MOUNTAIN HOME SCHOOL CHARTER
Bass Lake Joint Union Elementary School District Mission Statement:
We will provide an education that emphasizes reading, mathematics, communication skills, and a broad-based exposure to cultural, fine arts, and other academic disciplines.
This education will be achieved in an environment which enhances integrity, respect, responsibility, and compassion for others. We recognize that these values are best learned when modeled by all adults and children.
Mountain Home School Charter Mission Statement:
Mountain Home School Charter’s Mission is to:
• Inspire members students to learn and grow to their potential and become
responsible contributing community members.
• Assist parents in the education of their students.
• Provide the community with a valid educational alternative.
We will seek to support this mission by:
• Serving as a liaison between the community and the home schooling family;
demonstrating to the community the educational soundness and viability of publicly
funded, parent-directed education for students.
• Providing a supportive, encouraging environment in which parents can receive high
quality training opportunities, teaching resources, mentoring, opportunities for
networking, and a structure to support their educational objectives.
• Providing students with learning resources and an environment for enrichment
opportunities that encourage them to become self-motivated, competent, lifelong
learners.
Purpose
Our charter school will meet the needs of children who, together with their families, have decided that a home-based, family-centered style of education best suits them. Research, history, and our own experience have shown that home schooling, with parents assuming the role of teachers, creates an effective and successful environment for educating children. Parents are natural teachers. Those who homeschool their children expand their loving, nurturing environments to facilitate their childrens’ involvement in learning. These parents know and understand their children better than anyone else.
Goals
The goals of Mountain Home School Charter (MHSC) include but shall not be limited to the following:
• Students will be encouraged to be self-motivated, competent, and lifelong learners
through self-directed learning opportunities that are initiated and pursued by the
student and parent. This sense of ownership will be enhanced through activities,
special classes, and field trips that reflect the parent and student interests.
• Students will gain 1 NCE per academic year per subject area as measured by the
state mandated testing instrument¯currently the SAT9).
• 90% of our students will show improvement on the Individual Growth Indicator
(IGI) throughout each academic year.
• Demonstration of knowledge and academic skills attained across major subject
areas through integrated learning will be assessed by authentic performance-based
assessments which may include student portfolios, journal summaries, presentations,
observations or charter teacher-student-parent evaluations. This will be evidenced
by the charter teacher’s assessment of progress as reported on the year-end student
evaluation form.
Educated Person in the 21st Century
To be an educated person in the 21st century, one must have:
• The foundational skills - reading, writing, mathematics, speaking, and listening
skills.
• Thinking skills - creative thinking, making decisions, solving problems, being able
to look at issues from different perspectives, knowing how to learn, reasoning/logic
skills.
• Personal qualities - individual responsibility, self-esteem, social skills, self-
management, integrity.
Concurrently with these foundational skills, a student must also learn how to:
• Manage resources - time, money, materials, space.
• Develop interpersonal skills - work with teams, be able to teach others, lead others,
work well with people from different backgrounds.
• Deal with information - acquire and evaluate data, organize and maintain files,
interpret and communicate effectively, use computers to process information.
• Use different systems - to understand social, organizational, and technological
systems, monitor and correct performance, design or improve systems.
• Use technology - select appropriate equipment and tools, apply technology to
specific tasks, maintain and troubleshoot technologies.
STUDENTS:
Enrollment
Mountain Home School Charter serves, educates, and works with those California students residing in Madera County and its adjacent contiguous counties for kindergarten through twelfth grade and parents of these students who:
• Are seeking a supportive homeschool experience.
• Believe that their child’s academic needs, whether it be for a more challenging
curriculum, a slower-paced curriculum, or a more integrated curriculum, can be
met through an individualized education.
• Believe individual social or emotional needs of their student are not adequately
addressed in a traditional classroom setting.
• Have a unique educational philosophy.
• Feel that the acquisition of traditional family values is an integral part of their
child’s education.
Racial and Ethnic Balance
Mountain Home School Charter will strive to maintain racial and ethnic balance among its pupils that is reflective of the general populations within the territorial jurisdiction of the school district through the open enrollment policy of the Bass Lake Joint Union Elementary School District (BLJUESD).
Statement of Non-Discriminatory Practices
Mountain Home School Charter will be nonsectarian in its programs, admission policies, employment practices and all other operations. Mountain Home School Charter will not discriminate against any pupil on the basis of ethnicity, national origin, gender, or disability.
Mountain Home School Charter shall not charge tuition.
Students enrolled in Mountain Home School Charter will maintain rights to all programs and services available to all students enrolled in Bass Lake Joint Union Elementary School District.
Admissions Requirements
Mountain Home School Charter identifies the following admission requirements:
1. Pupils will be considered for admission without regard to ethnicity, national origin, gender, or disability. Kindergarten students may be enrolled on their fifth birthday, when they are at least five years old by December 2nd of the current school year or as allowed by state education code.
2. Admission will not be determined according to the place of residence of the students or parents, however, preference will be given to students residing within the Bass Lake Joint Union Elementary School District.
3. Prior to students and parents being admitted into Mountain Home School Charter, they will be required to:
a) Read the Mountain Home School Charter philosophies as outlined in the MHSC Parent Handbook.
b) Verify that their participation in the charter school is strictly voluntary.
c) Sign an agreement that must stipulate all of the following:
1) Parents, or other responsible adults, availability to be the primary teacher
of the student.
2) Parental, or other responsible adults, involvement in academic teaching and
support.
3) Parent, or other responsible adult, and student must attend scheduled
progress meetings.
4) Parent will sign and promptly submit monthly attendance records to school
attendance clerk.
4. In the event that applications for enrollment exceed school’s capacity a public random drawing for admission shall be held. Preference shall be extended to pupils currently attending the charter school and pupils who reside in the district.
Measurable Pupil Outcomes
Annual individual goals and objectives for each student will be written collaboratively by student, parent and charter teacher. The basis for these will be Mountain Home School Charters grade level objectives which are based upon the state standards. This will be accomplished with the understanding that the nature of home schooling may require modification of the goals and objectives throughout the school year. Student progress toward completion of goals will be monitored every 1 to 4 weeks by the charter teacher.
Methods of Measuring Student Progress
The methods by which student progress will be assessed are:
• Collection and review of student work every 1 to 4 weeks.
• Demonstration of skills (oral reading, oral and visual presentations, acting,
athletic, etc.).
• Parent/teacher and charter teacher observation and formal and informal
assessments.
• Participation in the required state testing.
• Individual Growth Indicator (IGI).
• Annual portfolios (optional).
• Monthly journals summarizing student learning (work, activities, practice,
accomplishments, etc.) (optional).
• Criterion referenced tests (optional).
• Wide Range Achievement Test (optional).
• Other tests (to be determined).
Charter teachers will record the assessments of individual student work on a MHSC Student Evaluation Form. These will be kept on file in the Mountain Home School Charter office. At the end of each school year, a copy of the form will be placed in the Cumulative Record and a copy will be given to the parent/teacher.
Suspensions and Expulsions
Students of the Mountain Home School Charter may be suspended or expelled from the charter school for persistent noncompliance with the terms of this charter and the parent agreement. The procedures for discipline, suspension and expulsion will be identical to the procedures identified in the California Education Code and the Bass Lake Joint Union Elementary School District’s Board Policy.
School Attendance Alternatives
The public school attendance alternatives for pupils not choosing to participate in the charter school are:
• The nearest traditional district public school.
• Other public schools within the district through intra-district transfer.
• Other public schools outside the district through inter-district transfer.
PARENTS:
Parent Involvement
In home schooling, parents are the teachers, dedicated to their child’s education. Mountain Home School Charter has established an open-door philosophy to encourage parent input in planning, teaching, and organizing the MHSC program. Furthermore, as part of their agreement with the school, parents (or assigned responsible adult) will:
• Participate in an orientation meeting with the staff to discuss parent responsibility and to determine goals and objectives for their individual students.
• Teach their children in all subject areas, keep a record of studies, and keep a file of student work.
• Schedule appointments and meet with the charter teacher and student at least once every one to four weeks, bringing record of studies and samples of work for each student.
• Be strongly encouraged to participate in a minimum of one school sponsored event or activity per semester.
• Keep current of events and activities offered at the school by any or all of the following means:
a. Reading MHSC monthly newsletter.
b. Listening to the voice mail bulletin, updated weekly.
c. Noting the school bulletin board for information.
d. Checking the individual family “mailbox” for interim messages.
EMPLOYEES:
Employee Qualifications
All charter school teachers must hold a valid California teaching credential as well as a knowledge and experience base identified on the job description of a charter school teacher. Charter school teachers will be subject to the terms of the Bass Lake Teachers Association contract. The charter school administrator must possess a valid California teaching credential and a valid California administrative services credential as well as a knowledge and experience base as outlined by the Bass Lake School District’s administrative job description. All classified employees assigned to MHSC must meet the job description of the Bass Lake Elementary School District for their respective jobs.
Specialty instructors may be used to teach classes on a limited basis. These persons need not be credentialed teachers, they may be volunteers or they may be paid on an hourly rate or flat fee basis. These specialty instructors will not replace any regular charter teacher position or assignment and will accrue no employment rights.
All personnel to be hired for the charter school must be approved by the Mountain Home School Charter Council. No district employee may be involuntarily assigned employment with the charter school. Prior to placement, any district employee who agrees to placement must be approved by the MHSC Charter Council. Final approval shall rest with the BLJUESD Board of Trustees.
Employee Rights
Employees working at Mountain Home School Charter will be protected by all rights and guarantees provided to other district employees by the Bass Lake Joint Union Elementary School District. Salary, health and welfare benefits, tenure, seniority protections and retirement benefits are contained in contracts between the district and the Bass Lake Teachers Association and the local chapter (#757) of the California School Employees Association. These rights and benefits, along with other employee rights defined by employee contracts, Board Policy, and Education Code, apply to all charter school employees. Employees within the charter school retain their right to apply to be assigned to other schools within the Bass Lake Joint Union Elementary School District pursuant to the collective bargaining agreement and possession of an appropriate credential.
In the event of declining enrollment in the School District, the charter council may have the right to recruit teachers into MHSC for existing vacancies. In the event that no teacher agrees to a voluntary transfer or receives the Charter Council approval, then the Board of Trustees will make every effort to place a teacher at MHSC who has an educational philosophy that meshes with the philosophy of the MHSC.
This will be a temporary assignment for the teacher. When a position is available at another site, then the teacher will be reassigned into that position unless the teacher, the charter council, and the site administrator agree to the teacher’s continuance at MHSC.
No rights or privileges are hereby waived.
Student to Teacher Ratio
A full-time charter teacher will maintain a teacher to student ratio as defined by Bass Lake Teachers Association contract. Charter teachers working less than full time will be limited to a student load reflecting the ratio of their employment to full-time employment. Stipends may be given for additional duties as per the Bass Lake Teachers Association contract.
Health and Safety Procedures
The Mountain Home School Charter will comply with the provisions of Education Code 44237. Employees and students will be required to maintain all health and immunization standards and records, and other records as required of all regular district employees. Credentialed employees must be trained in first aid and CPR.
A safety committee is already in place and will continue to deal with health and safety issues and concerns.
Retirement Benefits
All employees of Mountain Home School Charter will continue with the current retirement system provisions. Employees will continue to contribute at the rate established by the STRS or PERS.
The Bass Lake Joint Union Elementary School District will make all employer contributions on behalf of the charter school out of charter school funds, as required by STRS, PERS, or as required by law. The district will also make contributions where applicable, for workers compensation insurance, unemployment insurance, and any other payroll obligations of an employer on behalf of the charter school from charter school funds.
ADMINISTRATION:
Governance
This charter school will be governed cooperatively by the Mountain Home School Charter Council and the Bass Lake Joint Union Elementary School District Board of Trustees. The MHSC Charter Council will consist of the school administrator or designee, two charter school teachers, and four parents. Parents will be selected (on a voluntary basis) from the participating families of the school. In the case that more than four parents desire to serve on the council, an election will be held in May or at the annual required parent meeting to determine the representatives. All parents wishing to vote may do so. The parent(s) with the most votes will be elected. The Charter Council will meet a minimum of four times per school year. Council members must attend at least three-fourths of the required meetings or will forfeit their seat to one of the alternates.
The Charter Council will evaluate the Mountain Home School Charter program annually. They will look at all aspects of the school program, its effectiveness, and its compliance with the charter. The MHSC Charter Council will be responsible for recommending changes to the program and for recommending amendments to the charter. All recommended amendments to the charter will require a majority vote of the council. All amendments to the charter must ultimately be approved by the Bass Lake Joint Union School District Board of Trustees.
The administrator of the charter school, or his/her designee, may report to district board of trustees at its regular board meetings. The Bass Lake Joint Union School District Board of Trustees is responsible for all governance of MHSC except as is specified in this charter.
Civil Liability Mountain Home School Charter shall be provided liability coverage through the District’s agreement with the California Risk Management Authority. Mountain Home School Charter shall pay a pro rata share of the California Risk Management Authority premium charged to the District based upon ADA. Mountain Home School Charter shall be responsible for all costs not covered by the California Risk Management Authority agreement. Mountain Home School Charter shall be responsible for the cost of any additional risk pooling liability coverage or any insurance coverage beyond that provided through the California Risk Management Authority.
Dispute Resolution Mountain Home School Charter and the District will work in concert to attempt to avoid disputes in connection with the petition and the charter. If a dispute does occur, Mountain Home School Charter and the District Administration agree to make every effort possible to solve the dispute at the lowest level possible and in a fair and equitable manner. In the event a dispute arises to which the parties are not able to come to agreement, the Mountain Home School Charter Council may appeal to the Board of Trustees for final action.
Term of the Charter
The Charter shall be for a term of five years beginning October 9, 2003. The Charter may be renewed as allowed by law, if request is made by the Mountain Home School Charter Council and approved by the Bass Lake Joint Union Elementary School District.
Cancellation
The charter may be canceled by the Bass Lake Joint Union Elementary School District if Mountain Home School Charter fails to meet or pursue any pupil outcomes identified in the charter, violates any conditions, standards, or procedures set forth in the charter petition, or violates any provision of law, or by mutual agreement of Mountain Home School Charter and Bass Lake Joint Union Elementary School District Board of Trustees.
Financial Agreement
The financial agreement shall be delineated in a separate addendum to this charter.
The Mountain Home School Charter Council will develop an annual budget which will be approved by the site administrator, and is subject to BLJUESD Board of Trustees approval. Expenditures must be approved by the site administrator.
The Bass Lake Joint Union Elementary School District’s independent auditor will conduct audits of the Mountain Home School Charter.
The Mountain Home School Charter Council, working together with the Mountain Home School Charter Principal, shall be responsible for resolving any audit exceptions or deficiencies to the satisfaction of the BLJUESD. A written report shall be given to the District upon resolution of any exceptions or deficiencies.
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