Frequently Asked Questions


What is Yinghua Academy?

Yinghua Academy is a charter public school. Yinghua Academy is an elementary school with students in kindergarten through 4th grade in the 2007-2008 school year. We will add 5th grade in the 2009-2010 school year.

We are the first Chinese immersion school in the Midwest. Our kindergarten and 1st grade are total immersion in Mandarin Chinese. This means that all academic content is taught in Chinese. In addition, many of our specialist classes like art and physical education are taught in Chinese. Starting in 2nd grade, our students have 45-60 minutes each day of English Language Arts. By 5th grade our students who started in our immersion program will spend about 1/2 of the school day in English and 1/2 in Chinese.

Our current 3rd and 4th graders are taught primarily in English, since Yinghua Academy had not opened when they were in the primary grades, and since we were advised not to start an immersion program later than 1st grade. Our 3rd and 4th graders have one hour each day of instruction in Chinese. They also participate, with all students, in Chinese cultural activities at the school and in our daily morning meetings, which often include stories, songs, and exercise in Chinese. They also participate in our specialist programs like physical education, which are often conducted in Chinese.


What is the Mission of Yinghua Academy?

The mission of Yinghua Academy is to provide a challenging and comprehensive learning environment that will nurture our students natural inquisitiveness and will prepare them to be engaged and productive global citizens. Our students will develop intellectual curiosity and critical-thinking skills as well as broad and deep knowledge in language arts, mathematics, world and American history and culture, science, and fine arts.


What is Immersion Education?

Immersion education is an approach to teaching language where the majority of subject content is taught in the second language. Studies show that immersion education students outperform students in traditional language classes, do as well as or better than non-immersion students on standardized tests, and have a greater appreciation of cultural diversity.


Why are Many Parents Interested in Giving Their Children the Opportunity to Learn to Read, Write, and Speak Chinese?

Many parents believe that their children will benefit in their professional and personal lives by being fluent in at least two languages. Some parents are interested in Chinese specifically because of the growing role of China in the world and the increasing number of professional and business opportunities for people who speak Chinese. In addition, many parents who have adopted children from China or who have other family connections to China are enthusiastic about opportunities to help their children develop a strong connection with Chinese language and culture.


Is Yinghua Academy a Public School? Does Yinghua Academy Charge Tuition?

Yes, Yinghua Academy is a public school and, therefore, is tuition-free for all students. Most of Yinghua Academy's operating expenses are paid for with the federal and state funding that the school receives based on the number of students who attend Yinghua Academy. Some expenses are paid for through grants that the school has been awarded and fundraising that is conducted by the Yinghua Academy Community Association.


What is a Charter School?

Charter schools are independent public schools. They are part of the state's public school system, but operate independently of the traditional school district in which they are physically located.

Each charter school has its own governing board. Typically the founding board is a group of parents, teachers, and community members who came together to create a school with a particular focus (e.g., language acquisition, arts, math and science) or with a particular educational philosophy or approach to teaching (e.g., Montessori, classical education, project-based learning). After the school is operational, the school community (parents and school staff members) elects board members who become the governing board of the school. By Minnesota law, by the end of its third year of operation, a charter school must have a fully-elected board.

For more information on charter schools visit the Center for School Change website at www.centerforschoolchange.org, and the Minnesota Association of Charter Schools website at www.mncharterschools.org.


What are Yinghua Academy School Hours?

School hours of Yinghua Academy are 8:30-3:30.


Are Before-School and/or After-School Programs Offered by Yinghua Academy?

Yes. The fee-based before-school program (7:00 - 8:30 AM) provides a gentle time to color, finish homework or do other quiet work. The fee-based after-school program (3:30 - 6:00 PM) includes outdoor play, homework time, tutoring, and cultural and enrichment programming, e.g., musical instrument lessons, theatre, pottery, and Kung Fu.


What is the Age Cut-Off for Kindergarten?

Kindergarten students must be 5 years of age on or before September 1 of the year they enter kindergarten.


Does Yinghua Academy Have a Sponsor?

All charter schools in Minnesota are sponsored by an existing public or nonprofit organization such as a school district, a higher education institution, a nonprofit organization, or a foundation. Charter schools are accountable to their sponsors, their parents and families, the state, and the public for achieving measurable results in student academic achievement and for practicing sound financial management. Yinghua Academy's sponsor is Friends of Ascension, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit Minnesota corporation that was founded in 1999. It does not have any religious affiliation. Friends of Ascension sponsors many charter schools in the metro area, including St. Croix Preparatory Academy, Nova Classical Academy, Paideia Academy, Seven Hills Classical Academy, and Beacon Academy.