Local families and Jonathan Montessori School staff started the World Learner School with an interest in extending Montessori education beyond the preschool years. Jonathan Montessori has, since 1972, offered high-quality preschool experiences to children 2½ to 6 years old. Both schools are non-profit organizations where parents are highly involved in the leadership of the school and in classroom support. It was the vision of these families and of the Jonathan Montessori staff that led to the creation of The World Learner School. While several options were considered for creating a Montessori elementary school, the concept of a charter school was the first choice. Charter schools are public schools and funding comes from the State’s per pupil allocation, as it does for other public schools. Therefore, tuition is not charged to families for their child’s attendance. The families and staff who developed the school wanted to create a learning community open to all families without finances being a concern.
The World Learner School has worked closely with the administration, teaching staff, and school board of District 112, our original sponsoring district. While the authorizer does not provide financial support for the charter school, they do agree to work together to ensure success. The State of Minnesota Department of Education has complimented The World Learner School and District 112 for their exemplary cooperation and positive working relationship.
The school opened on September 5, 1995 with one class of children 6 to 8 years old. The class was made up of learners with both previous Montessori experience and those who had not attended a Montessori preschool. Since some of the children were familiar with the Montessori materials and learning procedures they served as mentors to new students entering the class.
The following year, the school expanded to include another class of children 6 to 9 years old. The World Learner School was housed in the lower level of the Jonathan Montessori building and at that point filled both classrooms in that space.
During the 1997-1998 school year, the school added its first upper-level class consisting of 12 children 9 and 10 years old. These students became pioneers, attending class at the campus of The World Learner School in downtown Chaska. With the completion of our building project in 1999, the upper elementary class joined the rest of the school in the Jonathan Montessori building in December of 1999. Our most recent building renovation project and expansion was completed in January 2003. The building is now owned by the WLS Building Company. In 2004-2005 we added our middle school which serves 7th and 8th grade students, and we graduated our first eighth graders on June 7, 2006!
In 2011, as MN statute for charter school authorization changed, WLS sought to engage in a relationship with Audubon Center of the North Woods. As an established authorizer of several charter schools, many which are Montessori, working with ACNW was determined to be a natural fit for WLS.
In late 2012, WLS embarked on another huge adventure as both JMS and WLS determined that the current building footprint was not large enough to meet the needs of both schools. As a result, the schools made arrangements for the refinancing of the mortgage to allow for WLS alone to pay for the rent of the facility. Shortly after, JMS was able to purchase the existing facility directly to the west of the building from St. Andrew Church. Beginning in fall of 2012, WLS will occupy the entire building at 112050 Hundertmark Road and JMS will own the facility at 112090 Hundermark Road, effectively creating a Montessori campus!
The World Learner School has worked closely with the administration, teaching staff, and school board of District 112, our original sponsoring district. While the authorizer does not provide financial support for the charter school, they do agree to work together to ensure success. The State of Minnesota Department of Education has complimented The World Learner School and District 112 for their exemplary cooperation and positive working relationship.
The school opened on September 5, 1995 with one class of children 6 to 8 years old. The class was made up of learners with both previous Montessori experience and those who had not attended a Montessori preschool. Since some of the children were familiar with the Montessori materials and learning procedures they served as mentors to new students entering the class.
The following year, the school expanded to include another class of children 6 to 9 years old. The World Learner School was housed in the lower level of the Jonathan Montessori building and at that point filled both classrooms in that space.
During the 1997-1998 school year, the school added its first upper-level class consisting of 12 children 9 and 10 years old. These students became pioneers, attending class at the campus of The World Learner School in downtown Chaska. With the completion of our building project in 1999, the upper elementary class joined the rest of the school in the Jonathan Montessori building in December of 1999. Our most recent building renovation project and expansion was completed in January 2003. The building is now owned by the WLS Building Company. In 2004-2005 we added our middle school which serves 7th and 8th grade students, and we graduated our first eighth graders on June 7, 2006!
In 2011, as MN statute for charter school authorization changed, WLS sought to engage in a relationship with Audubon Center of the North Woods. As an established authorizer of several charter schools, many which are Montessori, working with ACNW was determined to be a natural fit for WLS.
In late 2012, WLS embarked on another huge adventure as both JMS and WLS determined that the current building footprint was not large enough to meet the needs of both schools. As a result, the schools made arrangements for the refinancing of the mortgage to allow for WLS alone to pay for the rent of the facility. Shortly after, JMS was able to purchase the existing facility directly to the west of the building from St. Andrew Church. Beginning in fall of 2012, WLS will occupy the entire building at 112050 Hundertmark Road and JMS will own the facility at 112090 Hundermark Road, effectively creating a Montessori campus!