Yellowstone Experience School
Yellowstone Experience School
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Empowering Children Through Education

Empowering Children Through EducationEmpowering Children Through EducationEmpowering Children Through Education

A Montessori education that cultivates critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Intent to Enroll
Community Survey

Empowering Children Through Education

Empowering Children Through EducationEmpowering Children Through EducationEmpowering Children Through Education

A Montessori education that cultivates critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Intent to Enroll
Community Survey

Exciting Update on Yellowstone Experience School!

Our charter application has officially been reviewed and deemed complete by the Montana Board of Education! 

The next big step is happening on December 11th at 3 PM, when we’ll present our proposal and answer questions during a Zoom meeting with the Board.

We would love your support!  You can email statements of support  to the Board at bpe@mt.gov before January 13th at 5:00pm. A Zoom link can also be requested by emailing bpe@mt.gov.

We’re so excited about this milestone and will keep you updated on how everything unfolds. If you have any questions in the meantime, don’t hesitate to reach out at yeslivingstonkids@gmail.com.

Thank you for being part of this journey

Welcome to Yellowstone Experience School

About Us

Welcome to the Yellowstone Experience School (YES), where we offer an innovative public charter education for children aged 5-18. Our vision is to provide a joyful, individualized, and meaningful education through real-world, interdisciplinary learning experiences, fostering caring relationships, and engaging with community partners. 

Our Mission

Our mission is to empower individuals with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in life. We strive to create a supportive learning community that fosters growth, creativity, and innovation. At The Yellowstone Experience School, we are committed to helping our students achieve their goals and reach their full potential.

Our Approach

We believe that learning should be engaging, interactive, and fun. That's why we have developed a unique approach to education that combines varied teaching methods with cutting-edge technology.  We embrace Montessori curriculum based on real world Project Based Learning that encompasses the core components of a Steam school.  Our school is designed to be interactive, hands-on, and tailored to the needs of each individual student.

Experience Yellowstone Experience School Charter Application

Executive Summary: Yellowstone Experience School, 'YES'. Opening Date: August 2025     

YES provides a hands-on, meaningful approach to academic, social-emotional, and community impact education for students ranging 5-18 years old, or kindergarten to 12th grades.


The school is structured into 4 multi-aged classroom group levels, Lower Elementary (K-3rd), Upper Elementary (4th-6th), Junior High (7th-9th), and High School (10th-12th) with 10 students per each age group and 2 teachers per classroom group.  YES provides academic education for a minimum of 130 students to a maximum of 390 students. 


YES is innovative in our district in connected culture, K-12 focused track of blended direct instruction with applied/ experiential use of concepts and skills, year-round 8am-5pm calendar, and rigorous professional development schedule.  


YES teachers work in teams to implement a blend of Montessori, Project-based Learning, STEAM, and Forest School pedagogy to create a curriculum that is integrated across subjects and meets MT K-12 Content Standards.


To review the charter application please visit https://docs.google.com/document/d/11oZU6sqjV6wY1D6bG7415N2viOANPaMtOsMCRzVJv7Q/edit?usp=sharing

Downloads

YES Letter of Support Template (docx)

Download

Sept 25 DRAFT YES_Public Charter Application (pdf)

Download

Events

Frequently Asked Questions

Please reach us at yeslivingstonkids@gmail.com if you cannot find an answer to your question.

A public charter school is a type of publicly funded school that operates independently of the traditional public school system. Like traditional public schools, charter schools receive funding from the government, including federal, state, and local funds. They have more flexibility in their operations compared to traditional public schools, allowing for innovation in curriculum design, staffing, budgeting, and instructional methods. While enjoying greater autonomy, charter schools are held accountable for achieving specific academic and operational goals outlined in their charter; failing to meet these goals can result in losing their charter and being shut down. These schools are open to all students, typically using a lottery system for admission if the number of applicants exceeds capacity, and they cannot charge tuition or have selective admissions criteria. Their continued operation is contingent on meeting performance benchmarks to ensure they provide a high-quality education. Charter schools are typically governed by a board of directors, including parents, community leaders, and education professionals, responsible for making major decisions and overseeing the school's performance. Overall, public charter schools aim to provide more educational choices for families, promote innovation in teaching and learning, and improve student outcomes by offering alternative approaches to education.

We believe in providing a high quality education that meets the needs of all students in our community. More than 25% of students in Livingston are not enrolled in the public district because the sole public option does not meet their needs or learning style. Our story began with a desire to make education accessible to everyone, regardless of their income, needs, or background. We believe that public education is the right of every child, critical for increased life choice and opportunities, personal well-being, and healthy relationships to self and others.

Students thrive in different learning environments. That is why we believe in more choice for students in Livingston. Even within the same family, some students thrive in a traditional model with large class sizes and clear expectations while other kids need smaller-group environments with more hands-on, student-directed learning. With both choices in the public district, all kids can thrive. 

Nothing. YES will be a publicly funded charter school, no  tuition allowed. All funding will come from state and local taxes as well as grants and fundraising efforts. 

We accept children from 5 to 18 years old.

Our teacher to student ratio is 1:10. We believe in small class sizes to provide individualized attention to each child.

If we get charter approval our school would start Fall 2025.

A Montana public charter school is held to the same enrollment requirements as existing public schools. 

Montana charter schools are public schools governed by a public board of directors and are held to the same accounting and auditing standards as existing public schools receiving public dollars. 

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Better yet, sign up for a committee!

If you want to make help ensure that YES gets off the ground, then please join a committee to do your part! We  have a community engagement committee, fundraising comittee and charter draft committee.  Email us at yeslivingstonkids@gmail.com.  We would love your help!

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