The Utah State Charter School Board recently asked all Utah charter schools to update their charters. Before IEA's school board submits our proposed amendment to the state, we want to hear from you — our families, staff, and community.
The short version: the amendment updates our charter to accurately describe what IEA already does. It does not change our grades, enrollment, or school calendar.
The proposed amendment describes IEA's model — Montessori roots, entrepreneurial wings — in five key areas. Here is each one in plain language.
Every staff member — including office staff and paraprofessionals — completes Montessori foundations training. Lead teachers hold Utah professional licensure (or are actively working toward it on an established plan) and pursue Montessori credentials from MACTE or AMI. Credentialed Montessori coaches observe classrooms regularly and support teachers in their practice.
IEA helps families understand the "why" behind Montessori through parent nights, observation days, conferences, and newsletters. Families and staff are surveyed twice a year, parents have authentic ways to contribute through volunteering, and the school partners with local businesses and mentors to expand opportunities for students.
Classrooms are multi-age communities of at least 25 students (except kindergarten), in accordance with Montessori principles. Students get two-hour uninterrupted work periods that protect deep, self-directed learning, full sets of Montessori materials, daily outdoor time, and fully inclusive classrooms for special education and English language learners.
Montessori foundations grow naturally into project-based learning, starting with whole-class projects in kindergarten and building toward independent work. Every student participates in the entrepreneurship program through markets, showcases, and community events — culminating in a middle school capstone where students design a real solution and pitch it to community members.
Instruction happens mostly in small groups or one-on-one, once a student has mastered prerequisite skills — so each child moves at their own pace. Students set goals and reflect in daily planners, build portfolios of their work, and share their growth at showcases. Progress is reported on a 1-4 competency scale that families can review at any time.
Most of the amendment writes down what IEA already does every day. Here is a side-by-side look.
Grades, enrollment, and the school calendar are NOT changing.
Grades served
IEA remains a K-8 school. No grade levels are being added or removed.
Enrollment
Our enrollment capacity is not changing. The amendment does not add or cut seats.
School calendar
The school year and daily schedule are not affected by this amendment.
Tuition-free public school
IEA remains a free, public charter school governed by its board, participating in all state-required testing.
Faculty credentials
The charter will spell out Montessori training expectations for all staff and Montessori credential goals (MACTE or AMI) for lead teachers, alongside Utah licensure.
Class communities
The charter will formally describe our multi-age class communities of at least 25 students (except kindergarten) and set Montessori training expectations for the teachers and assistants who support them.
Protected work periods
Two-hour uninterrupted work periods — a core Montessori practice — will be written into the charter.
Entrepreneurship pathway
The K-8 project-based learning and entrepreneurship pathway, including the middle school capstone, becomes an official part of the charter.
Progress reporting
A 1-4 competency scale becomes the official way we report mastery. Report cards are still issued as required by the state.
Answers to the questions families ask most about the proposed amendment.
Larger multi-age classrooms are a deliberate part of Montessori design — the amendment sets the 25-student minimum "in accordance with Montessori principles." A community of 25 or more students across multiple ages gives every child a wide mix of work partners, older mentors to learn from, and younger students to teach. This reflects how IEA classrooms are already structured today: staffed by a lead teacher and an assistant teacher, with the amendment setting Montessori training expectations for both roles. Kindergarten is the exception and is not held to the 25-student minimum.
Instead of letter grades, student progress is reported on a four-point competency scale: 1 — does not meet grade-level standards, 2 — approaching grade-level standards, 3 — meets grade-level standards, and 4 — exceeds grade-level standards. Families have ongoing access to their child's progress through the school's records system, and cumulative report cards are still issued as required by the state.
Lead teachers hold their Utah professional licensure or are actively working toward it on an established professional learning plan, consistent with Utah licensing pathways. In addition, IEA intends lead teachers to earn Montessori credentials from MACTE or AMI. All staff — including office staff, paraprofessionals, and specialty teachers — complete a Montessori foundations course, and credentialed Montessori coaches support teachers in the classroom.
No. The amendment does not change the grades we serve (K-8), our enrollment capacity, or the school calendar. IEA remains a tuition-free public charter school.
The Utah State Charter School Board (USCSB) recently asked all Utah charter schools to update their charters. IEA's school board is using the opportunity to make our charter accurately describe the school we actually run: Montessori roots, extended through project-based learning and entrepreneurship.
Email your questions, concerns, or suggestions to Jennae Thomas at jthomas@igniteutah.org. The board is gathering stakeholder feedback before submitting the amendment to the state, so now is the time to weigh in.
This amendment shapes how IEA's mission is protected for years to come, and the board wants to hear from stakeholders before submitting it to the state. Read the full proposed amendment, then send your questions, concerns, or suggestions to Jennae Thomas.