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How the Charter Works
In our lower elementary classrooms. More photos»
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 $200/child per year for grades K-3 and $300/child per year for grades 4-6 (includes overnight trip fees). There is a discount for lower income families.
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 enrollment. Any child who is 6 before September 1st is eligible for 1st grade enrollment.
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 five years old before the coming year September 1st may be signed up on the KMS waiting list after the opening of the KMS school year registration in late July. Call the office for KMS school year registration dates and times.
Do Khalsa Primary children have priority for enrollment into KMS?
No, the State Board for Charter Schools did not accept our original policy of preference to Khalsa Primary students. Because of state open enrollment laws, we accept all students on a first-come, first-served basis.
Is kindergarten private or charter?
Khalsa Montessori Elementary School (charter) contracts kindergarten education to Khalsa School (Private). In 2007-08 KMS is offering half-day (12:30pm-3:00pm) charter kindergarten at no charge. The private school is offering morning kindergarten for which private school fees are applicable. The charter school will supplement the morning kindergarten program, thereby lessening the parents’ fees, by giving to the private school all addition full-day kindergarten state funds that the charter school receives. These fees will be adjusted, and full day kindergarten at no charge will be offered, if additional state funding is passed by the state legislature.
Are Khalsa Montessori Elementary 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 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 2-6, are required to take the yearly AIMS DPA or Terra Nova test.
How does the charter school fund classroom materials, land purchases, and building improvements?
KMS has funded land purchases and building improvements primarily through loans. State stimulus funds funded about 1/10th of our initial charter startup costs. We received no state or federal funds for the Middle School building and improvements. Unlike public schools, we have monthly mortgage payments. Classroom material purchases are supplemented by grants but primarily paid through the general fund. Parent donations and fundraising has helped KMS with both classroom material purchases and with building improvements.
