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HISTORY
OF CKCS
EXECUTIVE
SUMMARY
A charter school
is a public school option created under federal and state law to allow
school choice in a public school setting. State law outlines expectations
for such a school and organizers need a well thought out "game plan"
before a local school board will approve a five-year contract.
CKCS was started by
a group of parents in the Verona School District who wanted a more "back
to basics" program for their children than was currently available.
The group decided to utilize the Core Knowledge ® Sequence, and a
teaching curriculum known as Direct Instruction. The
Core Knowledge® Sequence is a planned progression of content, Kindergarten
through grade 8. Each year builds on knowledge gained the previous year.
Direct Instruction is a curriculum and teaching methodology which includes
grouping students by instructional level, teaching to mastery, and carefully
monitoring student progress.
The group of parents
put together an application based on state law, petitioned the Verona
School Board and the first five-year charter contract was granted in January
1996. This contract was subsequently renewed for another five-year term
in February 2001. The parent organizers of CKCS created a school from
the ground up--teachers were hired, students were enrolled, classroom
space was secured and funding was negotiated. Originally housed at Stoner
Prairie, Savanna Oaks and Verona Middle School, the doorsd with
150 students, grades Kindergarten-7. Parents continued to volunteer in
a number of ways and worked closely with the staff to develop appropriate
programming.
The school moved
to its present site in 2000 as a result of additional space being built
by the district. The contract was renegotiated in 2001, with the emphasis
on larger parent governance boards with more specific task assignments.
Additionally, the school and the district agreed to work collaboratively
to increase enrollment in certain categories of students. The district
remains in charge of the enrollment process for CKCS as well as all other
choice programs in the district. The school continues to grow, and it
became a certified "Core Knowledge ®" school in 2001the
first in Wisconsin.
Click
here for the full story.
FAQ:
HOW CAN I, AS A PARENT HELP OUT??
ANSWER:
ITS EASY---BE INFORMED AND BE INVOLVED!!
To be informed,
you need to:
- Stay current
on issues in the districtseek out all sides of a debate on the issues.
Even issues that may not seem to affect CKCS often do. Talk to other
parents, CKCS parent leaders, school board members--------form an
opinion!
- Understand what
CKCS is all aboutknow our curriculum, how we teach and how it impacts
your childs learning experience. Communicate that information whenever
you canif you dont understand something, ask! Teachers and parents
who have been around a while can help. Everyone started as a "new
family" to the school at some point.
To be involved,
you need to:
- Vote! Support
candidates and referenda that support our school and its mission.
CKCS is proud to be a parent run school; we need the continued support
and partnership of the district, its administrators and elected school
board members to survive.
- Volunteer! Everyone
can contribute something. We encourage (and train) our volunteers.
Whether its volunteering to chaperone a field trip, help with a fundraiser,
working in the classroom or office, serving on a governing board or
committee, or sending in a treat for a class partywe need your help.
We run a very efficient school, in part because parents volunteer
time, talent and treasures to our school. There has never been a more
important time to get involved. Youll be glad you did!
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