Mission Statement

The Mohawk Valley Charter School’s primary mission is to enable EVERY child to achieve his/her optimal potential by providing a positive and supportive environment that will reduce barriers to learning and promote optimal academic, social, emotional and adaptive functioning through state-of-the-science, developmentally-sensitive individualized approaches to learning.

Philosophy

Several months ago, a meeting of several professionals and parents convened to discuss the possibility of beginning a charter school or private school in the Mohawk Valley Region. As a result of that meeting, the Mohawk Valley Charter School Initiative was born with the goal of creating a school with the following objectives:

· To provide every child with a positive and supportive environment that will promote optimal learning and high academic achievement;

· To encourage learning opportunities for all students, with special emphasis on expanded learning experiences for students who are at-risk of academic failure;

· To promote the use of state-of-the-science and innovative teaching methods;

· To provide parents and students with expanded choices in the types of educational opportunities that are not available within the traditional educational setting;

· To create new professional opportunities for educators, school administrators and other school personnel;

· To provide a system of accountability for results in public education;

· To encourage community and parent involvement in public education;

The Mohawk Valley Charter School Initiative is centrally focused on achieving the above-stated objectives. We envision a school where a child’s development is considered the priority, and staff are trained to proactively promote optimal functioning in each child. The realization of The Mohawk Valley Charter School is possible with the support and guidance from the community as a whole. Together, with your help, we will see this initiative to its fruition and bring about a true choice for children and families in the Mohawk Valley.

A charter school is a public school that receives public education funding, and is open to all children eligible to attend New York State public schools.

A charter school is independent of the local school district except with respect to special education.

Charter Schools are nonsectarian, tuition-free, and governed by their own self-selecting boards of trustees.

Under New York law, charter schools are defined as “independent and autonomous public schools.”

As of July 2008, there are 96 charter schools in operation, educating more than 30,000 students across New York State.

Any child eligible for admission to a traditional public school is eligible for admission to a public charter school, regardless of the student’s district of residence.

As public schools, charter schools are funded by public tax dollars that pass through the student's school district of residence on a per student basis.

Informative Charter School Links

Basic Information Sites (for NYS):
- www.nycsa.org
- www.newyorkcharters.org

FAQs about charter schools (in the US)

List of charter schools (in NYS)

State Report Card (NYS)

New York City Charter Schools

Informative Charter School Links

Coming Events: