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- What is a charter school? A charter school is a school of choice chartered
by local education agency (school district) for a specific educational
purpose, i.e., science and technology, the arts, strong academics, etc.
The charter school must meet all objectives of the district; however,
the instructional techniques and curriculum materials may differ.
- What is Core Knowledge? Core Knowledge
is built upon the concept that humans learn new knowledge by building
on what they already know. Students in the Core Knowledge® schools know
a lot, because they are offered a coherent sequence of specific knowledge
that builds year by year. The Core Knowledge Sequence® is a detailed
outline of curriculum topics that schools should teach to ensure a solid,
common basis for future learning. More specific information can be accessed
at: www.coreknowledge.org.
- Does LA have a special education program? LA has approximately 5-10%
of the student population with Individualized Educational Plans (IEPs).
If your student has an IEP, you are encouraged to meet with our Dean
of Students, Don Sauer, and the Intervention Services Team Coordinator,
Jeannie Coyle, to discuss the specifics of your student's needs.
- Does LA have computers and a library? LA has a well-equipped computer
lab and a library. The library was recently renovated with new furniture
and equipment.
- Does LA have a gym? LA has a full size gym with an area for lunch.
- Does LA have a hot lunch program? Yes, LA initiated a district-provided
hot lunch program in January 2003 on a three-day-a-week basis. Students
bring their lunch on the other two days.
- How does LA support a student who is an advanced
learner? The
LA curriculum is a challenging and fast paced program. Enrichment classes
are also offered.
- How are teachers selected and are the teachers
licensed? LA teachers
have professional qualifications essentially as any other teacher in
Jeffco Schools would have with one exception. The exception is that LA
can hire someone with a baccalaureate or master's degree and give him
or her a set period of time to get his or her teaching license. We have
had a few teachers join us under this condition.
- What does LA teach regarding evolution and creationism? If the
topic arises in a class, the teacher will typically say something like
this: "While the materials we are using or that you (students) may
have referred to indicate that matter came from (insert point of view),
there are others who may hold different views. If you want to know more
about ideas on where matter came from, you may want to contact other
sources, such as your parents, a trusted adult, religious figures, seek
other reading materials, etc." The science lessons at LA do not
focus on origins, rather we focus on over arching scientific principles
such as electricity, magnetism, chemistry, etc.
- Are cliques a problem for new kids and how are
they handled? Sometimes
new children have difficulty in breaking into the existing social structure.
We try some things to assist that process. Parents can help, by proactively
engaging their child with students whom their child meets, e.g., when
your child comes home and says he/she met a nice student who ate lunch
with him/her that day or played with them, the parent might want to see
if their child wanted to invite that child over for pizza, miniature
golf, bowling, etc. (Contacts that will enhance a student's entry into
a new setting.)
- How do I get more information about LA? An information meeting is held
periodically. Please call our school office to get the upcoming dates.
- Once my child is offered an opportunity to register, how long do I have to decide whether or not we’re going to take it?
We request an answer within 24 hours. However, special circumstances may be discussed with the Principal/Dean of Students.
- May my child visit classrooms prior to making a registration decision?
If you are offered an opportunity to enroll, part of that procedure is to have you visit the classroom first, and if you feel, after visiting the room, that this particular situation is right for your student, we arrange for your student to visit (student visit for grades 1-8).
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