Approved Materials

ACCEPTABLE

• Non-sectarian educational curriculum that benefits the scholar's course of study and is on grade level

• Basic math manipulatives appropriate for the scholar's grade level

• Economy, grade level appropriate calculators

• Digital downloads

UNACCEPTABLE

• • • Sectarian/faith-based materials

    • Rocket engines and kits 

    • Drones 

    • Curriculum above or below scholar's grade level without Supervisor approval

ACCEPTABLE

• Basic, economy-grade supplies appropriate for the scholar's grade and course of study

• Limited amounts of material suitable for a single project during the semester

• Basic, economy-grade paper for art projects (card stock, colored paper, construction paper, media paper, and similar, quantity not to exceed an amount that can be used during a semester)

• Basic, economy-grade portfolios used to hold and organize work

• Basic art easel

• Basic student-grade sewing machine and weaving loom

• Paper trimmer (slide cutter)

• Woodburning tools for middle and high school scholars only

UNACCEPTABLE

• • Excessive amounts of yarn, felt or other similar material that is not approved for a project

  • Excessive quantities of supplies (art paper, glue, paints, markers, etc.)

  • Carving knives or sharp knives in general (whittling or leather kits with sharp knives) - "kid safe" knives okay

  • Hot glue guns or other heat tools (wax melter, etc.) - low heat glue guns okay for middle and high school scholars only

  • Cricut cutting systems or supplies for Cricut cutting systems 

  • Guillotine style paper cutters

  • Personal keepsake items (diaries with locks, photo or scrapbook albums, etc.)

  • Ready-made clothes or jewelry

  • Spray (aerosol) paints, sealers, or adhesives; Quantities over 16oz for liquid supplies

  • Easels for display use

  • Waterbeads (due to safety and recall concerns)

ACCEPTABLE

• • Musical CDs, DVDs, videos, etc. may be requested if appropriate to the scholar's course of work 

  • One basic, economy-grade musical instrument per scholar, per school year, $500 max. The following is included in the $500 max. A protection plan/warranty that includes accidental damage is required for any instrument over $150. A case must be purchased with the instrument.

  • Portable piano keyboards

  • Portable electronic drum sets (fold-up), snare drums and bongo drums okay (purchased with case)

  • Folding sheet music stands

  • Instrument cases and accessories (guitar amps and the like) may only be ordered for CCS-owned instruments, and the cost is included in the $500 max.

ACCEPTABLE

• Basic equipment to engage scholar in physical education activity (balls, jump ropes, yoga mat, badminton & pickleball paddles, etc.) 

• Portable soccer goals and baseball rebounder nets

UNACCEPTABLE

• PE equipment that is personal in nature (bicycles, baseball bats & gloves, rackets, tricycles, golf clubs, helmets, ice skates, skis, swim gear, etc.)

• PE equipment that is known to cause a higher rate of injury (scooters, skates, slacklines, skateboards, rope ladders/climbing ropes, swings) or not an approved CCS activity (ie boxing; fencing with blades; weight training (over 10 lbs); MMA; or similar)

• PE equipment that is not basic (plasmacar, pogo sticks, spooner boards, stilts, etc.)

• Items for classroom use/class sets  (eg. large sets of balls, class parachutes, or similar- unless it is a larger family and noted by the ST)

• Items too large or heavy to be transported after it is put together or cannot be disassembled and used again. (e.g. Full sized basketball hoops)

ACCEPTABLE

• Compass Charter Schools provides all scholars with a Basic School Supply kit at the beginning of the school year outside of Educational Support funds. 

• If additional supplies are needed, basic, economy-grade school supplies for learning (binders, crayons, glue, markers, notebooks and notebook paper, pencils, pens, rulers, etc.) 

• Printer ink or toner, copy paper (no cases of copy paper allowed)

• Basic, economy-grade sharpeners, 3-hole punchers, staplers, low heat laminators and laminator pouches

• Basic multipurpose printers and student grade 3D printers, photo printer (only for scholars enrolled in a photography class) - $200 limit

• Chalkboards and whiteboards up to 3' x 4'

  • 1. • • markers with erasers and cleaning fluid kit - okay

• Student grade planner

UNACCEPTABLE

• HP Printers (due to auto ink subscriptions)

• Excessive quantities of school supplies

• Items personal in nature (furniture: desks, chairs, etc., lap desk, backpacks/bookbags/briefcases, packing tape/electrical tape, stationery, lamps or lights, teacher planners, clocks/watches)

• Storage containers or organizational items (large or small items, file cabinets, file boxes, hanging file folders, accordion folders, etc.)

• Printer Labels, label makers, label tape, drums for laser printers, laser cutter, binding machines

• Home office equipment such as a fax, copier, phone, scanner, television, and/or a DVD/Blu-Ray player

• Electric office supplies (stapler, hole puncher, scissors, etc.)

• Glass dry erase boards of any size, rolling dry erase boards, cork Boards/bulletin boards

• Whiteboard cleaners and other cleaning supplies, pushpins/tacks

• Filament for non CCS 3D printer

ACCEPTABLE

• Book players (eg. Yoto, Leapfrog) - 3 yr warranty required & all devices must include a case (some do not have a case included); all Yoto items are non-consumable; Yoto mini players ok - still need warranty and case.

• CD players - for curriculum purposes only (STs to add internal note of curriculum being used)

• Scholar grade laptops sent out through Compass Charter School

  • • 1. 1. Basic input devices (keyboard, mouse)

         2. External DVD drive to access currciulum aligned with MA

• Basic, Audio headphones - over the ears only

• Basic, economy-grade telescopes - $200 max

• Basic, economy-grade microscopes - $350 max

• *Cameras- Approved only for scholars taking a photography/film course. Purchase of appropriate protection plan for cameras over $150 is required. Limits (FIRM): 

  • High Schoolers - $350 max

  • Elementary & Middle Schoolers - $300 max

ACCEPTABLE

• Basic, economy-grade equipment or kits that may be needed for a scholar to participate in a specific course they are enrolled in (evidence of need must be shown to the ST)

• TK-5 - Basic educational building kits/sets (LEGO, K’nex, etc) up to $200 total per year, if curriculum is not included. Refer to MISCELLANEOUS UNACCEPTABLE  for disapproved themed building sets. LEGO Education and included curriculum, limit $400/year. Single kits approved, no classroom kits. 

  • 1. 1. • • Grades 1-5 needs to have the Enrichment course on their MA unless it aligns to a project being completed in a core class.

• Middle & High School - LEGO sets up to $300/year. Lego Education including curriculum: Limit $500/year. Single kits approved, no classroom kits. All sets/kits need to align with courses on MA.

• Seeds - basic and economy grade (enough for a single project) 

  • 1. 1. • $30 max per scholar/year. No more than $100 seeds per family per year.

UNACCEPTABLE

• Items that are too large or heavy to be transported after it is put together or cannot be disassembled and used again (examples: large playhouses, weights over 10 lbs, etc.). 

  • 1. No food or kits that include edible ingredients

• Fish tanks, aquariums, pet cages, or live animals

• Flashlights or headlamps

• Kitchen supplies (appliances, equipment, pots/pans, and other household items.)

• Gardening equipment & supplies (including chemicals, acidifiers, inoculants, manure, fertilizer, soil)

• Personal keepsake items (diaries/journals with locks, Photo albums/scrapbooks, etc)

• Power tools

• Toys

• Trampolines

• Themed LEGO sets (examples: Marvel, Harry Potter, DC Comics, Star Wars, Hello Kitty, Barbie, Disney, Nintendo, etc.)

• Weapons and other dangerous items (arrows, darts with sharp points, knives, or poisons)