Enrollment Policy:

As a charter school in the state of Michigan, Academy will be open to all pupils in grades K-12 (following the grade expansion plan) who are qualified for admission to a public school under the laws of the State of Michigan and who reside within the state of Michigan.  Within one year after the charter school begins operation, the population of the school shall reasonably reflect the racial and ethnic composition of the special population that the school seeks to serve residing within the local school administrative unit in which the school is located.

The Academy will be open to all students entering the grades served by the school, subject to the provisions of the enrollment policy, with the only limit being the number of available seats. In administering the admission requirements set forth below, no admission decision shall discriminate against any student on the basis of intellectual ability, measures of achievement or aptitude, athletic ability, disability, race, creed, gender, national origin, religion, or ancestry. 

In accordance with the law in the state of Michigan, the Academy may refuse admission to any student who has been expelled or suspended from a public school until the period of suspension or expulsion has expired.

The Academy will have an open enrollment period starting in or after approximately March of each year with duration of 2 weeks (14 consecutive days). After the first year, in the weeks prior to the open enrollment period, the school will conduct a re-enrollment period where current students will have the opportunity to claim their continuation for the upcoming school year. If the number of applicants exceeds the number of spots available, there will be an open and public lottery on that date. There will be written notice of the open lottery stating its purpose and it shall be posted, published and advertised pursuant to required laws.

Enrollment Preference:

Preference is first given to currently enrolled students. Next preference would like to be afforded to the following ordered categories of applicants:

1 . Siblings of currently enrolled students who were admitted to the school in a previous year.

2. All remaining applicants

Random Selection Drawing (RSD or Lottery):

The lottery will be held in a public forum and will be easily understood and followed by all observers. All students whose applications were filed by the application deadline will be separated by grade and entered into the lottery. A drawing of names by grade will then be held until all spaces are filled. An impartial individual will draw the names. To minimize the risk of bias, the school will exclude from the task of drawing names those who are employed by the school, or whose relatives are school employees, as well as those who are seeking admission for their children. One surname shall be entered into the lottery to represent all of the multiple birth siblings. If that surname of the multiple birth siblings is selected, then all of the multiple birth siblings shall be offered the first available seat in their respective grade or placed on a Sibling Priority Waiting List.  Siblings are defined as children who have at least one common parent/legal guardian AND are living in the same household at least 50% of the time. Once all seats for a grade are filled, any names drawn from that grade will be entered onto a waitlist in the order that they are drawn. Parents will be notified of student acceptance or status on the waitlist by mail. When an opening becomes available at a grade level, students will be admitted first from the Sibling Priority Waiting List and then from the regular Waiting List if there are no siblings waiting at that grade level.

The Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP) is Michigan's state-funded preschool program for four-year-old children with factors which may place them at risk of educational failure.

Tuition Free

The program is tuition free for families of eligible children who turn 4 years of age by Dec. 1st.

4 Free full days with optional wrap around(for a fee)

Visit the office for more details concerning eligibility.

Teacher qualifications

Each classroom of 16-18 students has an experienced, highly qualified teaching staff!

Lead Teachers hold a minimum of a Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Development.

Associate Teachers hold a minimum of a CDA, a credential in early childhood development.

A third teacher for classrooms with 17 or 18 children.

Highscope Curriculum

Play-based, child-centered, and grounded in research, the HighScope Curriculum features active learning at its core. In a HighScope classroom, children are guided to explore, interact, and exercise their creative imagination through purposeful play.

Documents

• GSRP Application
• Required Documentation
• Free & Reduced School Meals Form
• Tipton PreK Parent Handbook
• McKinney-Vento Homelessness
• Community Resources
• GSRP School Calendar

www.greatstarttoquality.org

www.greatstartwayne.org

"The intimate setting and smaller student numbers compared to public schools affords the children the privelege of more personal attention from the teachers. Plus, the teachers are there because they want to be and it shows."
-parent of a preeschooler

"I enjoy that my daughter goes to school with a smile on her face and comes home with one. My favorite part is her class size, no more than 24!"
-parent of a 4th grader

"I have seen a serious improvement in my daughter since she began attending Tipton. She is confident in the subjects that she previously struggled with, and she actually enjoys going to school. The small class sizes and the positive energy that come from the staff are a huge benefit."
-parent of a 5th grader

"I'm a first responder and just now getting a chance to acknowledge how well Tipton has come together and really have been on top of the Covid-19 school shut down. Y'all rocked it and seriously were weeks ahead of most other schools in the area. You guys implemented and applied resources quickly and very effectively. In a time where things caught all of us off guard you all need to be recognized. I wish I could have sent this to you much sooner, but it's been a very busy and stressful past couple of months and I just couldn't get the time. Thank you for all that you and your staff have been doing in these hard times! "
-Tipton Parent

Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Board Approved Budget

• 2024-2025 Board Approved Budget 

Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Board Approved Budget

• 2023-2024 Final Budget 

Fiscal Year 2022-2023 Board Approved Budget

• 2022-2023 Final Budget 

Fiscal Year 2021-2022 Board Approved Budget

• 2021-2022 Final Budget 

Fiscal Year 2020-2021 Board Approved Budget

• 2020-2021 Final Budget 

Personnel Expenditures

• 2023-2024 Personnel Expenditures

Current Operating Expenditures

• 2023-2024 Operating Expenditures

Educational Service Provider Transparency Reports

• 2023-2024 ESP Transparency Expenditures Report 
• 2023-2024 ESP Operating Expenditures Report 

Current Bargaining Agreements

• Our staff does not currently work under Bargaining Agreements

Employer Sponsored Health Care Plans

• The Romine Group, the employer of all persons working at Tipton Academy, offers a benefit package to it's full time, contract staff. The package of benefits includes health, dental, vision, term life, and long-term-disability. In addition, most employees are able to participate in a 401k retirement plan
• Employee Benefits at Tipton Academy

Audited Financial Statements

• 2023-2024 Audited Financial Report
• 2023-2024 There was no Management Letter Issued
• 2022-2023 Audited Financial Report
• 2022-2023 There was no Management Letter Issued
• 2021-2022 Audited Financial Report
• 2021-2022 There was no Management Letter Issued
• 2020-2021 Audited Financial Report
• 2020-2021 There was no Management Letter Issued
• 2019-2020 Audited Financial Report
• 2019-2020 There was no Management Letter Issued
• 2018-2019 Audited Financial Report 
• 2018-2019 There was no Management Letter Issued
• 2017-2018 Audited Financial Report 
• 2017-2018 There was no Management Letter Issued
• 2016-2017 Audited Financial Report 
• 2016-2017 There was no Management Letter Issued
• 2015-2016 Audited Financial Report 
• 2015-2016 There was no Management Letter Issued

Procurement Policy

• Current Procurement Policy 

Expense Reimbursement Policy

• Current Reimbursement Policy 

Medical Benefit Plan Bids

• We currently have no medical benefit plan bids

Accounts Payable Check Register

• 2023-2024 Accounts Payable 

Employee Compensation Information

• 2024-2025 List of Qualifying Employees 

District Paid Association Dues

• There were no district paid association dues for 2023-2024

District Paid Lobbying Costs

• There were no district paid lobbying costs for 2023-2024

Approved Deficit Elimination Plan

• The district has not incurred a deficit

District Credit Card Information

• Current Credit Card Information

District Paid Out-Of-State Travel Information

• There was no out-of-state travel to report in 2023-2024

Long Term Debt Service

• Long Term Debt Service

Educator Evaluation Systems Postings and Assurances

• CDFT - Teacher Evaluation 
• MLPS - School Leader Evaluation 

Evaluation Forms

• Teacher Evaluation Form 
• Administrator Evaluation Form 

Days of Instruction

• 181 Days

Charter Contract

• Charter Contract 

ESP Agreement

• ESP Agreement 

Continuity of Learning Plan

• Continuity of Learning Plan 

Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan

• Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan 

Weekly Attendance Percentages

• September Attendance 
• October Attendance 
• November Attendance 
• December Attendance 
• December Attendance 

Extended Learning Plan

• Extended Learning Plan 
• October Reconfirmation 
• November Reconfirmation 
• December Reconfirmation 
• January Reconfirmation 
• February Reconfirmation 
• March Reconfirmation 
• April Reconfirmation 
• May Reconfirmation 

Extended Learning Plan - Mid-Year Progress Report

• Extended Learning Plan - Mid-Year Progress Report 

Extended Learning Plan - End of Year Progress Report

• Extended Learning Plan - End of Year Progress Report 

Extended Learning Plan - Training on Delivery, Access, and Use of Virtual Content

• Extended Learning Plan - Training on Delivery, Access, and Use of Virtual Content 

Learning Goals

• Tipton Academy Public Act 48 Plan Mid-Year Goal Reporting - 2021/2022
• Tipton Academy Public Act 48 Plan End-of-Year Goal Reporting - 2021/2022 
• Tipton Academy Public Act 48 Fall Goals - 2022/2023 
• Tipton Academy Public Act 48 Plan Mid-Year Goal Reporting - 2022/2023
• Tipton Academy Public Act 48 Plan End-Of-Year Goal Reporting - 2022/2023

Safe Return Plan

• Tipton Academy 98c Learning Loss Plan 

Return to School Plan

• Tipton Academy Return to School Plan 

LEA Plan of Use Narrative

• Tipton Academy LEA Plan of Use Narrative 

23G MI Kids Back on Track Grant

• 23G Plan
• 23G Parent Response