Connecting Waters Charter School
Student Enrollment
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

 

  • GENERAL INFORMATION

What is Connecting Waters Charter School?
* CWCS is a public non classroom-based independent study charter school.
* The mission of CWCS is to:  Empower a community of parents, students, and teachers to create learning opportunities which will develop accountable, responsible, and contributing members of society who are independent, life-long learners.
* We were established in 2002 as the 477th charter school in California .
* Our Charter was granted by the Waterford Unified School District .   Don Davis is the current Superintendent of Waterford Unified School District.
* The Connecting Waters Charter School Executive Director is Sherri Nelson.
* We are currently serving K-12 grade students who reside in Alameda, Calaveras, Mariposa, Merced, San Joaquin, Santa Clara, Stanislaus, and Tuolumne counties.
* Extensive information on CWCS educational approach and programs may be found on the CWCS web site at www.connectingwaters.org.
* We are currently one of the charter schools managed by Innovative Education Management (IEM) of Placerville, CA .  IEM is a non-profit public benefit education corporation.
* Additional information about IEM may be found at the IEM web site at www.ieminc.org.
* We are accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), the Accrediting Commission for Schools.

 

How does CWCS work?

Connecting Waters Charter School is an independent charter school, where the parent is the primary teacher.  Parents who enroll their children in CWCS shall, through specific enrollment and curriculum contracts, accept responsibility for their children’s education. CWCS will support its students and parents with appropriate educational materials, and with a team of education specialists (credentialed teachers) and advisors. CWCS education specialists and advisors shall advise and assist parents and students in all aspects of student education pursuant to relevant contracts.

 

Our education specialists are required to meet face to face with you and your student(s) a minimum of every 20 school days.  Our enrollment is not guaranteed; it is based on first come, first serve, and teacher availability in your area. Once your application is received, with all the supporting documents, your student is entered into our system as a prospective student. Incomplete applications will not be processed and will be mailed back to you.

 

When your name comes to the top of the list, you will be called by our intake department who will set up an appointment for you to meet with one of our intake specialists at our learning center in Modesto You will not be activated until the assigned education specialist contacts you.

 

Where do I meet the Educational Specialist (Teacher)?

You can meet them in your home or local library or another public facility that you and your education specialist agree upon.

  • HOW DO I ENROLL?

 

How do I get an enrollment application?

You may access and print an application online by going to our website at http://www.connectingwaters.org/Enrollment/index.htm, fill it out completely, mail, fax or bring to our school office or one of our learning centers and we will fax it for you. You must include ALL required documents listed on page 2 of the application or your application will not be processed and will be returned to you. 

 

If you do not have access to a computer and printer, you may come into one of our learning centers or the school office and pick up an application or call 1-800-808-9895 Ext, 6 to have an application mailed to you: 

 

School Office

12420 Bentley Street

Waterford, CA 95386

 

Ceres Learning Center

3641 Mitchell Road, Ste F

Ceres, CA  95307

 

Modesto Learning Center

4713 Greenleaf Ct. Ste. A

Modesto, CA 95356

 

  • REQUIRED DOCUMENTS THAT MUST COME WITH THE APPLICATION:

 

What documents do I need to submit with my enrollment application?

* Birth Certificate (please send a copy only)

* Immunization Card  (please send a copy only)

* Report of Health Exam for School Entry (For K & 1st grade)

* Report of Oral Health Exam for School Entry (For K & 1st grade)

* Most recent active/inactive IEP (For Special Education Students only): (please send a copy only)

* Transcript copy (if high school level)

* CAHSEE scores (11th & 12th grade only)

IEP or additional Special Ed documents:

If you have a student that has received any type of special education services you will need to submit the most recent IEP or 504 plan.

 

Birth Certificate – No Waiver   

For student’s who were born out of the country and do not have a copy of their birth certificate; we will accept a copy of a passport, permanent resident card, etc. in lieu of the birth certificate. However, it must be the student’s and not the parent’s documentation.

 

Immunization Record or copy of your immunization card

http://www.ieminc.org/Enrollment/ImmunRecord.pdf

 

Oral Health Notification/waiver http://www.ieminc.org/handbook/studentenrollment/cwstuenroll/oralhlthnoticeltr.htm

 

Report of Heath Exam / Waiver

http://www.ieminc.org/Enrollment/HealthReport.pdf

Please note:  If your application is returned to you with a letter stating what needs to be included, you will need to submit “all” documents again. We do not keep the original documents.

 

If know an ES, can I request them?

You can request an ES by adding their name to the application on page 2 where it says, Optional ES Request.  However, this does not guarantee that you will be assigned the requested ES

 

  • DUAL ENROLLMENT

 

Can I be enrolled in another school (private or public) while enrolled in Connecting Waters?  (Dual Enrollment)

For our continuing and newly enrolled families, we want to remind you that CWCS is a public school, therefore your child(ren) cannot be enrolled in CWCS and another public or private school at the same time, even for one class. California Education Code Section 47602(b) and Title 5, California Code of Regulations Section 11965(a) prohibit such “dual enrollment”.  As a consequence of any dual enrollment, CWCS is forced to return all funds related to the attendance of any dually enrolled student to the state and may encounter issues during our annual audit.  The only other private or public school that a student at CWCS may be enrolled in is a Regional Occupation Program (ROP) or community college with the necessary approval from CWCS, pursuant to the signed enrollment forms.

 

  • PREVIOUSLY ENROLLED STUDENT OR SIBLING ENROLLMENT

 

If my student(s) have been enrolled in CWCS before, do I have to go through the application process again?

Yes, we do not hold on to your application or cume file when you leave to go to another school.  You will need to send in all required documents again with updated information.

 

What do I need to do to enroll a sibling?

You will need to submit an application with all supporting documents listed on page 2 of the application.  Please write “sibling” at the top of the application.

 (See Required Documents Listed Above)

 

 

  • STATUS OF APPLICATION

 

Who do I talk to see if my application was received?

Please allow 3 business days before calling to confirm if your application has been received. You may then contact our Student Records department to confirm receipt of your application.

 

Student Records at studentrecords@connectingwaters.org.org  

Student Assignment at stuassign@connectingwaters.org  

or call at 1-800-979-4436

 

What is my status?

Once you have confirmed that your application has been received, you will be put on the prospective list and called when your name comes to the top of the list. Please make sure you check your phone messages regularly.  If you are called and left a message, you will only have 24 business hours to return the call or it will be assumed you are not interested and you will be removed from the prospective list.

 

How long will I be on the prospective list?  

Until you complete the intake meeting with the specialist and are contacted by the ES (teacher) you are assigned to.

 

 
What is the response time after an application is received?

Everyone will receive a letter in response to their application letting them know that they will be assigned to intake once space is available.  If you haven’t heard from the Intake Department then there isn’t any available space.

 

Why can’t you guarantee me a space?

Connecting Waters is based on a first come, first serve basis and we need to have a Educational Specialist (teacher) available in your geographical area in which to assign you to. If the Educational Specialist (teachers) are full in your geographical area, you will have to wait until a Educational Specialist (teacher) becomes available or let us know you will meet a teacher in another area.

 

I am going on vacation and do not want to miss the intake call, what do I do?

You may call our Student Records Department and asked that you not be called during the dates of your vacation.  1-800-979-4436 or stuassign@connectingwaters.org   

 

Do you move students up with special circumstances? 

No, we do not.

 

Can my student apply for enrollment if he/she have been expelled?

You may submit your application and supporting documents including your latest STAR test results, then you will be instructed to contact our Executive Director.

 

If I am willing to drive to meet an ES, will this get me in quicker?

You may let the Student Assignment Department know you are willing to drive and meet an available ES.

 

Can I enroll in another traditional public school after attending CWCS?

Yes, you can enroll in another traditional public school after enrolling at CWCS.

 

  • ENROLLMENT DEADLINE AND ENROLLMENT FOR NEXT SCHOOL YEAR

 

What is the last day CWCS will accept applications for the school year?

Usually one week prior to the last day of enrollment for the year.

 

When can I enroll for the following year?

March 1

  • WHAT DO I DO IF I CANNOT GET INTO CONNECTING WATERS?

 

What other charter schools are available in the area if CWCS is not a good fit for my child or space is unavailable?

Please contact the CA Department of Education (CDE) at http://www.cde.ca.gov/ds/si/cs/ap1/imagemap.aspx or contact your local County Office of Education.

 

 

  • FUNDING

How much does it cost to enroll in CWCS?

CWCS is a publicly funded school and does not charge tuition, it is free to attend.

 

How does the funding work? 

Connecting Waters provides instructional funds (IF) to the ESes (teachers) for each student’s educational materials, courses, group education activities (GEAs) and educational supplies.  These funds are provided by the state of California and all materials purchased are the property of Connecting Waters and are returned upon request.  All decisions regarding the expenditure of these funds must comply with the guidelines of charter law, according to school policy, and ultimately are managed by the credentialed teacher (the ES). 

 

How are state funds allocated?

The state of CA funds our school based on the average daily student attendance

 

  • CURRICULUM:

 

What curriculum do we use? 

http://www.ieminc.org/handbook/curriculum/cwindex.htm

 

Curriculum is purchased by the ES from our approved vendor list for each student. Parents can also choose to purchase their own curriculum.

 

Is it the Parents responsibility to purchase the curriculum?

You may purchase your own curriculum or the credentialed teacher will purchase it for you from our school funding provided by the state.

 

 

  • HIGH SCHOOL INFORMATION/CREDITS NEEDED

 

How many units are required to graduate?  210

 

http://www.connectingwaters.org/CWforms/GradReqMenu.pdf

 

 

Can my student attend college classes while in CWCS?

Yes, your student can attend community college concurrently.  There are limits to the number of courses your student can take at the community college and all community colleges require a concurrently enrollment form that must be signed by the Executive Director. http://www.ieminc.org/Guidance/Comcoll604.htm