find new and innovative ways of educating students that are more effective and perhaps more efficient, and to allow individuals and organizations outside of the educational establishment to create and run schools.
DOES A CHARTER SCHOOL CHARGE TUITION?
No. Charter schools are public schools, funded by taxpayers, just as local public schools are, with the exception that Charter Schools cannot raise property taxes through bond issues. In Utah, charter schools are not allowed to charge tuition. Charter schools are free to parents.
HOW CAN I GET MY CHILD INTO A CHARTER SCHOOL?
Charter schools enroll children through a lottery according to state law and federal funding guidelines. Parents sign an application for enrollment and their child is entered into a lottery, from which the seats are filled
HOW ARE CHARTER SCHOOLS FUNDED?
They receive the same state funding your local neighborhood school would have received for your child. Federal funds are also available for start-up costs, and these grants last for 3 years.
ARE THE SCHOOLS ACCREDITED?
Charter schools that serve students in grades 9-12 must be accredited just like other public schools.
ARE THE STUDENTS AT CHARTER SCHOOLS ASSESSED FOR ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE?
Charter school students must participate in the same testing that public school students do. Results are published through the USOE.
ARE TEACHERS CERTIFIED?
Charter school teachers are under the same licensing requirements as teachers at other public schools.
DO I HAVE TO LIVE IN A CERTAIN AREA TO ATTEND A CHARTER SCHOOL?
No. Charter schools generally can serve students living in any district in Utah who wish to apply.
DO CHARTER SCHOOLS HAVE UNIFORMS?
Many schools have dress codes or uniforms.
DO ALL CHARTER SCHOOLS HAVE A "FOCUS"?
Utah is unique in that several of the first few charter schools had a focus, such as the Jean Massieu School for the Deaf and Tuacahn High School for the Performing Arts. This created a misunderstanding that charter schools are "specialty" schools. While several charter schools do have a focus, most are focused on academic achievement of students and that is their primary purpose according to state and federal laws and guidelines. Improving student academic achievement is the focus of charter schools.
CHARTER SCHOOL MYTHS
MYTH: CHARTER SCHOOLS ONLY TAKE THE "BEST" STUDENTS, LEAVING THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS WITH THOSE LEAST ABLE TO LEARN.
Answer: Charter students are selected by a random drawing, so charter schools are UNABLE to "choose" the children they will teach.
MYTH: CHARTER SCHOOLS DON'T SERVE SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS.
Answer: Charter schools serve special education students at the same (Utah) or higher (national) rates than the public schools.
MYTH: CHARTER SCHOOLS GET MORE MONEY PER PUPIL THAN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
Answer: Charter schools receive LESS money per student than their neighborhood school receives per student. The Utah Taxpayers Association calculates that charter schools receive $610 per students less than district schools.
MYTH: CHARTER SCHOOLS "DRAIN" MONEY FROM PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
Answer: In areas where student populations are increasing, charters don't negatively impact the school district financially. The "dollars follow the scholars" and as students move to a charter school, their funding follows them. In growing districts, that student's seat is filled by another student and there is no negative financial impact on the district. In fact, growing districts experience significant benefits from charter schools. The three charter schools in Jordan District house a total of over 1500 students, saving the district from building 2 elementary schools.
in addition, school districts are allowed to keep the property tax revenue for students who attend charter schools in their district. The state pays charter schools a category of income called "local replacement" to make up for the property taxes the district gets to keep and does not forward on to charter schools. For a school of 500 students, the district gets to keep over $350,000 annually.
Clearly, under the current funding process, charter schools SAVE the districts a significant amount of money each year. In districts where enrollment is declining, charter schools may have a negative fiscal impact temporarily, but because the 'dollars follow the scholars' the district is no longer responsible to educate the student so they no longer have any expenses associated with that student. This requires reallocation of resources on the part of the district, but is not a net reduction in funding of public schools. The provider has simply changed and the funding is sent to the charter school instead of the district.
ENROLLMENT QUESTIONS
WHAT IS THE DEADLINE FOR ENROLLMENT FOR NEXT YEAR?
The deadline for enrollment is established in the fall or winter for the next school year. Typically it is in January or February.
CAN I ENROLL MY CHILDREN FOR 2012/2013 NOW?
You can fill out an enrollment form which will allow your student to be included in the lottery.
DO WE HAVE TO RE-ENROLL EACH YEAR?
Children who are attending the school will be able to retain their place in the school next year.
WHAT IS THE ENROLLMENT PROCESS?
As part of your investigation into our school we ask that you:
- Spend 45 minutes observing in the classroom at the grade level being considered.
- Spend 45 minutes observing in another grade level (or in a second grade level being considered).
- View and return the school's DVD
- Review the charter
WHEN IS YOUR ENROLLMENT LOTTERY?
Our lottery takes place early in the year. It will be in January of 2012 for the 2012/2013 school year.
WHAT DO I DO IF MY CHILD'S NAME IS SELECTED?
If your child's name is selected, you will need to complete a registration packet and return it to the school within one week of notification. The school also needs a copy of your child's birth certificate and immunization records.
WHAT HAPPENS IF THERE IS SPACE AVAILABLE FOR SOME, BUT NOT ALL, OF MY CHILDREN?
Siblings of enrolled students are placed on a sibling waiting list. They will be offered enrollment before children on the non-sibling waiting list. With the natural attrition of people moving out of the area, it is likely that all of your children can be in the school within a year, especially if you are willing to move a child mid-year.
WHAT ABOUT YOUNGER SIBLINGS? HOW CAN I MAKE SURE THEY GET IN THE SCHOOL?
Younger siblings go through the lottery process and are offered enrollment before children on the non-sibling waiting list. There are normally more openings available than the list of siblings going into kindergarten.
I REALLY WANT THIS SCOOL FOR MY CHILDREN. WHAT CAN I DO IF MY CHILD IS NOT SELECTED IN THE LOTTERY?
Typically, if you are willing to wait your child will be able to be enrolled in our school. Even if waiting lists are long, some parents move or make other plans before they are called. This means that dedicated parents move up the list quickly.
MY CHILD IS ON THE WAITING LIST. WHAT ARE THE CHANCES OF HIM/HER GETTING IN THIS YEAR? DO YOU FILL VACANCIES IF SOMEONE LEAVES?
Chances are very good that your child will be able to be enrolled, even if they are on a waiting list. Vacancies are filled from the waiting lists. Your chances dramatically increase as time goes on since some parents have been unwilling to move a child later in the year. Even children over number 30 on the waiting list have gotten in mid-year.
WE HAD OUR CHILD IN THOMAS EDISON BUT LEFT. NOW WE WANT TO COME BACK. WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO TO RE-ENROLL?
Yes, you will need to complete a new enrollment form and repeat the process for admission.
CAN I PUT MY 1YEAR OLD ON THE WAITING LIST?
No. Each year we hold a lottery for enrollment. Putting a 1 year old on the waiting list would not be of any advantage, as each year the lottery is repeated.
MY 4 YEAR OLD IS READING. CAN I ENROLL HIM/HER IN KINDERGARTEN?
In Utah a child must be at least 5 years old on or before September 1 of the year that they begin school. There are no exceptions to this rule.
MY CHILD NEEDS TO BE MOVED AHEAD OR HELD BACK A YEAR. IS THIS AN OPTION?
This is handled on a case by case basis and includes the parents, teacher and principal.
HOW DO YOU HANDLE SPECIAL NEEDS OR GIFTED STUDENTS?
Special needs students are identified and taken through the proper channels of Special Education. Previous IEP's are noted and any testing and placement that needs to be done is completed by out teachers. Gifted Students often receive an immediate challenge just by being in our program. We teach a grade level above in math and the rest of our pacing is quick and succinct. If a child is still in need of enhancements, this is taken care of by the individual student's classroom teacher with the input of the parents.