Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - Making Waves Academy

How does a charter school differ from a regular public school?

Charter schools are public schools. Charter schools, by state law, are allowed to set their own programmatic vision and decide how they want to allocate their allotted budget under the oversight of a local governance structure (or board), as opposed to public schools within a school district whose program and some portion of their budget allocation is determined by the district. Making Waves Academy’s charter authorizer is the Contra Costa County Office of Education. The authorizer provides monitoring and oversight to make sure there is adherence to specific guidelines and expectations laid out in the charter, allowing the school to use site-based management and governance while teaching to approved California State Curriculum Standards. Charters must seek renewal from their authorizer every five years. Authorizers are more likely to renew charters that are proven to be effective in helping their students meet both the expectations described in the charter and the statewide standards for student achievement (found on the CA State Dashboard). As a public school, charters are measured by their academic performance on California state tests (which are published and open to the public on the California Department of Education website: www.cde.ca.gov).

How are charter schools funded?

As a public school, charters receive a mix of state, local, and federal monies based on the number of students enrolled. As a public school, charter schools receive funding based on Average Daily Attendance (ADA). MWA, like many other charter schools, is also a federally and state recognized non-profit. While a significant portion of MWA’s funding comes from public funding, another significant portion comes from charitable contributions, public and private grants, and fundraising.

Does MWA require all of its teachers to be credentialed?

Are there opportunities to play team sports at MWA?

Yes. The upper school offers an interscholastic athletic program. Making Waves Academy (MWA) is part of the Bay Counties League East (BCL), which is part of the larger Bay Area Conference (BAC), as well as the North Coast Section (NCS), governed by the statewide California Interscholastic Federation (CIF). As members, students must be academically eligible to participate. See the upper school pages to learn more about the athletics opportunities offered.

What other sorts of extracurriculars are offered at MWA?

What are the typical school hours for students?

Students can arrive as early as 7:30 am. Breakfast is served at 7:45 am. Unless there is a special schedule, instruction begins at 8:05 am. The core academic day ends by 3:30 pm Monday-Thursday and 2:00 PM on Fridays. Students enrolled in the middle school extended day program receive additional academic support and enrichment and stay until 6:00 pm. Students in the upper school can stay to receive additional academic support through the Student Success Program until 5:30 pm. All students must depart the campus no later than 6:00 pm.

Does MWA provide any transportation for students?

Does MWA offer free breakfast or lunch?

What makes MWA unique?

How do I enroll my child?

Students currently in the fourth grade must apply to the lottery for entry to Making Waves Academy for the fifth grade. Applications are announced and distributed in the spring. Students chosen in the lottery are either accepted or put on a wait list in the order in which their lottery number was generated. Listed below are groups given priority for enrollment through the lottery process as stated and approved in our charter:

Eligible children of full-time MWA employees.
Current fourth grade students who are siblings of students who have been or are enrolled in the Making Waves Academy or Making Waves Education Program. A sibling is defined as a biological/adoptive sibling, step sibling, or foster child residing within the same household.
Fourth grade students who are currently enrolled in Title I schools in the West Contra Costa Unified School District, and/or qualify as Title I due to eligibility for Free or Reduced Price Meals while attending a school in the West Contra Costa Unified School District.
Current fourth grade students who attend other schools in Contra Costa County.
Current fourth grade students who attend other schools in California.

What is CAP and how will my student benefit?

The College and Alumni Program (CAP) is a college success program of Making Waves Foundation that provides personalized support and scholarship funding to Wave-Makers interested in attending college after high school. As part of CAP, Wave-Makers are partnered with a college coach and financial services coordinator throughout their college career. These highly skilled professionals support students to successfully earn a bachelor's or associate degree, transfer to a four-year college, or complete a community college vocational program. In addition, Wave-Makers receive a college scholarship to make college affordable and help them to graduate with minimal debt. And as part of the Wave-Maker network, students will join a community of their peers and have access to career counseling and graduate school advising.

All Making Waves Academy graduates can be a part of CAP. Once Wave-Makers opt-in to CAP they will receive ongoing, one-on-one support from two sources: a financial services coordinator and a college coach. The financial services coordinator helps students (and their families) with:

• college selection

• financial planning and literacy

• developing budgets

• completing financial aid forms

These support Wave-Makers to graduate from college with limited and manageable debt. CAP’s college coaches guide students through the process of college preparation, academic and personal success in college, and life after graduation. In addition, need based scholarship support is available to Wave-Makers on an annual basis for up to six years with good standing in CAP.