In 2019, Jonathan joined The King School for its inaugral year. In 2024, Jonathan will finish his final year at The King School.
NEIGHBORHOOD K-5 MICRO SCHOOLS
BUILDING A STRONG FOUNDATION FOR MORE SIXTH-GRADE READY STUDENTS IN CHATTANOOGA
WHAT ARE NEIGHBORHOOD MICRO SCHOOLS?
They are elementary schools located in under-resourced neighborhoods, designed to SERVE STUDENTS & FAMILIES by educating children and assisting parents and families with existing wraparound services.
Each school has a LOW STUDENTTEACHER RATIO with one class per grade level and a maximum of 12 students per class. The curricular focus is on mastering the fundamentals of reading and math.
2
Ms.
Each school has a COLLABORATIVE COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP with a church that offer their facilities at no cost, and Chattanooga Christian School (CCS) runs the schools.
In partnership with donors, the ESA program creates a SUSTAINABLE SOLUTION for the growth of the micro schools. In 23/24, the schools will serve over 250 students in three locations.
The schools are DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE. Some families pay full tuition, some receive partial scholarships, and others participate in ESAs.
“Neighborhood micro schools provide parents with the academic and emotional support needed to help carry their kids to the next level.”
3
Nicha Jean, Principal of The King School and The Glenwood School
HOW DO MICRO SCHOOLS BENEFIT CHATTANOOGA?
AN EARLY FOUNDATION IS KEY
Partnering with families of elementary students will increase their academic success and provide a pipeline for more sixth-grade ready students in Chattanooga.
38% 62%
More than 60% of third graders in local public schools are NOT proficient in reading.*
STRATEGIC LOCATIONS
We have placed micro schools in or adjacent to seven zip codes with residents that are 65% non-white and have an average household income of $31,575.
THIRD GRADERS WHO ARE NOT PROFICIENT IN READING ARE
4X
MORE LIKELY TO DROP OUT OF SCHOOL BEFORE GRADUATING.**
MEETS A CRITICAL NEED
The state of Tennessee only spends 2.9% of all taxable resources on public education. That’s the lowest rate of any state in the nation.
Non-proficient readers Proficient readers * Chattanooga Times Free Press, ** American Education Research Assoc.
ZIP CODES : 37403, 37404, 37406, 37407, 37408, 37411, & 37416
2.9%
4
During the 2022/23 school year, all students at TKS and TGS made significant progress. Over 80% were at or above grade level at the end of the year.
The chart to the left tracks our first graduating class and their progress in reading over the last three years.
*SOURCES: Fountas & Pinnell Benchmark Assessment, NWEA Assessment
WHAT ARE THE ACHIEVEMENT RESULTS?
CURRENT 5TH GRADE CLASS AT TKS 2020/21 END OF 2ND GRADE 2021/22 END OF 3RD GRADE 2022/23 END OF 4TH GRADE Student #1 1st Grade 4th Grade 4th Grade Student #2 1st Grade 3rd Grade 4th Grade Student #3 Kindergarten 2nd Grade 3rd Grade Student #4 2nd Grade 3rd Grade 4th Grade Student #5 2nd Grade 4th Grade 5th Grade Student #6 2nd Grade 4th Grade 5th Grade Student #7 2nd Grade 4th Grade 5th Grade Student #8 3rd Grade 5th Grade 5th Grade Student #9 3rd Grade 5th Grade 6th Grade Student #10 4th Grade 6th Grade 6th Grade
READING GRADE LEVEL AT THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR •BELOW •PROGRESSING
OR ABOVE 5
•AT
Faculty and Staff of the The King School and The Glenwood School.
DO MICRO SCHOOLS HAVE COMMUNITY SUPPORT?
MOUNT CANAAN BAPTIST CHURCH
Dr. Ternae Jordan, Sr., Senior Pastor
“I have learned over 30 years of experience that it is better to catch children and families before they enter their educational funnel than to catch them later in their development. These micro schools will greatly impact our communities for years to come.”
HAMICO FOUNDATION
Alexis Bogo, President“Hamico supports the micro schools! Utilizing existing spaces is an efficient and impactful model that can be expanded. The small class sizes and safe neighborhoods make the learning environments ideal for students and parents.”
CITY OF CHATTANOOGA
Raquetta Dotley, Council Chair
“This initiative ties nicely into our One Chattanooga strategy because it focuses on young students and whole families, making sure both are prepared for middle school.”
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF GREATER CHATTANOOGA
Maeghan Jones, President & CEO
“The opportunity for students to learn in a small, yet diverse environment can create a solid academic, social, and emotional foundation for them to flourish in and out of school.”
6
Education Savings Account Program
YES THEY ARE!
In the spring of 2023, the EDUCATIONAL SAVINGS ACCOUNTS (ESAS) were expanded to Hamilton County. The program was piloted in Nashville and Memphis in 2022.
ESAs are scholarships for eligible students to attend participating non-public schools. They can be used for tuition, textbooks, technology, and uniforms. Families have to live in Hamilton County and meet an income requirement to qualify. The award for the 2023/24 school year is $8,756, which more than covers the costs at the micro schools.
Many existing micro school families were grandfathered into the program.
In the 2023/24 school year, 50% of micro school students are recieving ESAs. This program will make these schools sustainable for years to come.
“
We love The King School as a family because we have the freedom to learn every day. The teachers are so loving toward our kids. It is a very happy place.”
Amalia and Johnny Andres, parents of Junior (2nd grade), Diego (4th grade), and Jonathan (5th grade).
ARE MICRO SCHOOLS SUSTAINABLE?
7
WHAT IS THE EDUCATION MODEL?
• LANGUAGE-RICH CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENTS
• MATH INSTRUCTION INCLUDE CODING AND PROBLEM-SOLVING
• HISTORY AND SCIENCE WOVEN INTO THE CURRICULUM
• BIBLE AND TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATION ACROSS THE CURRICULUM
• INDIVIDUALIZED LITERACY INSTRUCTION
• WEEKLY CHAPEL TIME
• S.T.E.M., ART, LIBRARY, PE, AND DANCE
• FREQUENT PROGRESS MONITORING
2024-2025 MICRO SCHOOL UPDATE 48 3RD 150 SECOND FIRST KINDERGARTEN CLASS 8 MICRO SCHOOL PLANS FOR 2024-2025
1 2
•STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS •
The Micro School Opportunity Fund is held at the Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga. The goal is to keep the micro school population diverse. Moving forward, many families will qualify for ESAs, but others will not. Some families that do not qualify will pay full tuition, and others will need scholarship assistance.
$8,500 PER YEAR PER STUDENT SIX FAMILIES ON ESAS SIX FAMILIES NEED $3,000 PER YEAR
SCHOLARSHIP
TWO STUDENTS FOR ONE YEAR = $6,000
SCHOLARSHIP
TWO STUDENTS FOR 6 YEARS = $36,000
SCHOLARSHIP
ENTIRE CLASS FOR 6 YEARS = $108,000
•MICRO SCHOOL GENERAL FUND •
A NEW OPERATIONAL FUND HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED AT CCS to help with ongoing costs associated with running three micro schools in different locations. This undesignated fund helps with capital costs, food assistance, extended care, uniforms, special scholarships, and admissions/ fundraising for the schools.
HOW CAN YOU HELP SUPPORT MICRO SCHOOLS?
“Small classroom size, master teachers, language-rich environments, strong math focus, and diverse communities have all proven over time to enhance learning.”
Shonda Caines, Micro School Head and Director of Exceptional Education, CCS
9
HOW TO GIVE TO THE MICRO SCHOOLS?
MICRO SCHOOL OPPORTUNITY FUND
-BY MAIL
Enclose a check made payable to: Community Foundation of Greater Chatt. (CFGC)
1400 Williams Street
Chattanooga, TN 37408
Memo line: “Micro School Opportunity Fund”
-THROUGH THE WEBSITE FOR CREDIT OR DEBIT
• Go to cfgc.org.
• Scroll to the bottom and click “donate to a fund.”
• Scroll down and click “donate online.”
• Choose “Micro School Opportunity Fund” in the Scholarship Funds section.
GIVE SECURITIES OR BY WIRE: Contact Caroline von Kessler at CFGC for details: CvonKessler@cfgc.org, 423.265.0586
MICRO SCHOOL GENERAL FUND
-BY MAIL
Enclose a check made payable to: Chattanooga Christian School
3354 Charger Drive
Chattanooga, TN 37409
Memo line: “Micro School General Fund”
-THROUGH THE WEBSITE FOR CREDIT OR DEBIT
• Go to ccsk12.com/donate.
• Choose “Micro School General Fund” in the designation section.
GIVE SECURITIES OR BY WIRE: Contact Kim Cash at CCS for details: kcash@ccsk12.com, 423.362.4065
All Micro School General Funds gifts are set aside for use at the micro schools only.
THE GOAL is to raise all scholarship monies (in gifts and pledges) for each student in advance so families start kindergarten with the assurance that they will be able to complete fifth grade.
All gifts go directly to CFGC and will be used for Micro School Scholarships that are awarded by CFGC. Chattanooga Christian School and CFGC work together on the award amounts.
2024-2025 FUNDRAISING GOAL
Micro School Opportunity Fund ........ $324,000
TKS - K ...................................................... $108,000
TGS - K ...................................................... $108,000
PPLA - K................................................... $108,000
Micro School General Fund .................. $250,000
TOTAL ........................................................... $574,000
10
“
An oasis for the voiceless.” Micro School Donor
a CHATTANOOGA CHRISTIAN SCHOOL initiative
“Intelligence plus character–that is the goal of true education.”
–Martin Luther King, Jr.