Tempo Montessori Charter School

Hi. This is Diane Beckham, the founding executive director of Tempo Montessori. Thank you for taking an interest in Tempo Montessori's vision to open a public Montessori school for students ages 3 to 8th grade. We anticipate expanding to include a Montessori High School, as well. It takes all of us to make this dream come true and by signing up for our newsletter, you are joining the mission to make this happen!

HB 3151: Length of School Year

• Effective July 1, 2027: The school calendar year will shift from 164 to 173 or 1086 hours. Tempo's school calendar is calculated in hours not days. Tempo's year-round school calendar provides students with 64 additional hours of educational experiences. Tempo is already positioned to meet and exceed this House Bill.

SB 201: Teacher Salary Schedule

• Effective July 1, 2026: Teachers will receive an additional $2,000 to their salary. Montessori teachers are special! It takes a minimum of 450 additional hours of education through a Montessori accredited training program to gain certification. Tempo commits to recruiting and retaining high-quality teachers and instructional aids and pay them as true professionals.

SB 1484: Student Recess

• Effective July 1, 2026: Students will receive 40 minutes of recess daily K-5th. Tempo's schedule allows for extended "re-charge" time (recess). Tempo's schedule allows for extended outside time (40-60 minutes) weather permitting for all ages including 6th grade and beyond. According to research, "Wakeful rest may allow for consolidation by protecting recently encoded information from interference, thereby improving memory performance." (follow link to learn more)

Facilities... one of the biggest decisions a school makes.

Yes, Tempo is still working on finalizing facilities. We are making progress, but it is too soon to share with Tempo families. Any ideas you may have located within the Union School District, please reach out to me directly: diane@tempomontessori.com

What does the Montessori Model need in a facility?

The Montessori Model encourages children to move around, work collaboratively and enjoy the sunshine when possible.

The facilities Tempo is looking at include:

• Larger than "normal classrooms supporting movement, collaboration and larger projects

The outdoor areas will be redesigned to include garden beds, natural play zones, and spots where people can eat or work while soaking up the sun.

• Natural colors to promote peace and concentration

Oklahoma Administrative Code (OAC) 748:20-2-9, What is this code?

This code enforcement was adopted in 2018, requiring schools with more than 200 students to have an ICC500 storm shelter. Tempo is working now to accommodate funds and support to make sure we are compliant with this code. Once we secure our facility, we will have a clearer path to securing this important facility requirement.

Tempo Montessori staff is working to spread the news about our public Montessori school. If you belong to a church, charity, daycare, civic/community group, neighborhood alliance, etc., we would love an opportunity to speak in front of your group. Reach out directly to diane@tempomontessori.com to set up a time.