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Glacier High School Charter
A California Public Charter School
Glacier High School Charter Mission Statement
Glacier High 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
• Equip rural students age 14-18 with two kinds of literacy necessary in the 21st century - the ability to read, write, speak, and calculate with clarity and precision and the ability to participate passionately and responsibly in the life of the community. The Glacier High School Charter (GHSC) will enable students to become literate, self-motivated, lifelong learners by providing a multi-cultural, student-centered environment in which all students will be held to high academic and behavioral standards, will work in collaborative relationships, both within and outside the school site/calendar, and will perform service to the greater community.
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, life-long learners.
Purpose (How learning best occurs)
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 homeschooling, 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 child’s involvement in learning. These parents know and understand their children better than anyone else.
Goals
The goals of Glacier High School Charter include but shall not be limited to the following:
• Students will be encouraged to be self-motivated 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).
• 50% of our students will show continual progress towards meeting graduation requirements for one of the three types of graduation certificates as delineated in this document.
• Demonstration of knowledge and academic skills attained across major subject areas through integrated learning will be assessed by authentic performance-based assessments that 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 (who the school will educate):
Enrollment
Glacier High School Charter serves, educates, and works with those California students and parents, residing in Madera County and its adjacent contiguous counties for ninth through twelfth grade, who:
• Are seeking a supportive home school 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, or a curriculum tailored to the child’s interests, can be met through an individualized educational program focussed on the home schooling experience.
• Believe individual social or emotional needs of their students may not be successfully 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
Glacier High 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 Yosemite Union High School District.
Statement of Non-Discriminatory Practices
Glacier High School Charter will be nonsectarian in its programs, admission policies, employment practices and all other operations. Glacier High School Charter will not discriminate against any pupil on the basis of ethnicity, national origin, gender, or disability.
Glacier High School Charter shall not charge tuition.
Admissions Requirements
1. Glacier High School Charter identifies the following admission requirements:
2. Pupils will be considered for admission without regard to ethnicity, national origin, gender, or disability.
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 Yosemite Union High School District.
Prior to students and parents being admitted into Glacier High School Charter, they will be required to:
Read the Glacier High School Charter philosophies as outlined in the GHSC Parent Handbook.
Verify that their participation in the charter school is strictly voluntary.
Sign an agreement that must stipulate all of the following:
1) Parents, or other responsible adults, shall be available to be the primary teacher of the student and that it is the parent's responsibility to ensure that this occurs.
2) Parents, or other responsible adults, are involved in academic teaching and support of the student.
3) Parent, or other responsible adult, and student must attend scheduled progress meetings.
4) Parent will sign and promptly submit appropriate attendance records to school attendance clerk.
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 Glacier High School Charter’s high school graduation requirements. Those requirements shall be based upon the state standards and have been developed to align to the state standards This will be accomplished with the understanding that the nature of homeschooling 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.
These student exit outcomes will be further subdivided into a list of specific "classroom-level" skills required in each of the above areas at different grade and skill levels. These specific grade and skill-level standards will incorporate those included in the Yosemite Union High School District standards, the California state content and performance standards, and the Education Round Table's math and language arts standards. Students wishing to enroll in a public university in California will have the opportunity to pursue a course of study at the Glacier High School Charter that meets the "A-G Requirements." In addition to attaining specific content area and grade/skill-level standards, students will also demonstrate their overall progress toward graduation readiness through a series of "benchmark" performances at various points throughout their experience at the Glacier High School Charter.
In order to best serve our students and community, the Glacier High School Charter will continue to examine and refine its list of student outcomes over time to reflect the school's mission and any changes to state or local standards that support such mission. The Glacier High School Charter will submit to the district board at any time prior to expiration a description of any changes to the above student outcomes as an amendment of the charter. The district board agrees to hear and render an amendment decision pursuant to the timelines and processes as specified in the Education Code Section 47605(b).
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.
Participation in appropriate Golden State Exams.
Completion of the High School Exit Exam (HSEE)
Completion of appropriate subject area exit exams. (For qualification for the Star Diploma)
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 an GHSC Student Evaluation Form. These will be kept on file in the Glacier High School Charter’s 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.
Students of Glacier High School Charter will demonstrate the following skills upon graduation:
1. CORE ACADEMIC SKILLS. Appropriate age or grade-level mastery of:
History/Social Studies: Students will understand and apply civic, historical, and geographical knowledge in order to serve as citizens in today's world of diverse cultures.
Mathematics: Students will develop abilities to reason logically and to understand and apply mathematical processes and concepts, including those within arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and other mathematical subjects which the staff and school governing board deem appropriate.
Language Arts: Students will demonstrate strong reading, writing, listening, speaking, and presentation skills, in multiple forms of expression (e.g., written, oral, multimedia), with communication skills appropriate to the setting and audience. They will comprehend and critically interpret multiple forms of expression, including literature from various time periods and cultures.
Science: Students will successfully utilize scientific research and inquiry methods to understand and apply the major concepts underlying various branches of science, which may include physics, chemistry, biology, ecology, astronomy, and earth sciences.
World Language: Students will gain proficiency in speaking, reading, writing, and listening comprehension in at least one language in addition to their native tongue. Students will understand key aspects of the culture, both past and present, of the second language.
Underlying and utilized throughout each of the above subject areas will be other core skills such as: critical thinking skills: e.g., problem-solving, analyzing, and applying knowledge) the ability to effectively use technology
*creative expression through various forms of the arts, e.g., music, visual/studio arts, drama, and dance.
*knowledge of pertinent issues of health and the development of physical fitness
2. LIFE-LONG LEARNING SKILLS. Students will develop skills, which will enable them to pursue their own path of learning throughout their adult lives, including:
Study skills and habits, e.g., note-taking, library research skills, studying strategies
* Ability to plan, initiate, and complete a project
* Ability to reflect on and evaluate one's own and others' learning
3. SOCIAL/INTERPERSONAL SKILLS. Students will demonstrate:
* Strong citizenship and leadership skills by planning and implementing a project in service to the school and greater community
* Ability to engage in responsible, compassionate peer relationships, by participating in conflict resolution training and serving on the peer dispute resolution board
* Ability to collaborate and work effectively with others in cooperative groups
4. "LIFE" SKILLS. Students will develop skills necessary for a healthy adult life, including: Personal financial management skills (e.g., budget development, balancing checkbooks)
* Job readiness and career development skills (e.g., developing resumes, job internship skills)
Higher education continuance skills (e.g., college applications, financial aid forms)
The outcomes will be further subdivided into specific content area and "classroom-level" skills and that individual students' progress toward achieving the graduation outcomes will be measured by certain benchmarks as indicated by the type of Graduation standard desired.
Types of Matriculation
Glacier High School Charter will offer three distinct graduation certifications as follows:
Certificate of completion:
The certificate of completion will be awarded to any student who completes four years of work as agreed upon by the parent, student, and charter teacher and completes at least 260 credits.
Graduation Diploma:
The graduation diploma will be awarded to any student who completes four years of work as agreed upon by the parent, student, and charter teacher, passes the HSEE, and completes at least 260 credits that includes:
4 years of English;
3 years of Social Science (including World History, Cultures and Geography; US History; and US Government/Economics).
2 years of Mathematics including Algebra
2 years of science including 1 year of Physical Science and 1 year of Life Science.
1 year of Fine Arts – visual, performing arts (music or drama), or foreign language.
2 years of Physical Education
1 year of Health
3 yrs of electives to total 260 credits.
The Star Diploma:
The Star Diploma will be awarded to any student who completes four years of work as agreed upon by the parent, student, and charter teacher, passes the HSEE, and final exams* for each of the following classes, completes at least 260 credits, and meets the a-g requirements of admission for CSU and UC that includes:
4 years of English;
2 years of Social Science including US History and other social science.
3 years of Mathematics including Algebra, Geometry, and Intermediate Algebra.
2 years of laboratory science from Biology, Chemistry, or Physics.
1 year of Fine Arts – visual, performing arts (music or drama).
2 years of Foreign Language.
3 yrs of electives to total 260 credits.
*final exams may consist of the Golden State Exam for a particular subject where a score of 3 will be considered passing or an exam especially prepared for a subject where a score of 70% shall be considered passing.
The intent of the Glacier Charter is to change the Star Diploma requirements to match the a-g requirements as adjustments are made at the state level. These requirements reflect the current UC a-g requirements.
It is highly recommended that students seeking the Star Diploma participate in all State tests and college entrance examinations.
Suspensions and Expulsions
Students of the Glacier High School Charter may be suspended or expelled from the charter school for persistent non-compliance with the terms of the charter school agreement and grounds provided for in the California Education Code. The procedures for discipline, suspension and expulsion will be identical to the procedures identified in the California Education Code and the Yosemite Union High School Districts 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 homeschooling, parents are the teachers, dedicated to their child’s education. Glacier High School Charter has established an open-door philosophy to encourage parent input in planning, teaching, and organizing the GHSC 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:
Reading GHSC monthly newsletter.
Listening to the voice mail bulletin, updated weekly.
Noting the school bulletin board for information.
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. While the Yosemite High School District may provide certain personnel and payroll services To the Glacier High School Charter pursuant to a separate Memorandum of Understanding, employees of the Charter shall gain no rights or seniority with the Yosemite Union High School District and be deemed as employees of the Charter. As such, the Yosemite Union High School District will have no authority over personnel selection. Such selection shall be at the discretion of the charter council. Terms of employment shall be defined by the charter council.
The Glacier High School Charter may also employ or retain non-certificated instructional support staff in any case where a prospective staff member has an appropriate mix of subject matter expertise, professional experience, and the demonstrated capacity to work successfully in an instructional support capacity. Instructional support staff will not assign grades or approve student work assignments without the approval of a teacher except in non-core or non-college preparatory courses and activities. All non-instructional staff will possess experience and expertise appropriate for their position within the school as outlined in the school's staffing plan and the school's adopted personnel policies
Employee Rights
Employees of the Glacier High School Charter will work at the pleasure of the charter council. Certificated employees will be paid on a salary schedule as set forth by the Charter.
School Administrator.
The vision is that ultimately the Glacier High School will be an independent entity that may have a separate facility and administrator. Initially, the administrator of Mountain Home School Charter will serve as the administrator of Glacier High School and be paid an additional stipend for that duty. Said stipend to be determined by the charter council. When Glacier High School grows to sufficient size, as determined by the charter council, a full time administrator may be hired.
Student to Teacher Ratio
A full-time charter teacher will maintain a teacher to student ratio as defined by statute. Currently, the ratio of average daily attendance for independent study pupils 18 years of age or less to full-time certificated employees responsible for independent study calculated in the manner prescribed by the State Department of Education pursuant to the provisions of Education Code Section 51745.6, shall not exceed the equivalent ratio of pupils to full-time certificated employees for all other educational programs operated by the largest unified school district, as measured by average daily attendance, in the county in which the charter school operates.
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 Charter Council discretion.
Health and Safety Procedures
Prior to commencing instruction, the Glacier High School Charter will adopt and implement a comprehensive set of health, safety, and risk management policies. These policies will be developed in consultation with the school's insurance carriers and at a minimum will address the following topics:
* A requirement that all enrolling students and staff provide records documenting immunizations to the extent required for enrollment in non-charter public schools.
* Policies and procedures for response to natural disasters and emergencies, including fires and earthquakes.
* Policies relating to preventing contact with blood-borne pathogens. .
* Policies relating to the administration of prescription drugs and other medicines.
* A policy that the school will be housed in facilities that meet local building and zoning ordinances.
* A policy establishing that the school functions as a drug, alcohol, and tobacco free workplace.
* A requirement that each employee of the school submit to a criminal background check and furnish a criminal record summary as required by Education Code Section 44237.
These policies will be incorporated as appropriate into the school's student and staff handbooks and will be reviewed on an ongoing basis in the school's staff development efforts and governing board policies
Retirement Benefits
All employees of Glacier High 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 Yosemite Union High School District will process all employer contributions as required by STRS, PERS, or as required by law. The district will also process contributions where applicable, for workers compensation insurance, unemployment insurance, and any other payroll obligations of an employer, such sums to be part of the Glacier High School Charter Budget. At no time will the funding of such contributions be the responsibility of the Yosemite High School District.
Governance:
The Glacier High School Charter will constitute itself as a California Non-Profit Public Benefit Corporation pursuant to California law. The school will be governed pursuant to the bylaws adopted by the incorporators, as subsequently amended pursuant to the amendment process specified in the bylaws. The governing board's (charter council) major roles and responsibilities will include establishing and approving all major educational and operational policies, approving all major contracts, approving the school's annual budget and overseeing the school's fiscal affairs, and selecting and evaluating the top administrative staff. The founding board members are listed below, and the bylaws will call for four parents to sit on the governing board. The school's governing board (charter council) will include four parents, a teacher, a classified employee and the charter school administrator. The school's bylaws will also permit one representative of the governing board of the Yosemite Union High School District to serve on the school's governing board.
The Glacier High School Charter will encourage parents to form a parent advisory committee to the school's governing board. The school will also work with parents to develop and adopt a set of parent involvement policies and strategies. The school will maintain in effect general liability and board errors and omissions insurance policies.
The Glacier High School Charter will be non-sectarian in its programs, admissions policies, employment practices, and all other operations, shall not charge tuition, and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, or disability
The administrator of the charter school, or his/her designee, may report to district board of trustees at its regular board meetings.
As a public supported entity, the Glacier High School Charter will abide by all facets of the Brown Act.
Special Education
The Glacier High School Charter and Yosemite Union High School District pledge to work in cooperation with all local education agencies (LEAs) and special education local plan areas (SELPA) to ensure that a free and appropriate education is provided to all students with exceptional needs.
During its first year of operations, the school intends to function as a "public school of the local education agency that granted the charter" for purposes of providing special education and related services pursuant to Education Code Section 47641(b). During each school year during which the school operates as an arm of the district for special education purposes, the school shall pay to the district an amount of funding per unit of average daily attendance equal to the district's direct costs of providing special education and related services minus the district's revenues from all special education and transportation funding sources. In return, the district shall provide the school with all funding and/or services reasonably necessary to ensure that all students with exceptional needs who attend the school are provided a free and appropriate education.
Facilities
At this time the Glacier High School Charter wishes to be housed in the facility being used by the Mountain Home School Charter associated with the Bass Lake Joint Union Elementary School District. The Glacier High School Charter waives no facilities rights as accorded by the State of California. The Glacier High School Charter may negotiate and be granted the exclusive use of additional property and facility as may become available from the Yosemite High School District. The charter school and district agree to comply with state law with regard to facilities.
Term of the Charter
It is requested that the Charter be granted for a term of five years beginning July 1, 2002. The Charter may be renewed as allowed by law.
Financial Agreement
Memorandum of Understanding
It is the intention of the charter school to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding ("MOU") with Yosemite Union High School District prior to the commencement of classes, which will set forth the respective responsibilities of the District and Charter School with respect to special education services, financial practices, and personnel and other administrative services.
Financial (and Programmatic) Audit:
The Glacier High School Charter's board of directors will form an audit committee each fiscal year to oversee selection of an independent auditor and the completion of an annual audit of the school's financial affairs. The audit will verify the accuracy of the school's financial statements, attendance and enrollment accounting practices, and review the school's internal controls. The audit will be conducted in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles applicable to the school. To the extent required under applicable federal law, the audit scope will be expanded to include items and processes specified in any applicable Office of Management and Budget Circulars. It is anticipated that the annual audit will be completed within six months of the close of the fiscal year and that a copy of the auditor's findings will be forwarded to the chief financial officer of the Yosemite High School District. The school's audit committee will review any audit exceptions or deficiencies and report to the school's board of directors with recommendations on how to resolve them. The board will report to the charter-granting agency regarding how the exceptions and deficiencies have been or will be resolved. Any disputes regarding the resolution of audit exceptions and deficiencies will be referred to the dispute resolution process contained in Dispute resolution.
Dispute Resolution Process, Oversight, Reporting, and Renewal
Intent
The intent of this dispute resolution process is to: (1) resolve disputes within the school pursuant to the school's policies, (2) minimize the oversight burden on the district, (3) ensure a fair and timely resolution to disputes, and (4) frame a charter oversight and renewal process and timeline so as to avoid disputes regarding oversight and renewal matters.
Disputes Arising from within the School
Disputes arising from within the School, including all disputes among and between students, staff, parents, volunteers, advisors, partner organizations, and governing board members of the school, shall be resolved pursuant to policies and processes developed by the school.
Disputes between the School and the Charter-Granting Agency
In the event that the school or granting agency have disputes regarding the terms of this charter, both parties agree to follow the process outlined below.
In the event of a dispute between the school and the grantor, the staff and governing board members of the school and district agree to first frame the issue in written format and refer the issue to the superintendent of the district and director of the school.
The director and superintendent shall informally meet and confer in a timely fashion to attempt to resolve the dispute. In the event that this informal meeting fails to resolve the dispute, both parties shall identify two governing board members from their respective boards who shall jointly meet with the superintendent of the district and director of the school and attempt to resolve the dispute. If this joint meeting fails to resolve the dispute, the superintendent and director shall meet to jointly identify a neutral, third party arbitrator. The format of the arbitration session shall be developed jointly by the superintendent and director, and shall incorporate informal rules of evidence and procedure unless both parties agree otherwise. The findings or recommendations of the arbitrator shall be non-binding, unless the governing boards of the school and grantor jointly agree to bind themselves.
Oversight, Reporting, Revocation, and Renewal
The Yosemite Union High School District may inspect or observe any part of the school at any time.
Labor Relations
The Glacier High School Charter shall be deemed the exclusive public school employer of the employees of the charter school for the purposes of the Education Employment Relations Act.
Optional Miscellaneous Clauses
Term.
The term of this charter shall begin on July 1, 2002 and expire five years thereafter.
Amendments.
Any amendments to this charter shall be made by the mutual agreement of the governing boards of the charter school and charter-granting agency. Material revisions and amendments shall be made pursuant to the standards, criteria, and timelines in Education Code Section 47605.
Severability.
The terms of this charter contract are severable. In the event that any of the provisions are determined to be unenforceable or invalid for any reason, the remainder of the charter shall remain in effect, unless mutually agreed otherwise by the Yosemite Union High School District and governing board of the Charter School. The district and school agree to meet to discuss and resolve any issues or differences relating to invalidated provisions in a timely, good faith fashion.
Communications.
All official communications between the Glacier High School Charter and the Yosemite Union High School District will be sent via First Class Mail or other appropriate means to the following addresses:
Oversight
In order to facilitate the constitutionally and statutorily mandated oversight of the charter school by Yosemite Union High School District, the Charter School shall not operate facilities located outside of the geographical boundaries of Madera County.