FAQ

A charter school is an independently run public school granted greater flexibility in its operations, in return for greater accountability for performance. The “charter” establishing each school is a performance contract detailing the school’s mission, program, students served, performance goals, and methods of assessment.

Charter schools are public schools of choice, meaning that families choose them for their children. They operate with freedom from some of the regulations that are imposed upon district schools. Charter schools are accountable for academic results and for upholding the promises made in their charters. They must demonstrate performance in the areas of academic achievement, financial management, and organizational stability. If a charter school does not meet performance goals, it may be closed.

Nasha Shkola (Наша Школа) is Russian for Our School. The school is a product of four years of dedicated work by the Slavic Community Center. One of the goals of the school is to address the needs of the Twin Cities Russian-speaking community and support bilingual children entering the public school system.  To ensure academic excellence students are immersed in English as both language of instruction and language of curriculum content. Russian Language and Culture classes enrich the academic program and facilitate the acquisition of literacy in Russian and affirm students’ culture. Russian-speaking staff teach Russian Language, Music, Math and provide bilingual support services. Our program allows us to serve students who speak Russian at home and integrate them with English speaking children who desire to learn Russian. We are the only school in Minnesota to teach Russian language and culture to elementary-aged students.

Nasha Shkola enjoys a positive relationship with its authorizer, Innovative Quality Schools (IQS), has been authorizing innovative charter schools in Minnesota since 2010. IQS currently authorizes over 20 schools.  Nasha Shkola was authorized by IQS in October of 2011. The Commissioner approved the affidavit in January 2012.

Innovative Quality Schools (IQS)
P.O. Box 40219
St. Paul, MN 55104
651-234-0900

Thomas Tapper, Ed.D., Managing Director
ttapper@iqsmn.org

Milo Cutter, Ed.S., Director
mcutter@iqsmn.org

No.  Nasha Shkola is a public charter school and receives funding from the state according to the number of students attending the school.

Nasha Shkola currently enrolls 120+ students in grades K-8.  We have a capacity of serving up to 180 students in the building.

Currently, there are 20 students in Kindergarten class.  Grades 1-7 have up to 14 students in class. 8^th grade currently has 4 students.

Classes begin at 9:00 AM and end at 4:00 PM.  Drop off is at 8:30 AM.   The students will board buses at or before 4:15 PM.

Yes.  Daily homework is mandatory for all student in all grades.  Students in elementary grades are given a packet for weekly homework assignments.  With the grade progression homework becomes more rigorous.  In middle school, students are given an opportunity to partially complete homework at school.  Homework is designed to aid students in achieving classroom and school goals.  Over the summer, the summer packet is given to practice skills to prevent summer slide.

Nasha Shkola is open to all students.  Kindergarten student must be 5 years old on September 1^st of the admission year. Families are asked to sign School-Family Compact.

Yes.  Nasha Shkola employs a full-time ELL teacher.

Yes.   Nasha Shkola employs a part time special education teacher that provides services and conducts evaluations and  a part time sped para.  The school has a part time director of special education hired through Designs for Learning, a charter school support agency, to manage the compliance issues related to special education.  Designs for Learning also provides contracted services of school psychologist, speech therapist and occupation therapist.

98% of our students speak Russian at home or have a least one Russian speaking parent. Our students mainly come from Russian or Slavic American families that trace their heritage to Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Armenia, Moldova, Estonia, Latvia, Bulgaria, Georgia, Tadzhikistan, Azerbaijan, the United States, and more.

Nasha Shkola employs highly qualified licensed specialists in Elementary Education, Mathletics, English Language Arts, Social Studies, Science, Russian Language, Reading, English Language Learning, Creative Arts (Music), and Special Education.  The school employs Russian-speaking staff in the area of  Russian Language, Music, Math, Title and administration to provide bilingual support to children and parents.

No.  All classes with exception of Russian are offered in English language.  To ensure academic excellence students are submerged in English as both language of instruction and language of curriculum content, although bilingual instructional staff explore and model “meshing” languages  in the classroom and outside of classroom.  Russian-speaking staff provide bilingual support to children and parents.  Russian Language and Culture classes enrich the program and facilitate the acquisition of literacy in Russian and affirmation of student’s culture.

Nasha Shkola has a fully equipped computer lab.  Students in all grades have access to the computer lab to work on research, presentations, and practice other skills.  Elementary classrooms also have computer stations that are mainly used to practice reading and math skills.  Nasha Shkola does not provide students with individual computers.  Computers are used sparingly.  We emphasize intellect, creativity and practical application.

Nasha Shkola has a large-size multi-purpose room that is used for Physical Education  classes and indoor recess.  The green space and a playground is also used for PhyEd, recess and other outdoor activities.

Nasha Shkola operates 4 routs and brings children across school districts from North (St. Michael, Otsego, Anoka, Elk River, and Anoka), South (Shakopee, Eden Prairie, St Louis Park, and New Hope), West (Maple Grove, Plymouth, and Minnetonka), and locally from Brooklyn Park.   These routes were designed to maximize the number of students served and minimize the transportation costs, while, at the same time, ensuring transportation for all students who desire to attend Nasha Shkola.  The school provide transportation at no cost for all students.  The school collects a fee for transportation during school field trips only.

Nutritious hot lunch is provided each day by Premier Kitchen, a local catering company.  Hot lunches are optional and offered for a fee.  Free and reduced lunch may be available according to family income.   All lunches are peanut and pork-free.

Yes.  The NS uniform is worn by all students in grades K-8.  Nasha Shkola has standard (no-logo) uniform that can be purchased at any store as long as it in compliance with NS uniform policy. The uniform code was established to break down socioeconomic barriers between students, promote unity and pride in one’s self and one’s classmates, enhance security, and strengthen the overall image of Nasha Shkola.

Nasha Shkola has a fee-based before-  and after-school program that is arranged upon request directly with the school.

No.  Nasha Offers full-day Kindergarten program.  The school day begins at 9:00 AM and ends at 4:00 PM.  Parents can make arrangements to pick up their children earlier if needed.

9:00-12:00

• Morning Meeting
• Reading (literacy block)
• Music/Art
• Recess

12:00-4:00

• Lunch
• Quiet Time
• Science
• Russian
• Writing
• Math
• Snack
• Read Aloud