What is a charter school?

A charter school is a public school of choice that operates under the terms of a charter, or contract, with an authorizer, such as the state and local boards of education. Charter schools receive flexibility from certain state and local rules in exchange for a higher degree of accountability for raising student achievement. Charter schools are held accountable by their authorizer(s) for upholding the terms of their charter.

Are charter schools public schools?

Yes, charter schools are public schools. As such they receive public funding, cannot charge tuition, must have fair and open enrollment, must be secular, and are required to serve all student populations, including students with disabilities and English language learners.

What is the difference between a charter school and a traditional public school?

Two words can help distinguish charter schools from traditional public schools: autonomy and flexibility. Charter schools are governed, not by a local board of education, but by an autonomous non-profit board of directors, and they receive flexibility from certain state and local rules and regulations in exchange for a higher level of accountability. Charter schools use this flexibility to implement innovative or unique programs, in order to provide educational options to parents and students that are not typically available in the traditional public schools.

What is the difference between a charter school and a magnet or theme school?

A magnet or theme school is typically a school within a local school district that offers a certain instructional program. Many magnet or theme schools may have admissions criteria such as: test scores; teacher recommendations; or grades. Charter schools operate independently from the local district, and they are not allowed to have admissions criteria. For example, a charter school cannot require students to pass a test or have a certain grade point average in order to be admitted.

What is the difference between a charter school and a private school?

Charter schools are public schools of choice. Unlike private schools, they receive public funding, cannot charge tuition, and are not allowed to have admissions criteria. Also unlike private schools, charter schools are subject to many of the same state and all federal regulations as traditional public schools. For example, charter schools participate in the same statewide assessments and accountability measures as traditional public schools.

Is there before- and after-school care?

After-school care is offered by the YMCA.

What are the bell times?

8:30am starting bell; 3:30pm ending bell.

Is there a school uniform?

All students must wear uniforms. TIMA colors are light blue, navy blue and khaki.

Tops should be navy or light blue with a TIMA logo on at least one shirt.  Acceptable options include polo-style shirts, collared blouses, turtlenecks, uniform color T-shirts, and approved spirit wear. Tops must fully cover the midriff and lower back. Halter tops, tube tops, strapless tops, tank tops, spaghetti straps, corsets, and other transparent or revealing clothing are prohibited and should not be visible at any time; oversized tops are not allowed.

Bottoms should be solid navy blue, khaki, or light blue. Acceptable options are shorts, pants, skirts, skorts, capris, tailored athletic joggers, jumpers or dresses. Athleisure options such as performance-fabric joggers are permitted, provided they have a neat appearance (no ripped knees and oversized logos). Denim, cargo styles, sweatpants, pajama pants and leggings are not allowed. Shorts, skirts, skorts, and jumpers should provide full coverage when standing, sitting, or moving, and must be appropriate for a school setting. Tights, leggings, spandex shorts, hose, or socks of any color or pattern may be worn but not as an outer garment. Bottoms will be worn at the natural waist and of appropriate length. Students are encouraged to wear belts and tuck their shirts in daily.

Shoes should be appropriate and safe for the school setting. Shoes must be enclosed, include a back, and be properly fastened or tied. Tennis shoes should be worn on the days that the student has physical education. A pair of flip flops or beach shoes will be kept at the school for beach trips. Hoodies and sweatshirts worn during the school day must be uniform colors. (Hoodies may not be worn on the head in any of the buildings.) While school staff will enforce the dress code, ultimate responsibility for adhering to it lies with parents/guardians and students.

What are the age requirements?

Students entering Kindergarten need to be age five (5) or older prior to September 1.

Students entering 1st grade need to be age six (6) or older prior to September 1.

Does TIMA have an academically or intellectually gifted program?

TIMA believes that all students have a right to educational experiences that challenge their individual development whether it is below, at, or beyond the level of their age peers. Following this philosophy, TIMA makes provisions for the special needs of gifted and talented learners. Through our project-based learning approach, students engage in class projects that challenge all students on an individual level based on their academic abilities and interests. We believe that all of our students should have differentiated educational services throughout the day, within all instructional areas, and within their classroom. All of TIMA’s classroom teachers are gifted certified.

Does TIMA serve school lunches?

TIMA contracts with the Savannah Chatham County Public School System for school lunches.

Are there expectations of parents/guardians?

Parents/guardians are expected to volunteer in whatever capacity they can. TIMA has set a recommended parent volunteer minimum of 10 hours for single parents or guardians and 20 hours for couples each year. Parent/guardian activities include but are not limited to participating in community service, chaperoning field trips, assisting teachers in technology and the arts, assisting with meals, library partnership, landscaping, building upkeep and maintenance, baking treats (cookies, cupcakes, etc.), fundraisers, and other opportunities as they arise. Parents/guardians may also serve in leadership positions as members of the Governing Board.

Parents/guardians are encouraged to visit the school regularly and are expected to be involved in the behavior support processes designed to promote positive choices and behavior. Parents or guardians will be required to meet or speak with teachers at least twice each year through conferences, e-mail and by phone. All parents will be informed of Governing Board activities by monthly meeting minutes that will be posted on the TIMA website.

How can I help out at school? What if I work full-time?

Whatever your talents or interests, we can use them! Talk with your child’s teacher. While we welcome classroom volunteers, we recognize that not everyone is able to help during the day. There are many other ways to volunteer throughout the school year.

Who can attend TIMA?

Attendance Zone

The primary attendance zone for TIMA is the entire geographic area of Tybee Island, which includes Spanish Hammock, Disabled American Veterans Island and other islands and inlets located east of the Lazaretto Creek Bridge. The secondary attendance zone of TIMA is all of Chatham County.

All students in Tybee Island and in Savannah/Chatham County are encouraged to participate in the lottery.

Enrollment Preferences

TIMA offers enrollment preferences to the following categories of applicants:

• • A sibling of a student enrolled in TIMA Charter School; and
  • A student whose parent or guardian is a member of the governing board of the charter school or is a full-time teacher, professional, or other employee at TIMA Charter School

The governing board continues to strive to have TIMA’s enrollment more accurately mirror that of the district as a whole, and the board and staff go to great lengths to recruit both faculty and students that enhance the school’s diversity. As a school of choice, TIMA certainly recruits students, but the choice to enroll is completely theirs. TIMA notes our enrollment mirrors the enrollment of the neighboring public schools, and unlike those schools, TIMA does enroll students from any location in the county. Further, taking advantage of the recent change in the law, the governing board will provide an increased chance of admission for economically disadvantaged students pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 20-2-2066(a)(1) and State Board Rule 160-4-9-.05(2)(g) using a weighted lottery.

How far is it to TIMA? Not as far as you think!

FROM	ZIP CODE	MILES
May Howard 115 Wilmington Island Rd.	31410	11
Coastal Middle School 4595 US Hwy 80 E.	31410	11 ¾
Charles Ellis Montessori 220 E. 49th St.	31405	17
Esther Garrison 649 W. Jones St.	31401	18
Heard 414 Lee Blvd.	31405	19
Isle of Hope Elementary 100 Parkersburg Rd.	31406	21 ½
Windsor Forest Elementary 414 Briarcliff Cir.	31419	23 ½
Georgetown 1516 King George Blvd	31419	28 ¾