ABOUT CHARTER SCHOOLS

Q: What exactly is a charter school?

A: A charter school is an independent public school that can make its own policies, design its educational program, and manage its staff and budget.

Q: How is a charter school different from a traditional public school?

A:  A charter school is accountable for high student achievement, as spelled out in the terms of a five-year performance contract. The Charter Schools Act requires charter schools to show that their educational programs meet or exceed student performance standards for other public schools.

Q:  How are charter schools funded?

A:  Charter schools are publicly funded and receive funding at levels determined by New York State.

Q: Do charter schools charge tuition?

A: Charter schools may not charge tuition but are allowed to do their own fund raising.

Q: Are students required to wear uniforms?

A: SICCS students wear traditional polo shirts with a hand-embroidered SICCS logo. To see a sample, and for ordering information, go to the ‘Store’ button at the top left of this page.

Q: Do charter schools have to meet the same city and state requirements that traditional schools do?

A: Charter schools must follow the same laws, rules and regulations governing health and safety, civil rights and student assessment as other public schools. These schools are also subject to the Open Meetings Law and Freedom of Information Law (FOIL), just as traditional public schools are.

Q: Do charter school teachers have to meet the same city and state requirements that teachers in traditional public schools do?

A: All charter school teachers who teach ‘core academic subjects,’ according to the federal No Child Left Behind Act, must meet the ‘highly qualified’ teacher requirements as defined in the act. Up to 30 percent of a charter school’s teachers––or five (5) teachers, whichever is less–– are not required to hold state certification. However, these non-certified teachers must meet one of these four standards:

1. At least three years of elementary, middle or secondary teaching experience

2. Tenure or tenure track at a college or university

3. Two years of satisfactory experience through the Teach for America program

4. Exceptional business, professional, artistic, athletic or military experience

Q: Does SICCS accept a Special Education student or one whose first language is not English?

A: Any child eligible for admission to a traditional public school is eligible for admission to a public charter school. This includes students with Individual Education Plans (IEPs) who need special education services, English Language Learners (ELLs), or Students with Limited English Proficiency (LEP). Admission to a charter school may not be limited because of disability, race, creed, gender, national origin, religion, ancestry, measures of achievement or aptitude, or athletic ability.

ADMISSIONS

Q: I’ve heard that if there are more students than available places for them, a lottery is held. How does that work?

A: The school holds a lottery if there are more applicants than seats. Families of children who have been accepted are  informed at the lottery drawing and by mail.

Q: Are there other types of admissions procedures that apply to charter schools?

A: The Charter Schools Act requires a charter school to give preference to brothers and sisters of students already enrolled in the charter school, and to those living in the school district in which the school is located.

Q: Are there any types of students who aren’t eligible for admission?

A: Any child eligible for admission to a traditional public school is eligible for admission to a public charter school. This includes students with Individual Education Plans [IEPs] who receive special education services, English Language Learners (ELLs), or Students with Limited English Proficiency (LEP). Admission to a charter school cannot be limited because of disability, race, creed, gender, national origin, religion, ancestry, measures of achievement or aptitude, or athletic ability.

ENROLLMENT

Q: Which grades does SICCS serve?

A: SICCS opened for the 2010-11 school year with a total of 100 students in three (3) classes of 25 children per class in kindergarten and one (1)  first-grade class of 25. SICCS will increase its enrollment each year, adding two new kindergarten classes and moving current first-grade students into second grade and in following years, second-grade students into third grade, etc., until the school reaches full enrollment at 450 students in kindergarten through eighth grade.

At the beginning of the 2011-12 school year, SICCS welcomed 72 new students and now operates two kindergarten, three first-grade and two second-grade classes.

Q: Does  SICCS offer pre-kindergarten classes?

A: No; under New York State charter school law, public charter schools may not offer pre-kindergarten classes.

PARENT INVOLVEMENT AT SICCS

Q: What is the school’s parent involvement policy?

A: We believe schools are more effective when parents help run them, and we are now structuring opportunities for parent involvement in all areas and at all levels allowed by New York State and New York City law, including operations, policy-making and board of trustees representation.

SCHOOL CALENDAR

Q: Does SICCS have a longer-than-usual school day or school year, as some other charter schools do?

A: At SICCS, the school day begins at 8:15 a.m. and ends at 3:45 p.m. Except for opening day, we observe the school-year calendar established by the New York City Department of Education.

SCHOOL MEALS

Q: Does the school provide breakfast and lunch for all children? Do parents have to pay for these meals?

A: Each morning, SICCS staff members serve a balanced, nutritious breakfast prepared by the NYC Department of Education’s Office of Food Service free of charge to any student who requests one. Lunch is provided to eligible students by the Department of Education’s Office of Food Service. Eligibility requirements for free and reduced-cost lunch are the same as in traditional public schools.

SCHOOL PROGRAMS

Q: Does SICCS offer classes for gifted and talented students?

A: We designed the SICCS  program to meet individual students’ needs––including, when appropriate, students with special talents or abilities, who may be placed in our general education classes. There are enrichment activities for all students through the school’s arts programs. We believe in nurturing and highlighting students’ talents and abilities.

Q: Does SICCS offer remedial programs?

A: Yes, through SICCS’s team-teaching approach. The instructional team in each class––which includes specialists––addresses each student’s individual needs. Students who need extra help will receive that help within the class–individually, or in a small group.

Q:  What kinds of arts programs does SICCS offer?

A:  SICCS offers students instruction and experiences in music, visual art, dance and theater. Part of our mission is to use the arts to expand children’s creativity and as a vehicle for learning, which is why we make arts programming a budgetary priority.

Q: Which programs are used . . .

––for Reading?

––for Math?

––for Social Studies?

––for Science?

A: The instructional team selects materials based on students’ needs. These materials may or may not include pre-packaged programs. Our goal is to educate the whole child through active involvement, balanced literacy and other proven strategies.

SCHOOL SAFETY

Q: What is SICCS’s discipline policy?

A: At SICCS, children learn in a safe, supportive environment. Our school culture is built on a foundation of mutual respect, individual accountability and collective responsibility. Every staff member, student and parent is expected to be their best, do their best and work together to achieve success.

Our code of conduct is based on the Resolving Conflict Creatively (RCCP) “Peaceable School” model, which teaches and practices social-emotional learning skills. The result is an environment that supports academic excellence, promotes collaborative efforts and develops responsible citizenship. All members of the SICCS community — administrators, staff, students and parents — participate in RCCP training.

By improving communication and encouraging cooperation, SICCS promotes positive attitudes, practices and behaviors. Our discipline policy focuses on problem-solving, not punishment. We designed the policy to be instructive and to provide a teaching/learning opportunity through which students take responsibility for their behavior while they learn and practice behaviors that are more skillful, responsible and successful.

Our approach to discipline is compassionate and child-centered, but we take infractions very seriously. Violations related to weapons, safety or illegal drugs are handled according to policies established by the Chancellor’s Regulations of the New York City Department of Education.

Q: Is bus service provided to children who don’t live near the school?

A: Yes.The Department of Education’s Office of Pupil Transportation provides yellow school bus service to our students who live within a five-mile radius of the school.