Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions and answers about City Neighbors Charter
School
What is a "charter school" and what is the purpose of it?
Why this new school?
What is the focus of the school?
Who will the students be?
What is "project-based"
learning?
How will the
family participation component work?
Will the
school schedule be the same as other schools?
What about class and school size?
What type of
enrichment activities will be offered?
How will students
interact with their community?
Where will the school be located?
Will teachers be credentialed?
How
much input will parents have regarding curriculum and activities? Will parents
have more control than they currently do?
How will the students be tested?
Maryland Report Card
If
everything is done as projects, does that mean there won't be an emphasis on
strong academics?
About Project-Based Learning
What is a "charter school" and what is the
purpose of it?
A charter school is a public school that is organized by a group of teachers,
community members, parents, or others and sponsored by an existing public
school board or a county office of education. Charter schools are open to all
students and do not charge tuition. Funding is provided through state and
local revenues. They operate more independently than traditional public
schools do, and are held accountable for both their student academic
performance and fiscal practice. The specific goals and operating procedures
for City Neighbors Charter School are spelled out in the charter document -
the legal agreement between the charter granting board and the
organizer. Return to top of page.
Why this new school?
Providing the option of a small, family and community oriented K-8 school to
compliment the existing comprehensive public school system expands the
educational choices available to students and families in this
community.
What is the focus of the school?
City Neighbors Charter School's mission statement emphasizes three critical
components: strong family involvement, community interaction and project-based
learning.
Who will the students be?
City Neighbors Charter School will reflect the diversity of our neighborhood residents of Baltimore City. Including high performing students, English language learners, and special
needs students. There are no formal admissions requirements, but is expected
that enrolling families will be familiar with and support the mission and
vision of the school. If the number of applicants for a particular grade level
exceeds the capacity of the school, enrollment for that grade will be
determined by a random lottery as outlined in the charter
document.
What is "project-based" learning?
Project-based learning is learning through real life experiences. The
activities or projects may be the way in which students acquire skills or
knowledge initially, or it may be how they learn to apply a variety of
concepts that they already know. It is also about tying together separate
skills in meaningful ways, across the curricular areas. Instruction can be
tailored to the needs of the students and, because projects are open-ended,
students have the opportunity to explore problems at a variety of depths or
levels.
How will the family participation component work?
The school and families will work together to create a participation plan for
each family. Each family will be encouraged to give 60 hours per year toward
the school. The plan will be flexible so that families can participate in a
variety of traditional and non-traditional ways.
Will the school schedule be the same as other schools?
We are currently following Baltimore City Public School Calendar.
School Hours:
Monday Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 8:15 AM - 3:00 PM
Wednesday 8:15 AM - 1:00 PM Return
to top of page.
What about class and school size?
Our plan for the first year is to have one class each for Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th grades, with a maximum of 20 students
per grade. We use multi-age grouping so the classes will have 20 students in
each class. The plan is to expand the school size over the next three years
until we reach 8th grade. At which time we will be K through eight, with
an anticipated maximum school size of 180.
What type of enrichment activities will be offered?
Our curriculum is inspired by Reggio Emilia This is an educational philosophy
that asks, "What are the 100 languages of children?" Enrichment is
woven throughout every classroom in all areas of the curriculum. All students
will have regular enrichment activities, in areas such as extended science,
languages, life skills, physical education, music, and other fine arts. These
activities are important not only in developing will rounded children, but
also in strengthening their learning in the main content areas (reading,
writing, math, social studies, science, etc.) Additionally, all students will
have access to computers and other technology, to support them in their
education.
How will students interact with their community?
Students will interact with the public both in the community and in work
settings. They will do projects with business, government, and community
organizations. Community and business people will interact with students at
the school, and partnerships will be developed with local businesses and
agencies. Through community interaction, students will feel a part of the
larger community, see the relevance of their academic learning to everyday
life, and understand their responsibilities as citizens.
Where will the school be located?
The location will be at the site of
Epiphany Lutheran Church
4301 Raspe Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21206-1913
map Return to
top of page.
Will teachers be credentialed?
Core subject teachers are required to hold the Maryland State
Certification.
How much input will parents have regarding curriculum and
activities? Will parents have more control than they currently do?
As a family participation school, parents will have many opportunities for
input and suggestions. The ultimate decisions regarding curriculum will be
made by the school staff/administration, who will have a commitment to the
school's education plan based on the school's mission statement/vision and as
outlined in the charter document.
How will the students be tested?
In addition to the required state assessment examinations, teachers will have
many options for student assessment. Examples include running records,
presentations, projects, portfolios, and video taping over time to show
student progress.
View City Neighbors Charter School Test resultsMaryland Report Card
If everything is done as projects, does that mean there
won't be an emphasis on strong academics?
The purpose of project-based learning is to teach and then reinforce a variety
of academic concepts by applying them to experiences that are meaningful, long
lasting and effective. All students will be expected to perform at their
highest level and to excel in the content areas outlined in the state
curriculum standards.
Project-Based Learning:
A project-based learning method is a comprehensive approach to
instruction. Students participate in projects and practice an
interdisciplinary array of skills from math, language arts, fine arts,
geography, science, and technology. The collaborative nature of the
investigation enhances student's experiences as well as promotes a greater
appreciation for social responsibility.
Project-based learning (PBL) is a model for classroom activity that shifts away from the classroom practices of short, isolated, teacher-centered lessons and instead emphasizes learning activities that are long-term, interdisciplinary, student-centered, and integrated with real world issues and practices.
One immediate benefit of practicing PBL is the unique way that it can motivate students by engaging them in their own learning. PBL provides opportunities for students to pursue their own interests and questions and make decisions about how they will find answers and solve problems. PBL also provides opportunities for interdisciplinary learning. Students apply and integrate the content of different subjects areas at authentic moments in the production process, instead of in isolation or in an artificial setting.
PBL helps make the learning relevant and useful to students by establishing connections to life outside the classroom, addressing real world concerns, and developing real world skills. Many of the skills learned through PBL are those desired by today's employer, including the ability to work well with others, make thoughtful decisions, take initiative, and solve complex problems.
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