Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is Graystone Academy Charter School a Private School?
Q: What is the Tuition? How much does it cost to attend?
Q: How is Graystone Academy Charter School different from other
public schools?
Q: Is GACS under the direction of the Coatesville Area School
District (CASD)?
Q: Are GACS teachers certified?
Q: Are uniforms required?
Q: Who is allowed to Enroll in Graystone Academy Charter School?
Q: Is bussing provided to GASC?
Q: Will GACS be adding grades each year?
Q: What types of Special Teachers do you offer at GACS?
Q: Who is on the Administrative Team at GACS?
Q: Do you have any Instructional Aides at GACS?
Q: How do you handle Special Education Programs at GACS?
Q: What types of extra-curricular activities does GACS provide?
Q: What type of fee-based after-school care program is offered
at GACS?
Q: Does GACS have an Enrichment Program for Talented Students?
Q: What type of facility security does Graystone have?
Q: Does GACS have a hot lunch program?
Q: Does GACS have a school nurse?
Q: Can you tell me about your facility?
Enrollment FAQs
Q: How are children enrolled in GACS?
Q: Will there be a lottery to determine placement in Graystone
Academy Charter School for the 2006-2007 School Year? If so, how will it
work?
Q: Does it matter when during Open Enrollment I choose to register
my child?
Q: How will siblings be handled?
Q: When do parents find out if their child has been awarded
enrollment at Graystone Academy Charter School?
Q: Is Graystone Academy Charter School a Private School?
A: No. Graystone Academy is an alternative choice Public School and operates
under the State of Pennsylvania Charter School Act 22. As such, we are
under the supervision of the PA Department of Education.
Q: What is the Tuition? How much does it cost to attend?
A: Graystone Academy Charter School is a tuition-free public school,
paid for with local school tax dollars. We bill each enrolled student’s
school district for our allocation of funding as established by state
law. Currently, students have attended Graystone Academy from the school
districts of Coatesville, Downington, West Chester, Octorara and Twin
Valley.
Q: How is Graystone Academy Charter School different from other
public schools?
A: There will be many environmental and intellectual differences from
a traditional public school, but the biggest points are:
a) GACS has a longer academic year and a longer day that models European
schools. This additional instruction time assists children in exceeding
standards and excelling academically by giving them more classroom hours
annually.
b) All grades are in one building to create synergy between the grades
and students. For instance, we offer the 6th and 7th graders a chance
to be role models for the lower grades through the Service Learning Program.
c) Kindergarteners all start with full day - every day classes, including
several rest periods.
d) Multi-cultural instruction is integrated into learning and includes
Spanish instruction for all grades.
e) Computers are an essential part of the daily curriculum with a high
speed internet access in all classrooms, seven computers in every classroom
and a computer lab.
f) Parental involvement is a requirement, with a 2-hour a month donation
of time by at least one parent for each child. We encourage parents to
come to our Classroom Viewing Room and watch their child in class via
TV monitors in every classroom.
g ) Class size is limited to 25 students per class.
h ) The GACS curriculum is not dictated by the school district. Parents,
teachers and the administrative staff select the GACS accredited curriculum
for all grades. (See additional information on the Paragon
Curriculum.)
Q: Is GACS under the direction of the Coatesville Area School District
(CASD)?
A: The only involvement the CASD has with Graystone is that the CASD
School Board approved the award of the school’s charter, the documents
that established our school under the direction of the PA Department
of Education. GACS elects its own Board of Trustees, hires its own staff
and administrators and establishes its own policies and curriculum which
adhere to established State of PA Education Department guidelines.
Q: Are GACS teachers certified?
A: Absolutely! Per state law, ALL of our teachers must be certified (or
be in the process of getting their certification per state guidelines.)
Graystone teachers are considered state public school employees and are
also enrolled in the state teacher’s retirement program.
Q: Are uniforms required?
A: Yes, we have a uniform-like policy that allows for the purchase of
approved clothing at any store, as long as the items conform to our standards.
Q: Who is allowed to Enroll in Graystone Academy Charter School?
A: For the 2006/2007 school year, all kindergarten (age 5 by 9/1/06)
through 10th grade students residing in Pennsylvania may apply for admission.
Q: Is bussing provided to GASC?
A: Busing is provided for free only by school districts ADJACENT to CASD
or within 10 miles of the school districts border. This has included
the school districts of: Downingtown, West Chester, Coatesville, Twin
Valley, Octorara and Pequa Valley.
Q: Will GACS be adding grades each year?
A: Yes! Our plan is to add one grade each year until the school spans
kindergarten to 12th grade. During the 2006-2007 school year, GACS has
over 500 students in grades K-10th.
Q: What types of Special Teachers do you offer at GACS?
A: Currently, all students have dedicated teachers for Music, Art, Physical
Education, Technology, and Spanish. Graystone also has a full-time Guidance
Counselor. The 6th, 7th and 8th grade students also have dedicated Math
and Science teachers. Program facilitator/ instructors oversee our cyber-blended
high school program.
Q: Who is on the Administrative Team at GACS?
A: Our Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is Dr. Linda Portlock and the Principal
is Rose Sampson. There are two Assistant Principals and many office staffers
who manage our operations.
Q: Do you have any Instructional Aides at GACS?
A: Yes. We have full-time aides in all kindergarten classes, and other
floating aides who support grades 1-3.
Q: How do you handle Special Education Programs at GACS?
A: We have a full-time Special Education Teacher and a full-time Special
Education Aide at our school. As required, students are tested for IEP’s
to determine qualification in this program.
Q: What types of extra-curricular activities does GACS provide?
A: We believe in an active after school activity program. While these
may change from year to year, clubs usually include: Girl Scouts, Boy
Scouts, Drama Club, Dance and Cheer Club (K-3rd), After- School Sports
Program, Cooking Club and Culture Club. In addition, we participate in
the Coatesville Area School District Spelling Bee, Math Counts and Academic
Bowl Competition. High School students residing in the Coatesville School
District may participate in the sports program at Coatesville Senior
High School.
Q: What type of fee-based after-school care program is offered
at GACS?
A: Our own after-school program offers tutorial assistance with homework
and fun activities. It is available on a paid basis and we can usually
accommodate additional children on a day-to-day basis with one-week advance
notice. A flexible schedule, for instance two or three days a week vs.
5 days a week, may be available with advance notice. Please call the
school for more information.
Q: Does GACS have an Enrichment Program for Talented Students?
A: Yes! We have a wonderful and challenging program for talented students
that provides enrichment course work for students who need more demanding
academic material. Please ask us about requirements for enrollment in
this program.
Q: How does GACS evaluate academic achievement?
A: GACS tests all children twice a year through standardized testing
called Terra Nova testing. This ranks all children against their peers
nationally and identifies areas where students need improvement. An individualized
learning plan is developed for each child to bring them up to standards
or help them advance to a higher level, in each area of core curriculum.
Comprehensive report cards are issued at the end of each marking period.
Q: What type of facility security does Graystone have?
A: We are proud of our investment in the best security system in any
school in our area that includes the following:
-Buzzer at the main door with security camera
-Alarms on all exit doors
-Key-only activated elevators
-TV monitors in all main classrooms
and hallways
-Security Access Cards for all staff
Q: Does GACS have a hot lunch program?
A: The hot lunch program is available to all students. Our cafeteria
area is large, carpeted and very bright. The federally-funded free
or reduced cost lunch program is available to qualified students.
Q: Does GACS have a school nurse?
A: We have a full-time school nurse. The nurse’s office
includes a waiting room and separate treatment room. Please check
with the nurse on what is required to administer medications
during school hours.
Q: Can you tell me about your facility?
A: The school is located in South Coatesville on two floors of
a large office building that was once called the Administrative
Resources Center for Luken’s Steel. The school renovated
the floors to include 35+ classrooms, cafeteria, library, computer
lab, two multi-purpose rooms, 8 offices, 2 break-out rooms, parent
viewing room (where parents can watch their child on TV monitors),
2 Special Education rooms and other teacher work rooms. It is
fully air-conditioned, carpeted and includes a sprinkler system.
The school is located on a 120-acre campus with hiking trails,
grassy outdoor play areas, basketball play area, and playground.
GACS ENROLLMENT INFORMATION
Q: How are children enrolled in GACS?
A: Children who already attend the school will automatically move
to the next grade if they meet the academic requirements. For new
students wishing to enroll, the Charter School Law (PA ACT 22 of
1997) gives students who reside in the school district where the
school resides, in our case Coatesville Area School District, preference
during open enrollment. If there are more students wishing to enroll,
than available spots, there will be a Lottery help to determine which
students will be enrolled. After Open Enrollment closes, any PA resident
student desiring to enroll in Graystone Academy will still be allowed
to do so, but will be placed in next order in the desired grade or
if a lottery is necessary, at the end of the entire waiting list
for that grade. This waiting list may include students from surrounding
school districts, and preference will no longer be given during that
year to Coatesville Area School District students.
Q: Will there be a lottery to determine placement in Graystone
Academy Charter School for the 2006-2007 School Year? If so, how will it work?
A: Per the Charter School Law, if during Open Enrollment, it is determined
that any grade is over enrolled, there will be a lottery for that
grade. Preference during the lottery is given to CASD students. During
the lottery, grades will be filled first by students residing in
the CASD, then by non-resident students and a waiting list will be
maintained.
Q: Does it matter when during Open Enrollment I choose to register
my child?
A: No. Per the Charter School Law, enrollment is not first come,
first served. Any date a parent chooses to register their child during
the Open Enrollment period will be treated the same. Please call
the school to find out when Open Enrollment will be for the upcoming
year. It is usually in January and February.
Q: How will siblings be handled?
A: Graystone Academy will strive to keep all families together per
the Charter School Law, but can not guarantee it. As soon as a slot
opens for the waiting sibling of an enrolled child, the sibling will
be given preference over any child on the waiting list.
Q: When do parents find out if their child has been awarded enrollment
at Graystone Academy Charter School?
A: Parents are encouraged to call the school to find out when
and if a lottery will be held. We will strive to notify parents
of their child’s
placement on a waiting list within 2 weeks after the lottery
has been drawn via the US mail.
Please direct any questions about Graystone Academy to our Administrative Office, at 610-383-4311.