About Khalsa Montessori School

How the Charter Works

Frequently asked questions by parents about charters and the Khalsa Montessori School

What is an Arizona charter school?

A charter school in Arizona is a publicly funded school operated through a charter approved by the State Board for Charter Schools, the Arizona Department of Education or a public school district. The Arizona Legislature passed a charter school law that created the first charter schools in 1995. Khalsa Montessori (KMS) was the first school approved by the State Board for Charter Schools in 1996 (the second year of the charter legislation).

What is in a charter school's charter?

The charter contains the school's history, goals, mission statement, educational philosophy, curriculum, assessments, organizational structure, operational and financial plan, special education policies, Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws. The KMS charter is available for review in the Khalsa Montessori Administration Office.

Are there tuition or enrollment fees paid for charter school enrollment?

No, there are no tuition or enrollment fees. The school is paid by the state per child according to the students' attendance. KMS does have a twice-a-year activity fee for field trips, art supplies, and special programs. The current fee averages $70/child for grades 1-8.

When is a child eligible for the charter school?

Any child who is 5 years old before September 1st of a given school year is eligible for kindergarten (half day charter) enrollment. Any child who is 6 before September 1st is eligible for 1st grade (full day charter) enrollment.

My child has a fall birth date and entered primary at age 2 1/2, will he/she enter kindergarten at age 4 and first grade at age 5?

No, children must be 5 before September 1st to be considered kindergarten students and 6 before September 1st to be first grade students. Over our 30-year history we have consistently seen the advantage of not pushing a child ahead. This is for social and emotional, as well as academic reasons.

How do I enroll my child in Khalsa Montessori Elementary?

Enrollment in KMS is first-come, first-served based on the date and time the enrollment application is received in the KMS office. A one-year waiting list is opened at the start of school year registration for next year's enrollment. Any current four-year old child who will be 5 before September 1, 2007, for example, may be signed up on the KMS waiting list as soon as possible after the last Monday of July 2006. Go to "How to Enroll" for specifics about the KMS K-8 enrollment process.

Is kindergarten private or charter?

It is both. We strongly recommend that 5-year old students attend school a full (8:30-3:00) day. Kindergarten is charter for the afternoon class (12:30-3:00) and private for the morning class and extended hours (8:30-12:30, 7:30-8:30, and 3-6). Khalsa Primary tuition and enrollment fees are applicable for kindergarten full day enrollment.

Are Khalsa Montessori Elementary/Middle School and Khalsa Primary/Toddler one or two schools?

Khalsa Montessori School is one school with one educational philosophy, Montessori curriculum, administration, newsletter, and Parent Teacher Organization. Operationally, it functions in two ways: 1) as a charter elementary and middle school and 2) as a private primary/toddler school. The charter school is a 501-c-3 non-profit Arizona corporation that is separate from the private school. It has its own KMS Board of Directors.

Is there any difference in curriculum between the private primary and the charter elementary school?

No, changes in expectations and curriculum content, from one level to the next, are a natural part of the Montessori approach, meeting the needs of students at different developmental stages.

Are there any state requirements that effect how we run the elementary charter school?

All charter schools are required to follow state financial, procurement, open meeting, open enrollment and special education laws. We are also required to submit a variety of financial and data collection reports and have a student database that is compliant with the state SAIS (Student Accountability Information System) system. All students, grades 2-8, are required to take the yearly AIMS/Terra Nova test.