1. What is the tuition to attend this charter school?
There is no tuition to attend. It is a free public charter school.

2. Are uniforms required?
Yes, students are required to wear uniforms.

3. Will there be free transportation to the school?
The Academy assists with carpooling information.

4. What is a typical daily schedule?
   6:30 a.m. - 8:00 Before School enrichment OASIS program (fee based)
   8:00-9:30 a.m. -- Language arts
   9:30 a.m.- 10:30 a.m. - Math
   10:30-3:30 ( 45 minute lunch-recess period; 60 minute science class; 90 minute paragon class, specials include foreign language, PE, drama, art and music.
   3:30-6 p.m. After School enrichment OASIS program (fee based) will periodically include programs such as sports, drama, art and music.

The regular school day at TPAAK will run from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Our extended day enrichment learning program, which is fee-based, will extend our school operations from 6:30 a.m.to 8 a.m. and from 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. every school day for those wishing to participate.

TPAAK has developed an exciting extended educational program (OASIS), which will be offered throughout the school year on all school days, professional development days and early release days. This program will be administered by our art, music, drama, foreign language and PE teaching staff and will offer content-rich courses for TPAAK students. This is not a day care or child care program but is an extended educational program offered by our professional staff.

We have tried to develop a fair and flexible fee structure and all fees must be paid in advance. We have included fee discounts for students who may have other scheduled before or after school activities during the month. Unfortunately, due to the averaging of rates we cannot issue credits for single day absences during the month.

TPAAK EDUCATIONAL ENRICHMENT PROGRAM - OASIS - FEE SCHEDULE

(Note: students who are recommended for tutoring by a teacher will not be charged any fees and will have their program tailored to meet their specific educational needs)

THE MORNING PROGRAM 6:30 A.M. - 8 A.M. (monthly fees)

August, December and June - $60/month for first child per family, $40/month each add'l child. All other school months - $75/month for first child, $50/ month per add'l child

Students scheduled to be absent 1 day per week- deduct $10 from advance monthly fees. Students scheduled to be absent 2 days per week- deduct $20 from advance monthly fees. Drop-in students will be charged $7 per morning session.

THE AFTERNOON PROGRAM 3:30 P.M. - 6 P.M. (monthly fees)

August, December and June - $150/month for first child per family, $100 / month each add'l child per family. All other school months - $190 per month for first child, $125 per month per add'l child.

Students scheduled to be absent 1 day per week may deduct $25 per month from fees.

Students scheduled to be absent 2 days per week may deduct $50 per month from fees.

Fees for daily drop-in students will be charged $12 per afternoon session.

THE COMBINATION MORNING & AFTERNOON PROGRAM (monthly fees)

6:30-8 A.M. AND 3:30 P.M. - 6 P.M.

August, December and June - $180/ month for first child per family, $120/ month per add'l child. All other school months - $225 per month for first child, $145/ month per add'l child

Students scheduled to be absent 1 day per week may deduct $25 per month from fees.

Students scheduled to be absent 2 days per week may deduct $50 per month from fees.

Fees for daily drop-in students will be charged $15 a total of for both sessions. or $5 for morning and $10 for afternon programs.

If you are interested in the program, please contact us at nccak@comcast.net and we'll forward a complete information and policy packet as the next step.

If you need financial assistance to participate in this program, please contact us at nccak@comcast.net so we can follow up with you.

5. My child has special needs, how do you provide for specialized services like speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy?
Special arrangements will be made to provide these services within the school setting through local resources.

6. Will students receive a hot lunch? If so, what is the cost?
Hot lunch service will be provided at a cost. Parents will be able to complete a form to determine if a child qualifies for a free or reduced–cost lunch service.

7. Describe how disciplinary issues are handled and the general philosophy on discipline.
A code of student conduct has been established by the Board of the Academy. It describes the school’s philosophy on discipline as follows:
“Discipline is the positive direction of behavior toward established standards of conduct, fully understood and based upon reason, judgment and consideration of the rights of others. Ideal discipline is self-directed and self-controlled. Schools, community and parents share the responsibility for helping students develop self-discipline. When self-control falters and self-discipline fails, disciplinary forces from outside the individual must be imposed to protect the rights of others and to ensure uninterrupted instruction by teachers for students.”
This code of conduct also lists the specific behaviors that warrant disciplinary action.

8. The information brochure mentions that parents are expected to volunteer two hours per month. What type of volunteer activity is expected of parents?
Parents are asked to volunteer in areas that meet their skills and interests. The specific tasks vary widely from reading to Kindergarten students to aiding in office duties.
9. Will students have to fundraise for the school?
No, children are not responsible for raising any funds for the school.

10. I understand that a lottery is held if “too many” students apply. How is the lottery handled? How do you ensure that it is fair?
There is a two-week open enrollment period in all schools. During these two weeks, if the number of applicants exceeds the number of spaces in a given grade, a lottery is held. The lottery time and date are set forth in a legal notice in the newspaper during the open enrollment period. The lottery is open to the public. A member of the administrative staff of the school and a member of the Board of Directors are both in attendance at the lottery. First preference is given to siblings of students already enrolled. Once the slots are filled, the remaining names are drawn and put on the waiting list in the order drawn. As spaces are made available in those grades, students are taken from the waiting list. If there is no waiting list in any grade, students are taken on a first-come-first-serve basis.

11. How do you handle the standardized state tests? Are these administered just as they are in the local public schools?
State Tests are administered just like any other public school. We participate in the same tests and use this data to help drive our school improvement.

12. Why should parents be confident that the school’s curriculum would help children excel on the state’s standardized tests?
Parents should feel confident that the school’s curriculum would help a child excel on the state standardized test because our curriculum is aligned to the state standards and benchmarks. It is also important to know that the school uses the Grade Level Content Expectations that have been put out by the state for English Language Arts and Math.

13. Is there any evidence that can be provided to help a parent assess the improvement of students who have been instructed using the school’s curriculum?
One way for parents to assess the improvement of their child is by reviewing the grade level content expectations. A child should know at the end of the school year all of the skills listed in that book in the grade level just completed. Parents can also use report cards as a means of reviewing the improvement of the child. Other reports such as the Parent Report from the national norm-referenced test (the Iowa Test of Basic Skills) and the A+ Tutorial Software results can provide parents with the information needed to see the improvement that a child has made.

14. How does your method of instruction address the variety of learning styles?
Our proprietary curriculum (Paragon) is one of many tools used to tap into the students’ multiple intelligences. We also use Personalized Student Achievement Plans to help clarify and focus on the attainment of specific academic and social goals.

15. I know there is a video on Paragon but I did not get a chance to see it. Can you describe Paragon and its elements?
Paragon Teaches Rich Content Through Hands-on Study
With a hands-on approach, Paragon addresses students’ multiple intelligences and individual learning styles. Through this engaging curriculum, students gain historical information, and come to understand the expansive potential open to them if they can identify with early clarity their individual strengths and sense of purpose.

Rather than teach history in bits and pieces in arbitrary sequence, Paragon’s fully integrated, chronological approach demonstrates to students how one idea builds on and evolves into another. The curriculum illustrates how sweeping cycles repeat and leads students to understand the evolutions of world cultures. In Paragon, students study history across continents, and gain a profound understanding of the manner in which many ideas develop at the same time in independent cultures unaware of the other’s breakthroughs. Through this, students develop a larger picture of history and the associated interrelationships. Rather than memorize names, dates, and events in isolation, students recall the sequential circumstances surrounding these events and remember more readily both factual information and conceptual relevance.

Paragon Curriculum is Practical Because it is Meaningful
Students learn connected networks of knowledge, skills, beliefs, and attitudes that they will find useful both in and outside of school. The significance and meaningfulness of the content is emphasized both in how it is presented to students, how it is developed through activities, and how it is authentically assessed. Step-by-step daily lesson plans are organized around essential questions- questions that have captivated thinkers for millennia and that will continue to fascinate students, thereby connecting them with the content more profoundly, more personally, and more purposefully.

16. What are the “Personalized Learning Plans” and how are they determined?
Each student has a Personalized Learning Plan (PSAP). This plan is a document that the student (if age-appropriate), parents and teacher complete. The teacher, to individualize instruction, uses all information gathered on this document. This document helps in the goal setting process as well as the collection of student data. Every quarter, the parent, teacher and child review this PSAP.

17. How does your curriculum change as students move into Middle School?
In the middle school, the school departmentalizes the instruction. The students have four different teachers that are highly qualified in the content that they are teaching. The students change classes and have more specialized instruction. The middle school curriculum revolves around Paragon and Paragon World Literature for the Humanities block. In Mathematics, the children are working towards the understanding of Algebra. This is a pre-requisite of most high schools before entering into the 9th grade. In Science, the students do more hands on lab instruction and have science experiments that they must complete with an integration of technology (some schools dissect animals online!). In the ELA block, students read novels and use more of a literacy circle approach to instruction. Some of our schools have adopted the writing program My Access to fulfill their writing requirements as well. Electives are offered based upon the school.

18. Can you describe how students use computers in your classrooms? On average, how many hours a week is a student spending on a computer?
Technology is used in the classroom throughout the day. Students view the Paragon Images during Paragon time; some use the computer to type up a story that they have written, while others use the Internet to do research. Depending on the amount of time spent on the A+ tutorial software, children average about 30 minutes a day using the computers in the classroom. Some teachers also have the children use the computers to learn to type or to use different math software that the school has purchased.

19. Dress Code
Students must comply with the UNIFORM dress code established by the TPAAK Board of Directors. Graphics or texts on clothing are not to be worn to school. If clothing violates the dress code, students will be sent to the office to call home for appropriate clothing.

Dress Code Guidelines

Elementary Dress Code Guidelines

Following are the approved clothing items, all items must be correct colors

Pants: navy or khaki tan, straight-legged or slight flair, twill or thin-wale corduroy, four pockets or less, with all pockets near the waistline and coin pockets do not count as a pocket. Pants should be off the ground but to the ankle in length. No cargo pants and no "hip hugger" or bell-bottom pants may be worn.

Shorts: Same as above colors. Shorts will be no shorter than 4" above knee, no longer than 2" below knee. No cargo shorts.

Skirt:: Same colors as above. Skirt may be no shorter than 3" above the knee.

Jumpers: Same colors as above. Jumper may be no shorter than 3" above the knee.

Skort: Same colors as above. Skort may be no shorter than 3" above the knee.

Shirts: Burgundy, white, hunter green, or sky blue turtleneck, long-or short-sleeved collared polo, or oxford cloth without emblems. Girls may wear a white blouse with long or short sleeves with peter pan or straight collar, not lace or other decoration. TPAAK logo tee-shirts may be worn only on designated Fridays. Absolutely no shirts that expose any part of the midsection are permitted.

Sweatshirt: Any of the above colors with TPAAK logo, to be worn over approved shirt.

Sweaters: Same as above colors - cardigan, v-neck or vest of flat-knit weave, no patterns or emblems. Sweaters should also be waist length.

Socks: Navy, tan or white ankle, crew or knee-high, with no decoration. Socks are always to be worn. Tights: navy or white plain or cable knit tights. No nylon stockings.

Undergarments: Plain white undershirts may be worn under school shirts. Shorts may be worn under skirts but should not be visible. Navy or white plain or cable knit tights are acceptable. No nylon stockings.

Shoes: Black, brown, white, navy solid or close-to solid colors in athletic or leather style. Shoelaces will also be the same color as the solid color of shoe with 1-2" soles and 1"heels maximum. No cowboy boots, open-toed or open-heeled shoes. Platform shoes not allowed. Winter boots can be worn to and from school and at outdoor recess and should be removed when in the building.

P.E.: Appropriate athletic shoes should be worn on gym days

Belt: Solid black, brown, navy, or khaki leather, weave or fabric belts with plain buckles. No decorations. Not required, but if worn, belt-ends no longer than 6" and tucked in.

Hair/Accessories: Accessories should be color-coordinated with dress code colors or neutral.

Hats: No hat of any kind may be worn inside the building.

Hair: Clean and combed appearance. Boys hair will be no longer than 1" below collar in back. Hair must have natural color. Outlandish hairstyles will be considered inappropriate at the Administrator’s discretion.

Jewelry: One of each of following may be worn: small necklace, bracelet, ring, watch. Girls only are permitted to wear one pierced post or small loops, 1/2" diameter or smaller earring per ear.

Nails: Clean and without ornamentation. Girls may wear clear nail polish only.

Scout Uniforms/Cheerleaders: Cub Scout, Brownie, Boy Scout and Girl Scout uniforms may be worn on meeting days. Athletic team uniforms may be worn on game days.

School Dress

The following dress down guidelines have been established:

1.             No torn or ripped clothing.

2.             No overly loose or tight clothing (no larger than 1 size larger or smaller than normal fitting).

3.             No underwear visible at any time.

4.             No clothing that features alcohol, drug, or gang references.

5.             No bare midriffs.

6.             No spaghetti strap tops unless sleeved shirt worn underneath.

7.             No slip-on shoes. Sandals, clogs, etc. must have a strap that securely fastens the shoe to the foot.

8.             No sleeveless items.

9.             Shorts, skorts, and skirts must be no shorter than mid thigh.

10.           Jeans & t-shirts are not acceptable

11.           No clothing that is disruptive to the learning environment.

6.06 - Dress Code Enforcement.

Compliance with the dress code is mandatory. Violations of the dress code will result in disciplinary actions against the student in the following manner:

(a)   Grades K-5

1.             If a student arrives at school improperly dressed, the teacher will note it when attendance is taken and a conduct mark will be given. The attendance slip will be sent to the school office. Students with a dress code violation may be called to the office to speak with the director. Parents may be called to bring the proper article of clothing to school.

2.             After repeated offenses, the director will schedule a conference with the parents to discuss the situation and seek a remedy to the problem. Further action will be taken if necessary.

(b) Grades 6-8

1.             If a middle school student arrives at school improperly dressed, the teacher will note it when attendance is taken and the teacher will complete a conduct mark sheet for the student and parent to sign. After three conduct marks the director will schedule a conference with the parents to discuss the situation and seek a remedy to the problem. Further action will be taken if necessary.