An elementary Child is learning the States and Capitals Montessori Academy of Indianapolis elementary of the United States in a Montessori Environment. is learning French with Madame Cecile. Example of a Montessori Elementary classroom Elementary children are learning hands-on science located at Montessori Academy of Indianapolis, about exotic animals with Alligator Aaron. the propose location for the charter school. M ontessori Academy Preparatory School Page 1 Charter Applicant Information Sheet This sheet must be attached to the Prospectus and Full Application, and follow the cover page. Please type the information requested. Name of Proposed Charter School: Montessori Academy Preparatory School, Proposed School Address: 7507 N. Michigan Road, IN 46268 School District in which Proposed School would be located: Pike Township Legal Name of Group Applying for the Charter: Montessori Academy of Indianapolis Applicant's Designated Representative: Vivian Cain Address 7507 N. Michigan Road, Indianapolis IN 46268 Daytime Telephone: (317) 291-5557, Fax: (317) 291-5559; E-mail address: [email protected] The proposed school will open in the fall of school year: __ 2006-07 _X_ 2007-08 __Other (please specify year) _______________________________________________________________ Proposed Grade Levels & Total Student Enrollment Grade Levels Total Student Enrollment First Year 1st – 3rd grade 90 Second Year 1st – 4rd grade 130 Third Year___ 1st – 5rd grade 165 Fourth Year 1st – 6rd grade 200 Fifth Year___ 1st – 7rd grade 135 Sixth Year __ 1st – 8rd grade 270 Seventh Year Maximum 266 Are you planning to work with an educational management organization (EMO)? YES, Montessori Foundation of Indianapolis Have you submitted this application to another sponsor? NO If so, please indicate: Name of Other Sponsor: _____ Date Submitted: Do you plan to submit this application to another sponsor before the Mayor of Indianapolis makes a final determination on your application? Only if this application is not selected by the first of the year of 2007, then an application will be submitted to Ball State University. M ontessori Academy Preparatory School Page 2 Prospectus for Montessori Academy Preparatory School Charter School I. Our Vision The Montessori Academy Preparatory School (MAPS) was founded by parents and educators committed to producing an environment of collaboration among all members of the community. Our vision is to serve the educational needs of the region by providing an authentic Montessori education from 1st through 8th grade to all children regardless of socioeconomic, racial, religious, sexual orientation, and ethnic backgrounds. Dr. Maria Montessori’s method of education is the foundation of our vision. We feel that applying this method of education will help solve some of the educational problems that arise from the diversity in our community. We have chosen a method that embraces diversity and provides students with the framework they need to prosper in multi-cultural environments. Montessori Academy Preparatory School’s “whole child” approach empowers students to independently discover their own solutions. The role of the School is to facilitate by giving students the tools and challenges they require. Our School will meet student’s intellectual, emotional, social, physical and spiritual needs. We will nurture each student’s unique journey toward knowledge. MAPS’ children will learn to appreciate, embrace and capture the always surprising and infinite possibilities of our world. In accordance with its vision, the focus of the educational program at MAPS is to ensure that all students meet rigorous academic, personal and social achievement objectives. This will be accomplished using a curriculum that effectively aligns, merges, and consolidates the Montessori curriculum, the Indiana State Curriculum Frameworks, and MAPS’ Learning Objectives. Montessori’s holistic, individualized approach, and integrated character education make it well suited to achieving the mission. Students will be motivated by the materials, project-based curriculum, and integrated teaching and learning, enabling them to tackle the challenges necessary to become constructive contributors in society. Student success at MAPS is the shared responsibility of the students, their parents and their teachers. All three are essential partners in the quest for academic, personal and social excellence. MAPS will have numerous structures in place to support this partnership. Annual Goals and quarterly Individual Learning Agreements will be important vehicles for building teacher-student-parent commitment to success. At conferences, each member of this three-member team will commit to playing a role in achieving or supporting the student’s goals. This collaborative, working relationship will be further supported through mixed-age, multi-year classroom structures that allow for longer-term relationships. In addition, MAPS will provide regular communications on school and classroom events, and avenues and encouragement for meaningful parental involvement in the life of the school. Montessori Academy Preparatory School offers families the ability to choose a Montessori-based public school education beginning 2007-08. The school will initially enroll 90 children entering grades 1st to 3rd and grow to grades 1st to 8th at full capacity in 2012-13. A school and family commitment to academic excellence as well as grace, courtesy, respect and responsibility inspires children of all backgrounds, economic status and academic standing to reach their greatest potential. The carefully prepared environment, mixed-age classrooms, and individualized curriculum embrace the unique Montessori Method, not only a method of education but a preparation for life. MAPS is committed to hiring and sustaining high-quality teachers who have or are pursuing Montessori certification and meet State guidelines. The school is also committed to enhancing teachers’ abilities and leadership through continuous development within a professional learning community. A cornerstone of the school’s instructional design is developing teachers’ professional capacity so the highest standards are understood and perpetuated consistently throughout the school. Teachers will be given time during the school day to meet and discuss curriculum and assessment with an ongoing focus on accountability for student success. The city of Indianapolis will benefit by having a small, public Montessori school with a strong professional learning community. An individualized approach, provided in Montessori education, is M ontessori Academy Preparatory School Page 3 not currently available to the public outside of the IPS school district, but is a valuable and much-needed choice for a city with great socio-economic diversity and varied learning styles and needs. Our city has seen its population grow by almost 13% in the last decade with a large growth in international families moving into the area. With this in mind, Montessori philosophy is built upon diversity, respect and understanding of all people regardless of race, ability, or social economics. MAPS will allow families to choose a small school for their children’s elementary/middle school experience. This small size will also support improved student achievement because of the school’s capacity for control over its programs and staff development, and its ability to closely monitor and support the educational change process. The MAPS Founders’ Group is a strong team of parents, educators and community members who are committed to children and the city of Indianapolis. They believe in the effectiveness of the Montessori philosophy for improving student achievement and for developing students’ capacities and characters. The founders have a range of pertinent experience, including educational, financial, business and non-profit. All founders are committed to ensuring success of the school after startup by assuming roles on the Board of Trustees, committees, Parent-Teacher Alliance or as school staff or consultants. The School will be managed by the Montessori Foundation of Indianapolis which will hire the staff to operate the school. Montessori Foundation has in been existence for 5 years, and has manage to grow Montessori Academy of Indianapolis with a very limited budget (smaller than what the state provide per student) and create very successful children that are academic advance, yet peaceful and respectful. The leading School Founder, Vivian Cain, and the president of the Montessori Foundation of Indianapolis has over 15 years experience combined in the areas of engineering, entrepreneurship, management, finance, and education. This background and years of experience is supported by Vivian Cain’s intellectual capacity of Montessori Education Certification, B.S. in Industrial Engineering, and an MBA with a triple major in International Business, Finance, and New Venture and Business development (Entrepreneurship Major). Other Founding Members include Elizabeth Maliska, who is a certified Montessori Teacher, who has taught for over 25 years, and started up two successful Montessori Schools; Linda Bour who represent the community and has been very active and supportive of Montessori Education field for the last three years and has operated a very successful business for over 10 years; Gavin Maliska who represents Public Relationship in News Media has over 15 years of experience and over 20 years active in Montessori Education; Kaiser Low, an attorney, has over 10