1. What is a charter school?
        A charter school is a public school and may provide instruction in any grades
    K-12. A charter school is usually created or organized by a group of teachers
    parents, and community leaders, or a community-based organization and is
    usually sponsored by an existing local public school board or county board of
    education. Specific goals and operating procedures for the charter school are
    detailed in an agreement (or "charter") between the sponsoring board and 
    charter organizers.
        A charter school is generally exempt from most laws governing school
    districts, except where specifically noted in the law. California public charter
    schools are required to participate in the statewide assessment test, called
    the STAR (Standardized Testing and Reporting) program. The law also requires
    that a public charter school be nonsectarian in its programs, admission policies,
    employment practices, and all other operations, and prohibits the conversion of
    a private school to a charter school. Public charter schools may not charge
    tuition and may not discriminate against any pupil on the basis of ethnicity,
    national origin, gender, or disability.

2. What are your school hours?
        The school day begins at 8:00am for students in 1st-8th grade and ends at
    3:00pm. Kindergarten begins at 8:00am and ends at 12:00pm.

3. Do you charge tuition?
         No. We are a public charter school.

4. What is your dress code?
         Our dress code is stated in our Parent Handbook. Please use the link below
    for more information.
2022-2023 Parent Student Handbook

5. What sports programs do you offer?
         Sherman Thomas Charter School participates in Madera Unified's elementary
    league (M.U.L.E.S.) in the country school division. Please click on the link for
    schedules and current standings.

6. What enrichment programs do you offer?
         Some of the programs we offer include: Computer Lab (Technology),  Physical Education and Drama.

7. Do you offer Special Education Services?
        Special Education services are provided in accordance with Madera County Office of Education's guidelines.

8. How often do you give report cards and how do you give grades?
        We give out report cards every trimester as well as progress reports. Our
   report cards are standards-based.

9. Are your teachers NCLB (No Child Left Behind) and Credentialed?
        Yes, STCS teaching staff meets all state and federal requirements for
   teachers.

10. Do you offer an After School Program (ASP)?
         Yes. Our After School Program, ran by Teaching Fellowes, begins at 3:00pm  and ends at 6:00pm. Our structured programs includes: homework time,
     curriculum time, arts and crafts, snack, and more.

11. Are you a Profit or Non-Profit Charter School?
         We are a Non-Profit Charter School.

12. What is your lunch schedule?
         Depending on the weather, our lunch schedule is as follows. If it is raining
     or a half day, the lunch schedules differ and are also listed below. 
2022-2023 Parent Student Handbook

If you have any further questions, please call (559) 674-1192 ext 103 or email Milagros Delgado at mdelgado@mystcs.org