Vida Charter School Charter School Comprehensive Plan July 1, 2016 – June 30, 2019 Ms. Cynthia Maldonado - Director Vida Charter School October 2015 2 Charter School Profile Demographics Eisenhower Center 120 E Broadway Gettysburg, PA 17325 (717) 334-3643 AYP Status: None CEO: Cynthia Maldonado Date of Local Chartering School Board/PDE Approval: 11/3/2014 Length of Charter: 5 years Opening Date: 1/2/2010 Grade Level: K-6 Hours of Operation: 8:15AM - 3:15PM Percentage of Certified Staff: 78.00 % Total Instructional Staff: 25 Student/Teacher Ratio: 10:1 Student Waiting List: 0 Attendance Rate/Percentage: 95.00 % Enrollment: 229 Weighted Averages - Regular Education $9715 and Per Pupil Subsidy: Special Education $20,090 Percentage of Students from Low Income Families Eligible for a Free or Reduced Lunch: 67.00 % Provide the Total Unduplicated Number of Students Receiving Special Services (Excluding Gifted) as of Previous December: 22 Student Profile Group Student Count American Indian/Alaskan Native 0.00 Asian/Pacific Islander 1.00 Black (Non-Hispanic) 1.00 Hispanic 122.00 White (Non-Hispanic) 85.00 Multicultural 20.00 3 Instructional Days and Hours Number Of K (AM) K (PM) K (FT) Elementary Middle Secondary Instructional Days 0.00 0.00 181.00 181.00 0.00 0.00 Instructional Hours 0.00 0.00 995.50 995.50 0.00 0.00 Planning Process VIDA Charter School Comprehensive Planning Framework School Year 2014- 2015 Timeline for Comprehensive Plan As a Phase 1 Charter School, VIDA Charter School will be submitting their Comprehensive Plan to PDE on November 30, 2015. October 2014 - Announcement to staff about development of Comprehensive Plan. Reflection sessions with Board and Staff. October – June 2015 – Collect data, needs assessment as per comprehensive plan. January - June 2015 – Translation of information into the PDE Off-line Comprehensive Plan Web-Tool. May 4, 2015 – Steering Committee Session with representative stakeholders –Goals & Strategies. May– July 2015 Action Plans Developed. July/August 2015 Plans Finalized. August/September 2015 – Comprehensive Plan inputted into PDE Web Tool. October 2015 until November 2015 –Comprehensive Plan on display for 28 days for public review. November 16, 2015 –Comprehensive Plan Approved by VIDA Charter School Board of Trustees. November 17, 2015 – Comprehensive Plan to be submitted electronically to PDE. 4 Mission Statement Vida Charter School Mission Our school’s purpose is to educate students in Spanish and English. We promote academic excellence and intellectual curiosity for families who value cross-cultural understanding and healthy lifestyles. Vision Statement Vida Charter School Vision The vision for Vida Charter School is to become a leader in dual language immersion education in Pennsylvania through • Disciplined use of our comprehensive plan, • Strategic allocation of our resources and, • Ongoing investments in highly qualified staff. Shared Values Vida Charter School Shared Values We believe that…. A nurturing and safe school environment creates a strong foundation for diversity, bilingual learning, and intellectual growth. Students grow through a balance of curiosity, challenge, and dedication to learning. Engaged learning requires a positive school culture and a robust curriculum. It is the school’s responsibility to set high expectations for all students and staff. Health is fundamental to learning: physically, emotionally, and socially. 5 Norms- Developed by the students of the Vida Charter School: 1. Be respectful. 2. Be responsible. 3. Be safe. 4. Be positive. 5. Listen. Educational Community Vida Charter School is a small, public, regional charter school located at 120 East Broadway Street, in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. It is one of two public charters schools operating in Adams County. Vida’s education program is a Dual Language Spanish/English curriculum rooted in Healthy Lifestyles. Vida helps the whole child be successful. The Vida Staff is committed to working collaboratively with one another to provide results oriented instruction that focuses on the success and achievement of every Vida student. Our shared mission and vision is focused on the work we do together to encourage the social, emotional, and academic growth of all our students. Board of Trustees Name Office Address Phone Email Cynthia Vice 429 South 717.633.757 [email protected] Bowen President Center 0 Street Hanover, PA 17331 Josef Member 244 717-693- [email protected] Brandauer Springs 4926 Ave. Gettysburg PA 17325 Kathleen Member 541 [email protected] Cunniffe Reading 484.802.034 Avenue 8 West Reading, 6 PA 19611 Amanda Board 218 North [email protected] Kittelberger Chair Stratton 717.334.918 Street 0 Gettysburg, PA 17325 LynnMarie Treasure 63 Kaitlyn [email protected] Leonard r Drive 717.646.028 Hanover, 5 PA 17331 Cynthia CEO 120 E. 717-334- [email protected] Maldonado Broadway 3643 m Gettysburg PA 17325 Donald Member 61 East 717-334- [email protected] Marritz Broadway 7156 Gettysburg PA 17325 Maurico Member 20 North 717-334- [email protected] Novoa Washingto 3643 n Street, Apt. B Gettysburg PA 17325 Melissa Member 1012 717-386- [email protected] Rosenberge Goodyear 0913 r Road, Gardners PA 17324 Susan Secretary 1191 Ridge 717.334.204 [email protected] White Road 4 Gettysburg, PA 17325 Board of Trustees Professional Development Vida Board of Trustees of Vida Charter School has training, which happens three times a year. At the start of the year there is a general orientation. We also hold an annual retreat for the purpose of providing professional development to new and returning trustees. Topics covered include Board Governance and Policies including a review of the Sunshine Law and the Public Officials Act, fiscal responsibilities, legal duties, and strategic planning. We generally bring in a consultant to do this. Additionally we use a 7 company called Board on Track to help Board Members become acquainted with and proficient at being on a Charter School Board of Trustees. Governance and Management The Vida Charter School board serves the public trust to see to it that Vida achieves appropriate results for students and their families at a cost that is within the means of the charter school, and that Vida avoids unacceptable actions and situations. The job of the Board is to represent the "public trust" of Vida Charter School. The Board determines and requires appropriate organizational performance throughout Vida through policy governance. Using a governance style consistent with Board policies, the Board continually improves its performance through attention to Board education, related to charter school laws, requirements of the charter authorizer, to teaching and learning designs, and to broad based input and deliberation. The Board will instruct the Executive Director through written policies that prescribe the organizational ends to be achieved and describe organizational situations and actions to be avoided, allowing the Executive Director to use any reasonable interpretation of these policies. The day-to-day operation of the organization including maintaining relationships with the School Districts of Gettysburg and Hanover and PDE is delegated to the Executive Director. Student Enrollment To enter Vida Charter School in kindergarten, students must reside within Pennsylvania and must have their fifth birthday by the kindergarten cutoff date (September 1st) for the school district in which the child legally resides. In order to enroll, the parents must complete a registration packet, and present proof of residence, copy of the child's birth certificate, and a current copy of the child's immunizations. Parent Communication Communications to parents regarding registration procedures, dates, and when applicable, a description of the lottery process. Files uploaded: • Enrollment Process.docx Registration Policy Registration Policy DOC file uploaded. Intent to Enroll Form Intent to Enroll Form (English and all other languages) DOC file uploaded. 8 Student Enrollment History Enrollment History—Part I School Year Number of Number of Number of Reasons Number of Students at Students at Students Students Students the the End of the Expelled Withdrew Retained Beginning of School Year During the the School Year Year 2009 29 27 0 move away, 0 return to home district 2010 91 85 0 move away, 0 return to home district 2011 165 165 0 move away 0 from area, return to home district 2012 210 218 0 Moved into 2 the area, wanted Dual Language Immersion 2013 215 219 0 Moved into 0 the area, wanted Dual Language Immersion 2014 237 229 0 move away 0 from area, return to home district, home schooling Enrollment History—Part 2—Enrollment by Grade by School Year School K 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Year 2009 10 7 8 4 2010 36 18 15 10 12 9 2011 46 52 22 19 16 10 2012 47 48 55 28 18 13 9 2013 41 44 42 41 26 14 11 2014 45 46 49 42 36 26 8 Planning Committee Name Role Cindi Bowen Board Member Mary Cañedo Elementary School Teacher - Regular Education Amelia Contreras Business Representative Maria Gellman Elementary School Teacher - Regular Education Blair Gill Business Representative Forrest Haffey Middle School Teacher - Regular Education Audrey Hess Ed Specialist - Other Ellie Hurst Elementary School Teacher - Regular Education Jackie Kapfhammer Elementary School Teacher - Regular Education Ryan Kerney Parent Lynn Leonard Board Member Cynthia Maldonado Administrator Don Marritz Community Representative Christie Miller Administrator High School Teacher N/A to Charter