Algiers Charter Schools Association (ACSA)

Frequently Asked Questions for Parents

What is a charter school?
First and foremost, a charter school is a public school. Charter schools differ from traditional schools in the following fundamental ways:

• students and parents choose charter schools;
• charter schools operate with freedom from many of the regulations that govern traditional public schools; and
• for that freedom they must create a “charter”- a contract - which the school must adhere to and by which the charter school is evaluated by the authorizing agency which oversees it.

What are the benefits of a charter school?
The benefits of a charter school generally include:
• an increase in opportunities for learning;
• creation of choices for parents and students;
• encouragement of innovation in teaching;
• encouragement of parent and community involvement in education; and
• accountability for results.

Who can attend a charter school?
Any child in a school district that operates a charter school is eligible to apply for admission to a charter public school. Admission standards and process are required to be fair and open to all; recruitment is required to extend to all segments of a district.

How will the ACSA be funded?
For its first year of operation in FY (Fiscal Year) 2005-06, the ACSA will be funded primarily by the following sources:
• State MFP – according to state legislation, the state portion of MFP dollars is funded toward the end of each month based on the student enrollment count taken on the 1st of the respective month.
• Start up funding – in accordance with the charter application approved by the Orleans Parish School Board, the OPSB has provided the ACSA with $500 per enrolled student.
• Federal charter school grant – the federal government has made available monies designated to assist with the start-up of charter school systems in Louisiana.

In future years the ACSA will be funded by 90%-100% of the State and Local portions of MFP dollars which is enrollment driven funding.

The Association may also be eligible for federal grant monies, pending student enrollment information. It is also actively seeking to create partnerships with foundations to further educational programs and services offered to students.

How are the Algiers Charter Schools organized by grade level?
All elementary schools within the ACSA operate on a K-8 structure and our highs schools are grades 9-12.

How will enrollment be handled for the 2006-07 school year?
For the 2006-07 school year, the registration period has been set for June 19-July 18. Registration will be conducted at sites throughout Algiers to give parents every opportunity to enroll their child. The procedure for registration is as follows:

A. After the receipt of intent-to-return forms, potential available spaces in ACSA schools will be estimated and published by Monday, June 12, 2006.

B. The total number of seats per grade per school will be indicated on the ACSA web site on or before June 15, 2006.

C. Applications for all new and returning students will be taken for a registration period beginning Monday June 19 and ending on Tuesday, July 18, 2006. Sites to be determined.

D. Should the registration period ending on July 18th indicate that available slots are HIGHER than new applications, slots will be filled by these registrants until full. Once filled, a waiting list will be started.
Should the registration period end and available slots at any grade level are LESS than number of eligible applications, a lottery will be held on Friday, July 21st at each school. Students will be admitted in the following order:

1. Students who had been enrolled in the ACSA Charter School for the 05-
06 year.
2. Students enrolled in the Orleans Parish Public School for 05-06.
3. Siblings of those students enrolled in each ACSA School the prior year.
4. All other students of Orleans Parish.

F. A list will be published on or before Monday, July 24th delineating
registrations and waiting lists by grade for each school.

Will passing a Standardized Test be required for graduation? Will there be sufficient time to study for the test if required?
10th and 11th graders are still required to pass the GEE prior to graduation. Numerous opportunities to retake the test are still being made available to students. O. Perry Walker will be offering GEE remediation to its students this summer. Contact the school for details.

Is proof of residence required to register my child?
Applicants must provide documentation that they live in the attendance boundaries of the New Orleans Public Schools by providing proof or residency with the admission application.

What services will be provided for special education students?
ACSA has hired a special education services coordinator to conduct 504 screenings along with special education and related services. The Association has hired full time special education teachers and will continue to do so based on the needs of the students enrolled in our member schools.

Does the Algiers Charter Schools Association provide support staff such as social workers, nurses, counselors, etc.?
Yes. Each school is staffed with nurses, counselor, and social workers. The health and well-being of each student is a primary concern of the ACSA.

How will students be evaluated for promotion to the next grade level?
Each student will be evaluated on a combination of student performance, testing, and an evaluation by their teacher(s) to determine that child’s readiness for promotion. The ACSA has developed an extended year program for students identified by their schools as needing additional preparation for the 06-07 school year.

Does the ACSA plan to open more schools this school year?
The Algiers Charter School Association has applied to open more schools for the 2006-07 school year. Currently those applications are being reviewed by the Recovery School District and BESE. ACSA should know how many schools that it will operate for the upcoming school year by mid-June. Please check this website for updates regarding school openings.

What role do parents play in building charter schools?
Our parents play a huge role in the success of our schools. We need parents as volunteers, to develop strong and active PTO’s, and to give feedback and guidance as to the direction of their schools. The ACSA encourages parent participation and asks every parent to become familiar with their child’s principal, teachers, and school’s counselor.

Frequently Asked Questions for Students

Can I graduate on time this year?
Counselors at each school will be able to assist students in making that determination based on a number of factors specific to each student

Will I need summer school if I was not enrolled at any school during Hurricane Katrina?
Comprehensive pupil progression plans are being developed and schools will make decisions regarding placement on a student by student basis

How will classes from other schools I attended while being displaced by Katrina, both in state and out of state be handled, in terms of transfer credits?
Counselors at each school will assist in making decisions regarding the transfer of credits in conjunction with state guidelines.

If the scheduling system of a school you temporarily attended via Katrina, places the student at a different place in the school year in terms of curriculum progress, than where they would be at the NOPS / ACSA School they plan to attend, how will this affect transferring back and/or graduating on time?
Teacher evaluations along with the pupil progression plan will determine a student’s readiness to receive classroom credits.

A school I attended while away during Katrina offered different academic classes and/or electives than are offered at the school I am now attending after returning to NOPS/ACSA., how will this affect my graduation requirements, and will those courses I took at the school when I was away transfer, or be counted for graduation at the ACSA/NOPS School I now attend? What if the other school or district I attended when I was evacuated had different graduation requirements than ACSA and NOPS use?
Your schools guidance counselor is the best resource for making those determinations. The state is being more lenient this year in regards to transfer credits.

If summer school is needed for some students because of Katrina, will there be a second graduation ceremony for those who need to attend summer school to make up needed time because they were not enrolled in school during Hurricane Katrina anywhere, so that everyone can participate in a traditional graduation given the circumstances?
Those decisions will be made by the principals at those schools.

If I was Home Schooled during the Hurricane, will the assignments I did during Home school count toward graduation, or as transfer credits? How do I prove I did the assignments to determine a grade?
Schools will handle on a student by student basis. Home schooled students are required to meet state guidelines regarding educational structure. Consult your guidance counselor or the state board of education for what those guidelines are.

What will I need in terms of paperwork to prove credit from any schools I attended while away?
Transcript/record requests are handled by each school.