WSU Charter Academy FAQ

There are no costs or fees associated with the Charter Academy. It is a free public education.

Extended Day (before and after care) is available onsite for the WSU Charter Academy students through the Melba S. Lehner Children’s School in the McKay Education Building on the WSU campus. For more information, contact Sally West at 801-626-6277 or visit weber.edu/childrensschool. 

“Extended day is not run, or sponsored by the WSU Charter Academy.”

At Weber State University Charter Academy, our daily schedule is thoughtfully designed to balance strong academic instruction with hands-on learning, movement, and time to simply be a child. Each part of the day has a purpose—supporting literacy, math, social development, and joyful exploration.

Monday–Thursday Schedule

8:00 AM – Office Opens

8:15–8:30 AM – Drop-Off

9:00 AM – Small Group Instruction (targeted, individualized learning)

9:45 AM – Morning Recess

10:00 AM – Spelling & Language

11:00 AM – Math

11:30 AM – Lunch

12:00 PM – Lunch Recess / AM Kindergarten Dismissal

1:30 PM – Aide-Led Activities (hands-on, enrichment-based learning)

2:00 PM – Afternoon Recess

2:15 PM – Snack

3:30 PM – Dismissal

3:45 PM – Pick-Up Ends

4:00 PM – Office Closes

What makes our schedule unique?
Our day is intentionally structured to include multiple short bursts of targeted instruction (small groups), frequent movement breaks, and meaningful hands-on experiences. This approach helps young learners stay engaged, build confidence, and make strong academic growth—while still honoring the joy and wonder of childhood.

The WSU Charter Academy serves kindergarten and first grade students. 

All children must turn 5 years old before Sept. 1 to attend the WSU Charter Academy.

WSU Charter Academy’s enrollment is open to students from communities near and far, transportation, of any kind, cannot be provided by Weber State University or the Academy. With the exception of field trips, parents will be responsible for the transportation of their children to and from the Academy.

Thirty minute parking stalls are available for all those enrolled in the WSU Charter Academy. Parking is for drop off and pick-up only

The WSU Charter Academy is a learning lab, providing a setting where WSU students learn about and practice teaching, curriculum development, program management, or gain experience observing children so that they are better prepared for their future professions.

The open enrollment period for each upcoming school year is January 1 through February 28. Families should submit the electronic application for their child during this period. Application submission does not guarantee admission. Once the open enrollment closes the school administrators determines if a random lottery will be held.

Enrollment Link for 2026-27 

Each teacher is required to have a current teaching license through the Utah State Board of Education.

Maximum group size is 22 children, classes typically range from 16-20. A teacher and at least one classroom assistant make for a 1:11 ratio.

At this time, we do not offer a Spanish dual immersion program.

While some schools focus on dual language models, our priority is ensuring students develop strong foundational skills in literacy, math, and social development during these critical early years. We intentionally focus our time and resources on helping every child build a solid academic foundation.

In addition, as a university lab school, our classrooms are designed to support both student learning and the development of future educators. This means students benefit from highly intentional, research-based instruction and increased adult support throughout the day.

Our goal is to ensure students leave kindergarten confident, capable, and fully prepared for future learning—both in academics and beyond.

Special Education services are available to all individual students who qualify.

We know many families are coordinating schedules across multiple schools, and we aim to make this as smooth and supportive as possible.

Drop-Off

Students may be dropped off between 8:15–8:30 AM

Teachers and staff are available during this window to welcome students and ensure a smooth start to the day

Pick-Up

Monday–Thursday: 3:30–3:45 PM

Friday (Early Release): 1:00–1:15 PM

Flexibility for Families
We understand that transporting siblings can create timing challenges. We offer flexibility with both drop-off and pick-up when needed. If your schedule requires a slight adjustment, we are happy to work with you.

Parents are also welcome to park in the west parking lot and walk their child in for a quick check-in, which can be especially helpful when managing multiple school schedules.

Our goal is to partner with families and make daily routines as convenient and stress-free as possible while ensuring every child starts and ends their day feeling supported and cared for.

The Weber State University Charter Academy calendar is approved annually by our Governing Board to best support our students, families, and university partnership.

Depending on enrollment and program needs, our calendar may align with either the Weber State University schedule or a local district calendar.

For the 2026–2027 school year, our calendar closely follows the Weber State University academic calendar.

To help families plan ahead, you can view both calendars here:

WSU Charter Academy Calendar 2026–27

WSU Academic Calendar 2026–27 

This alignment allows our students to benefit from university resources while also helping families with older students at WSU maintain a more consistent schedule.

At Weber State University Charter Academy, personalization is not a program—it is how we teach. Our approach is grounded in a core belief we call Instructional   Intensity, ensuring every child receives frequent, targeted support throughout the day.

What does this look like in practice?

1. Multiple Daily “Touchpoints” of Instruction
Rather than relying on one large lesson block, students receive multiple opportunities throughout the day to practice and refine skills. This allows us to meet students exactly where they are and accelerate growth.

2. The “Under 10” Rule (Micro-Interventions)
We provide short, focused bursts of instruction (under 10 minutes) in 1:1 or 2:1 settings. These quick, high-impact sessions keep students engaged and provide 3–5 additional exposures daily to essential skills like phonemic awareness and early reading.

3. A Distributed Teaching Model
Every adult in the classroom—mentor teacher, university student teacher, and paraeducator—is trained in the same instructional strategies and language. This creates a consistent learning experience for students, no matter who they are working with, and strengthens the feedback they receive.

4. Data-Driven, Fluid Grouping
We continuously monitor student progress and adjust groups in real time. As soon as a student demonstrates mastery, they move into more advanced or choice-based learning opportunities. This keeps learning dynamic, responsive, and appropriately challenging.

The result is a highly responsive classroom where every child is seen, supported, and given exactly what they need to grow—academically and confidently.

Yes, we do offer a half-day kindergarten option.
Our morning schedule is intentionally focused on core academic instruction, including small group learning, literacy (spelling/language), and math. This is when students receive the majority of their explicit, targeted teaching.

At the same time, we want families to have a clear understanding of what we’ve observed. Students who attend half-day typically do not progress at the same academic or social rate as their full-day peers. They also often express feeling like they are missing out when they see classmates continuing their day.

The afternoon portion of our program is equally important, as it is when students apply what they’ve learned through hands-on activities, collaboration, and real-world practice. This application phase is a critical part of the learning cycle and helps deepen understanding and build confidence.
While half-day is available to meet family needs, we strongly encourage full-day participation so students can experience both the strong academic foundation in the morning and the meaningful application in the afternoon

Yes! We welcome and encourage parent involvement at Weber State University Charter Academy.
Parents play an important role in our school community, and there are many ways to get involved—both in the classroom and beyond. Volunteer opportunities may include:

• Helping with classroom activities or centers
• Supporting field trips and outdoor learning experiences
• Assisting with school events or projects
• Contributing from home when schedules are busy
•  

What do parents need to do to volunteer?

• To ensure a safe and supportive environment for all students, parents who would like to volunteer will need to:
• Complete a school volunteer application
• Review and agree to school policies and expectations
• Complete any required background check (if applicable)
• Coordinate with the teacher or school office to schedule volunteer times
•  

Our team will guide you through this process and help you find opportunities that match your availability and interests.
We value strong partnerships with families—when parents are involved, it strengthens our entire school community and enhances the experience for every child.