Niagara Charter School’s Mission and Vision
Our Mission: Niagara Charter School strives to develop each student’s character through engaging and challenging academic work. Our school believes that academic success is built on strong character qualities of collaboration, perseverance, responsibility, and compassion.
Our Vision: Niagara Charter School is committed to the common goal to develop every student as a life-ready leader with the potential to make a difference in the world.
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What is a Charter School?
Charter schools are free, publicly-funded, independently-operated schools of choice that are allowed to operate with more freedom than traditional public schools. There are no admissions criteria; any student who is grade-level eligible can enroll through a non-discriminatory admissions lottery. Charter schools are offered certain freedoms— mainly over the budget, curriculum and personnel. Due to this large amount of freedom; the level of academic accountability is much higher than a Public school. This is beneficial because it is a guarantee that your child is learning what is required and more. Charter schools operate under five-year performance contracts, and are held to the same New York State Regents’ performance standards established for all public schools.
A Board of Trustees governs charter schools.
How are Charter Schools Different from Public Schools?
Charter schools can be started by educators, parents, community leaders and not-for-profit organizations. Because they are held to very high standards and are responsible for educating public school students, charter schools are approved only after a rigorous review process. Once schools open, they are governed by a not-for-profit board of trustees. They are exempt from many state and local regulations regarding curriculum development, personnel hiring and financial management, but must succeed in hitting established targets for their academic programs.
How are Charter Schools Funded?
Charter schools receive a per-pupil allocation from the state. This per-pupil allocation varies from year to year, but in the City of Buffalo, in general, has been routinely equivalent to approximately 60% of the total per pupil expenditure of a Buffalo public school student. In order to make up for this funding discrepancy, charter schools must privately raise funds.
What are the Benefits of Enrolling My Child in a Charter School?
Charter schools provide an innovative alternative to traditional public schools. With their high degree of autonomy, aggressive performance goals and strict accountability, charter schools:
– Enable teachers to be more creative and innovative in their teaching methods and subject matter;
– Provide an added educational resources in areas not provided by public schools;
– Tend to be smaller in classroom size and overall student body for more personalized attention;
– Allow parents to choose a school based on what they think will work best for their children;
– Held responsible for meeting student performance goals.
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The Leader in Me
The Leader in Me is Franklin Covey’s whole school transformation process. It teaches 21st century leadership and life skills to students and creates a culture of student empowerment based on the idea that every child can be a leader.
The goal of a Leader in Me school is to establish a school-wide system that focuses on three key principles.
Key Principles:
- Teach and Model Leadership Skills
- Create a Culture of Student Empowerment
- Align Behavior and Actions for Academic Success
The Leader in Me curriculum is centered around the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Our school has embedded the 7 Habits into our daily routines, instructional practices, and our school culture. We are committed to helping students understand that change begins with them and they have the power to succeed beyond measure.
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People are:
- Habit 1: Be Proactive(You’re in Charge)
- Habit 2: Begin With the End in Mind(Have a Plan)
- Habit 3: Put First Things First(Work First, Then Play)
- Habit 4: Think Win-Win(Everyone Can Win)
- Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood (Listen Before You Speak)
- Habit 6: Synergize(Together Is Better)
- Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw(Balance Feels Best)
Niagara Charter School is proud to be one of over 2,000 public, private, charter and magnet schools across 35 countries to have adopted The Leader in Me process.
Click on the links below to learn more about the 7 Habits and how they can be used at home to build a culture of effectiveness.
https://www.leaderinme.com/resources/parent-s-guide-english
https://www.leaderinme.com/resources/parent-guide-spanish
EL Education
The EL Education model challenges students to think critically and take active roles in their classrooms and communities, resulting in higher achievement and greater engagement in school.
In EL Education Schools –
Learning is active. Students are scientists, urban planners, historians, and activists, investigating real community problems and collaborating with peers to develop creative, actionable solutions.
Learning is challenging. Students at all levels are pushed and supported to do more than they think they can.
Learning is meaningful. Students apply their skills and knowledge to real-world issues and problems and make positive change in their communities.
Learning is public. Through formal structures of presentation, exhibition, critique, and data analysis, students and teachers build a shared vision of pathways to achievement.
Learning is collaborative. School leaders, teachers, students, and families share rigorous expectations for quality work, achievement, and behavior.
For more information on Expeditionary Learning, please visit www.elschools.org.
Student-led Conferences
At Niagara Charter School, students archive and organize their work into portfolios. Students’ portfolios demonstrate proficiency of content and skills over time. They include multiple drafts, self-reflections, and feedback from teachers that show how their work has improved and how they have met the learning targets. At the end of the school year, Niagara Charter School schedules time to engage students and their families in conferences in which students communicate their progress toward both academic learning targets and habits of scholarship.
Crew
At Niagara Charter School, crew meetings involving the whole class are held at the beginning of the day. Crew provides a time to focus on relationship building among students and between adults and students through greetings, personal sharing, and classroom discussions.
P.R.I.D.E.
Niagara Charter School has P.R.I.D.E.!
Perserverance
Respect
Integrity
Dedication
Excellence
