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FAQ

1. What is a charter school?

A charter school is a public school that operates as a school of choice. Charter schools commit to obtaining specific educational objectives in return for a charter to operate a school. Charter schools adhere to regulations of public schools and do not charge any tuition.

2. Are charter schools free?

Charter schools are tuition-free. As public schools, charter schools are publicly funded by local, state, and federal tax dollars similar to district schools. This funding ensures that charter schools are free to the public and open to all.

3. Are charters public schools?

Yes, charter schools are tuition-free, public schools that operate independently from the school district’s central bureaucracy. Each charter school is governed by its own local school community, which often includes parents and teachers – rather than a district. This freedom allows teachers to be more innovative and signed with their community to shape their local school.

 4. What does MCSA offer?

  • STEM Education
  • STEM Fair
  • Vex Robotics (Grades 6-8)
  • AIG Programs
  • Full Gymnasium
  • Before and After school care
  • Free Bus Transportation
  • Coding Classes

5. How do I apply for MCSA?

You may apply directly in person during regular school hours or you can apply online at the following link: Apply Now

6. Will there be live teaching available via ZOOM for remote students? Are the assignments being uploaded for the parents to teach similar to last year?

There will be a balance of BOTH. You can expect an increase of face time from teachers if you choose the remote option. Work packets will also be available weekly or as needed. Parents will have access to the schools to send in completed work or projects, get new materials, etc. It will look differently than it did during March-May. To be clear, parents are not responsible for teaching. Parents should be considered the facilitator of the learning space to make sure their child is logging in, completing assignments, and engaging with the teachers.

7. If the number of live students is only 50% are A/ B days really necessary? Equally as difficult as remote learning?

While this may be challenging for a short while if you have a hard time keeping up with A/B day schedules, we have looked at several options and this is what we think will work best for our school at this time. We will adjust if we can based on the actual number of “live students” and how many can safely fit into a classroom with 6 feet of space.

8. Will EC (Exceptional Children) services be provided for kids who are remote only? Speech via zoom or Google Ed?

Absolutely! The EC dept will be complying with all student needs for IEPs. Additionally, we will be honoring all student 504 plans and ELL (English Language Learners) needs as well. This is for both on campus and remote. 

9. If we commit to a choice is it for the entire year?

We will revisit parent options and progress at the end of 9 weeks, with a possible option to change your selection after the first semester. This is critical for appropriate staffing and planning as it relates to transportation and other contracted services. 

10. During the remote option, how much of each day will be live instruction?

Students and parents can expect it to look differently depending on the age of your child. Details regarding each grade level’s remote day will be coming soon. 

11. Will the workshop model be modified to be safe or not done anymore? 

We will definitely continue with the remote model on a modified basis for face to face instruction. We will also offer a variation of the workshop model for remote instruction as well. 

12. Will school start on August 17th?   

Yes. School begins for all on Aug. 17th.

13. Will students who choose full remote have the option of returning if numbers get better in NC?

If the governor gives the go ahead to open schools fully, the board will reevaluate our delivery options. 

14. Will remote students have the capability of joining  school clubs?

We will have online clubs for students who are working from home.

15. Will remote students continue with Google Classroom or switch to Canvas like CMS?

We will be using Google Classroom.

16. If remote learning is chosen, will this be a teacher from MCSA?

Yes, teachers in middle school will teach face to face and then have a period in the daily schedule to teach remotely. There will be a combination of live and video recorded lessons.

17. If hybrid is chosen, students will either attend M,W, & F and then alternate on T & Th of the following week, correct?

No, Students will be assigned to group A or Group B. Group A will always attend on Monday and Wednesday with alternating Fridays and Group B will always attend on Tuesday and Thursday with alternating Fridays.

18.  Who’s in charge of cleaning desks and other frequently touched items in between classes?

Student will remain in one classroom and teachers will rotate. Cleaning crew will wipe down all surfaces daily and UV lights will be used at the end of every day to disinfect rooms.

19.  Will there be a misting, disinfectant spray throughout the school during its nightly cleaning ?

No, we will use UV lights and disinfectant cleaners approved for school use.

20. If a student or faculty member is exposed , what’s the protocol?

Public Health Toolkit

21. When students arrive, they go straight to class. What about aftercare? Or is that cancelled ?

Before and Aftercare will still be available to those who need it. The same social distancing and cleaning protocols app

22. If remote learning is chosen, will students be required to wear uniform top?

Students will wear a uniform top on any live meeting.

23. If we choose the Hybrid option how will the groups be decided?

We will try to keep last year’s class groups together as much as possible.

24. Can we choose what group we will be in?

If you have a circumstance that prohibits you from sending you child on one day versus another let us know.

25. What will the class sizes be? What is the maximum amount of children in each class?

Approximately ten students depending on the number of students who responded per grade level.

26. Will there be social distancing inside classrooms or just in common areas?

We have set classrooms up for desks to be 6 feet apart.

27. Will there be any type of plexi-glass dividers between kids desks?

No plexiglass but masks will be required.

28. The K-2nd bathrooms are shared between 2 classes. Are two classes considered a cohort, is an entire grade level considered a cohort? How many kids will my 1st grader likely come into contact with during any given day?

The cohort is defined by the teacher group.  Students will stay with their class group only but k-2 will share a bathroom.

29. K-5 recess will be structured recess outside without use of playground, will each class’ main teacher be with the kids on the playground or will it be a different teacher?

No playground use will be allowed until the Governor’s say so. The teacher will remain with their class.

30. Will there be any opportunity for free play or will it be all structured play?

The structured play will be games with no touch, ie. hopscotch, hula hoop, chalk drawing, they can play anything freely as long as there is no contact between students, which is hard because they often want to hold hands, hug, tag, etc… which is why the structure in the play.

31. What is the reasoning for the all year commitment to our choice of school style? Is it not possible to reevaluate quarterly or at the halfway mark?

There is a huge amount of logistical planning involved in the 2 choices we offer. If a handful of people decide they want to come back to school they will have to leave their teacher who has been designated a virtual teacher and come back to a face to face teacher. Considering social distancing there may not be space in a classroom.

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