What is a charter school?
The term 'charter' refers to a tuition free public school operated independently of the local school board, often with a curriculum and educational philosophy different from the other schools in the district. Charter schools are held to the same accountability standards of the state testing system as all public schools. In our state, any child living in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania may attend our charter school.
What does 'Montessori' Mean?
Montessori is simply a way of teaching that was originated by Maria Montessori in the early 1900’s. The Montessori method is hands-on, self-paced, and child centered. It has been proven so successful that countries all over the world use this method. It is not related to any religious group, but encourages the child to develop peaceful ways of living.
Who can enroll in the school?
Children in grades K-6 who are Pennsylvania residents.
How did the Gettysburg Montessori Charter School come about?
In 2005, a small private Montessori school was opened in Gettysburg called the Children’s Montessori School of Gettysburg offering education to children age 3 to 6. In 5 years, that school grew to offer private education Pre-K to 3rd grade. Due to the growing interest for Montessori education in Gettysburg, a group of dedicated parents gathered to create a charter school. In November 2009, an application was submitted to the Gettysburg Area School District chartering our school and allowing it to be free to anyone.
Who has attended a Montessori School?
Here is a sampling of famous people who have attended a Montessori School:
The term 'charter' refers to a tuition free public school operated independently of the local school board, often with a curriculum and educational philosophy different from the other schools in the district. Charter schools are held to the same accountability standards of the state testing system as all public schools. In our state, any child living in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania may attend our charter school.
What does 'Montessori' Mean?
Montessori is simply a way of teaching that was originated by Maria Montessori in the early 1900’s. The Montessori method is hands-on, self-paced, and child centered. It has been proven so successful that countries all over the world use this method. It is not related to any religious group, but encourages the child to develop peaceful ways of living.
Who can enroll in the school?
Children in grades K-6 who are Pennsylvania residents.
How did the Gettysburg Montessori Charter School come about?
In 2005, a small private Montessori school was opened in Gettysburg called the Children’s Montessori School of Gettysburg offering education to children age 3 to 6. In 5 years, that school grew to offer private education Pre-K to 3rd grade. Due to the growing interest for Montessori education in Gettysburg, a group of dedicated parents gathered to create a charter school. In November 2009, an application was submitted to the Gettysburg Area School District chartering our school and allowing it to be free to anyone.
Who has attended a Montessori School?
Here is a sampling of famous people who have attended a Montessori School:
- Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis, former editor, former first lady (John F. Kennedy)
- Larry Page and Sergey Brin, Founders of Google, who contribute their success to Montessori School
- Prince William and Prince Harry, English royal family
- George Clooney, Academy Award-winning actor
- Anne Frank, famous diarist from World War II
- Jimmy Wales, founder of Wikipedia
- Will Wright, designer of The Sims
- Katherine Graham, former owner-editor of the Washington Post
- Julia Child, famous chef, star of many TV cooking shows and author of numerous cookbooks
- Helen Hunt, Academy Award-winning actress
- Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Nobel Prize winner for Literature
- Joshua Bell, Violinist, owner of Stradivarius violin
- Lea Salonga, multi-awarded singer and actress
- Berry Brazelton, noted pediatrician and author
- Kami Cotler, actress (The Waltons)
- Melissa and Sarah Gilbert, actors
- Peter Drucker, Management Guru
- Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon
- Friedensreich Hundertwasser, Austrian painter and Architect
Charter School Questions:
An important difference between the way a school district and a charter school operate is accountability. The basic concept of a charter school is that it exercises increased autonomy in return for greater accountability. Charter schools aim to provide a range of options so that parents can choose the public school that best fits their child.
Gettysburg Montessori Charter School’s accountability includes monthly public Board of Trustees meetings. Board and committee meeting dates and times are posted in the newspaper, on the front door on the school, and on our website. Previous meeting minutes are also posted on the school website.
Selecting a school for your child can be a deeply personal choice and may be rooted in your family’s beliefs and values. Whether a school is private, public, or charter, what’s most important is that the school is a good fit for your child and your family. The reasons that parents choose charter schools for their children are just as unique as the students themselves. They choose charter schools because of the strong, dedicated teachers, because the school's focus matches their child’s needs, or simply because their child was struggling in their assigned public school and needed to try something new. Charter schools provide families with options in public education, allowing parents to take a more active role in their child’s education. There are currently 3.2 million charter school students attending one of the 7000 charter schools nationwide.
Some of the most influential individuals support the Charter movement both within their home states and nationally, including current President Donald Trump, President Barack Obama, President George W. Bush, President Bill Clinton, the heirs of Sam Walton, the founder of Walmart, Don and Doris Fischer, the founders of The Gap, Bill and Melinda Gates, Eli and Edythe Broad, Netflix founder Reed Hastings, former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg, and U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos.
Questions and Answers
Q: What is a charter school?
A: Charter schools are public schools of choice, meaning that families choose them for their children. They are independently run public schools granted greater flexibility in their operations, in return for greater accountability for performance. Charter schools are accountable for academic results and for upholding the promises made in their charters. They must demonstrate performance in the areas of academic achievement, financial management, and organizational stability. Charter schools provide a high-quality education option to public school students, upholding high standards that meet and often exceed the district and state benchmarks.
Q: What is a “charter”?
A: Each school is set up under a “charter,” which is a contract that outlines the school’s mission, the educational program they will use, their goals, types of students to be served, assessment method, and how they expect to determine their rate of success. Charter schools have increased accountability over traditional public schools as the Charter is set up for a specified amount of time; at which point the school is reviewed by the entity that set it up to determine if their results warrant approval for renewal.
Q: What are the differences between charter and public schools?
A: Charter schools were founded to offer families more high-quality education options, to promote accountability and innovation, and to advance academic achievement. Each child has unique talents and learns in different ways. Charter schools enhance educational options for families and empower teachers to explore innovative programs, alternative curriculum, and creative approaches to education to ensure that they meet their students’ individual needs. Charter schools provide educators the flexibility to equip students with knowledge and skills that give them the opportunity to achieve their academic goals and pursue successful careers.
Q: Are charter schools required to accept all students?
A: Yes, as traditional public schools, charter schools are open to all children, do not have admission requirements, do not require entrance exams, cannot charge tuition, and must participate in state testing and federal accountability programs. Traditional school districts only have to take the children of families who can afford to live in their district while GMCS is open to any family currently residing in the state of Pennsylvania.
Q: Charter schools vs. public schools funding?
A: On average, charters receive 30 percent less per student, per year compared to traditional public schools. That gap is due in large part to the fact that charters do not have access to the same funding streams (like school construction bonds) that traditional school systems have to build schools. Like traditional public schools they are funded primarily through a combination of federal, state, and local tax dollars.
Q: How are charter schools funded?
A: Charter schools receive funding based on the number of students that enroll. They only receive funding if parents choose to send their children to the school. The level of funding is determined by the state charter law and the state finance system for public schools. As public schools, charter schools have access to most grant programs available to traditional public schools. Charter schools like school districts and private schools can also raise additional funds through private donations. Funding problems have forced many traditional public schools to reduce teaching staff and cut back on classes that are outside the state’s core curriculum.
Q: Are charter schools free?
A: Yes, like traditional public schools, charter schools are part of the free public school system, and they can’t discriminate against students because of their race, gender, or disability.
Q: How much funding does the student’s residential school district provide charter schools?
A: The amount of money a school district receives for a single student will follow that student to their Charter school. The school district is not taking money from traditional public school students to fund Charter schools. Charters receive state and local money based on the number of students they enroll, as well as money from the federal government to provide special education services, just like traditional district schools. The federal government also gives grants to expand charter schools such as the Credit Enhancement For Charter School Facilities Program and the Expanding Opportunity Through Quality Charter Schools Program–National Dissemination Grants.
Q: Does all the money get spent on the students?
A: As with traditional public schools, the funds are primarily spent on students along with building costs and upkeep to provide a safe, comfortable environment for learning. In addition, charters can choose to spend their money on new books or innovative programs instead of sport facilities and their associated costs.
Q: Is transportation provided to Gettysburg Montessori Charter School?
A: Yes, the student’s residential school district will provide transportation for the student, provided their home district's boundaries are within 10 miles of GMCS. GMCS may also contract with local school bus companies to accommodate students living beyond the set number of miles; these accommodations are made by GMCS and are subject to change. Please contact GMCS with any questions about home district bus eligibility and other transportation availability.
Q: Can charter school students participate on local athletic teams?
A: Yes, any charter school student can fully participate on any residential school district athletic team.
Q: Do charter schools provide the same level of activities as public schools?
A: Charter schools were created in order to be granted more freedom in their teaching methodology and curriculum in return for a higher accountability for their student’s achievements. By empowering the educators with additional freedoms to adjust or adapt their curriculum and teaching methodologies in their educational approach for the benefit of their students they can achieve a much higher rate of student success. Gettysburg Montessori Charter School offers many activities as traditional public schools such as art club, physical education, drama club, drum club, book club, Arts in Education Dance Program, music activities, and choral performances in every grade.
Q: How can charter schools offer before and after school programs for free or at an extremely low cost?
A: Charter schools choose to partner with local organizations who provide free or low cost before and after school programs to ensure all students can have the opportunity to get help with homework and participate in enrichment activities, while finding a sense of community and belonging regardless of ability to pay. These programs provide students with a safe, fun, and educational place to learn after school. They utilize evidence-based curriculum to positively affect the lives of youth and families. GMCS is partnered with Respective Solutions Group.
https://www.niche.com/blog/charter-schools-vs-public-schools/
https://uncommonschools.org/our-approach/faq-what-is-charter-school
https://www.greatschools.org/gk/articles/public-private-charter-schools/
https://www.publiccharters.org/about-charter-schools/charter-school-faq
http://www.governing.com/topics/education/gov-trump-doe-education-budget-schools-states.html
https://www.publiccharters.org/taxonomy/term/156
https://www.edweek.org/ew/issues/charter-schools/index.html
https://charterschoolcenter.ed.gov/what-is-a-charter-school
https://www.incharters.org/what_is_charter_school.php
https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/president-donald-j-trump-proclaims-may-6-may-12-2018-national-charter-schools-week/
https://www.education.pa.gov/K-12/Charter%20Schools/Pages/default.aspx
https://edreform.com/2011/11/just-the-faqs-school-choice/
https://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2017/03/01/511446388/just-what-is-a-charter-school-anyway
https://www.brookings.edu/research/charter-schools-a-report-on-rethinking-the-federal-role-in-education/
http://www.ccsa.org/understanding/faqs/
http://www.centerforpubliceducation.org/research/charter-schools-finding-out-facts-0
http://www.respectivesolutions.com/
Gettysburg Montessori Charter School’s accountability includes monthly public Board of Trustees meetings. Board and committee meeting dates and times are posted in the newspaper, on the front door on the school, and on our website. Previous meeting minutes are also posted on the school website.
Selecting a school for your child can be a deeply personal choice and may be rooted in your family’s beliefs and values. Whether a school is private, public, or charter, what’s most important is that the school is a good fit for your child and your family. The reasons that parents choose charter schools for their children are just as unique as the students themselves. They choose charter schools because of the strong, dedicated teachers, because the school's focus matches their child’s needs, or simply because their child was struggling in their assigned public school and needed to try something new. Charter schools provide families with options in public education, allowing parents to take a more active role in their child’s education. There are currently 3.2 million charter school students attending one of the 7000 charter schools nationwide.
Some of the most influential individuals support the Charter movement both within their home states and nationally, including current President Donald Trump, President Barack Obama, President George W. Bush, President Bill Clinton, the heirs of Sam Walton, the founder of Walmart, Don and Doris Fischer, the founders of The Gap, Bill and Melinda Gates, Eli and Edythe Broad, Netflix founder Reed Hastings, former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg, and U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos.
Questions and Answers
Q: What is a charter school?
A: Charter schools are public schools of choice, meaning that families choose them for their children. They are independently run public schools granted greater flexibility in their operations, in return for greater accountability for performance. Charter schools are accountable for academic results and for upholding the promises made in their charters. They must demonstrate performance in the areas of academic achievement, financial management, and organizational stability. Charter schools provide a high-quality education option to public school students, upholding high standards that meet and often exceed the district and state benchmarks.
Q: What is a “charter”?
A: Each school is set up under a “charter,” which is a contract that outlines the school’s mission, the educational program they will use, their goals, types of students to be served, assessment method, and how they expect to determine their rate of success. Charter schools have increased accountability over traditional public schools as the Charter is set up for a specified amount of time; at which point the school is reviewed by the entity that set it up to determine if their results warrant approval for renewal.
Q: What are the differences between charter and public schools?
A: Charter schools were founded to offer families more high-quality education options, to promote accountability and innovation, and to advance academic achievement. Each child has unique talents and learns in different ways. Charter schools enhance educational options for families and empower teachers to explore innovative programs, alternative curriculum, and creative approaches to education to ensure that they meet their students’ individual needs. Charter schools provide educators the flexibility to equip students with knowledge and skills that give them the opportunity to achieve their academic goals and pursue successful careers.
Q: Are charter schools required to accept all students?
A: Yes, as traditional public schools, charter schools are open to all children, do not have admission requirements, do not require entrance exams, cannot charge tuition, and must participate in state testing and federal accountability programs. Traditional school districts only have to take the children of families who can afford to live in their district while GMCS is open to any family currently residing in the state of Pennsylvania.
Q: Charter schools vs. public schools funding?
A: On average, charters receive 30 percent less per student, per year compared to traditional public schools. That gap is due in large part to the fact that charters do not have access to the same funding streams (like school construction bonds) that traditional school systems have to build schools. Like traditional public schools they are funded primarily through a combination of federal, state, and local tax dollars.
Q: How are charter schools funded?
A: Charter schools receive funding based on the number of students that enroll. They only receive funding if parents choose to send their children to the school. The level of funding is determined by the state charter law and the state finance system for public schools. As public schools, charter schools have access to most grant programs available to traditional public schools. Charter schools like school districts and private schools can also raise additional funds through private donations. Funding problems have forced many traditional public schools to reduce teaching staff and cut back on classes that are outside the state’s core curriculum.
Q: Are charter schools free?
A: Yes, like traditional public schools, charter schools are part of the free public school system, and they can’t discriminate against students because of their race, gender, or disability.
Q: How much funding does the student’s residential school district provide charter schools?
A: The amount of money a school district receives for a single student will follow that student to their Charter school. The school district is not taking money from traditional public school students to fund Charter schools. Charters receive state and local money based on the number of students they enroll, as well as money from the federal government to provide special education services, just like traditional district schools. The federal government also gives grants to expand charter schools such as the Credit Enhancement For Charter School Facilities Program and the Expanding Opportunity Through Quality Charter Schools Program–National Dissemination Grants.
Q: Does all the money get spent on the students?
A: As with traditional public schools, the funds are primarily spent on students along with building costs and upkeep to provide a safe, comfortable environment for learning. In addition, charters can choose to spend their money on new books or innovative programs instead of sport facilities and their associated costs.
Q: Is transportation provided to Gettysburg Montessori Charter School?
A: Yes, the student’s residential school district will provide transportation for the student, provided their home district's boundaries are within 10 miles of GMCS. GMCS may also contract with local school bus companies to accommodate students living beyond the set number of miles; these accommodations are made by GMCS and are subject to change. Please contact GMCS with any questions about home district bus eligibility and other transportation availability.
Q: Can charter school students participate on local athletic teams?
A: Yes, any charter school student can fully participate on any residential school district athletic team.
Q: Do charter schools provide the same level of activities as public schools?
A: Charter schools were created in order to be granted more freedom in their teaching methodology and curriculum in return for a higher accountability for their student’s achievements. By empowering the educators with additional freedoms to adjust or adapt their curriculum and teaching methodologies in their educational approach for the benefit of their students they can achieve a much higher rate of student success. Gettysburg Montessori Charter School offers many activities as traditional public schools such as art club, physical education, drama club, drum club, book club, Arts in Education Dance Program, music activities, and choral performances in every grade.
Q: How can charter schools offer before and after school programs for free or at an extremely low cost?
A: Charter schools choose to partner with local organizations who provide free or low cost before and after school programs to ensure all students can have the opportunity to get help with homework and participate in enrichment activities, while finding a sense of community and belonging regardless of ability to pay. These programs provide students with a safe, fun, and educational place to learn after school. They utilize evidence-based curriculum to positively affect the lives of youth and families. GMCS is partnered with Respective Solutions Group.
https://www.niche.com/blog/charter-schools-vs-public-schools/
https://uncommonschools.org/our-approach/faq-what-is-charter-school
https://www.greatschools.org/gk/articles/public-private-charter-schools/
https://www.publiccharters.org/about-charter-schools/charter-school-faq
http://www.governing.com/topics/education/gov-trump-doe-education-budget-schools-states.html
https://www.publiccharters.org/taxonomy/term/156
https://www.edweek.org/ew/issues/charter-schools/index.html
https://charterschoolcenter.ed.gov/what-is-a-charter-school
https://www.incharters.org/what_is_charter_school.php
https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/president-donald-j-trump-proclaims-may-6-may-12-2018-national-charter-schools-week/
https://www.education.pa.gov/K-12/Charter%20Schools/Pages/default.aspx
https://edreform.com/2011/11/just-the-faqs-school-choice/
https://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2017/03/01/511446388/just-what-is-a-charter-school-anyway
https://www.brookings.edu/research/charter-schools-a-report-on-rethinking-the-federal-role-in-education/
http://www.ccsa.org/understanding/faqs/
http://www.centerforpubliceducation.org/research/charter-schools-finding-out-facts-0
http://www.respectivesolutions.com/