DC Public Charter School Board Receives 11 Charter School Applications | Schools

From Audrey Williams:

The DC Public Charter School Board (PCSB) accepted 11 applications to open new public charter schools by the February 1st deadline.  The charter schools, if approved, would open in fall 2013.

The applications offered a variety of program options:  two elementary schools with language immersion (Hebrew and Arabic); four young adult education programs with one focused on job training in renewable energy technologies, one on preparing for postsecondary education and employment, another on alternative education targeted to at-risk youth and the other a virtual/online program; an elementary/middle school; a college prep high school; a Montessori program and a combined traditional and online K-12 program.

“The Board’s expectations for new applications are extremely high,” said PCSB Board Chair Brian W. Jones.  “We are committed to authorizing high-performing charter schools that reflect both the diversity of educational needs and interests in the District and that demonstrate great promise in preparing students for the 21st century.”

During the next six weeks, PCSB staff will conduct a technical review and interview the founding group of each applicant.  The Board will hold public hearings March 19-20 to allow applicants to present their proposals to the Board and the public, and to solicit input from the community.  The PCSB will make decisions to approve or deny the applications during its April 23rd monthly meeting.  The executive summary of each application and more details about the process are available on the PCSB website. 

PCSB policy establishes a 15-month timeframe for opening of all newly-authorized public charter schools.  This allows schools to be included in the City’s budget and provides schools the necessary time to adequately prepare for opening a new school.

The DC Public Charter School Board currently oversees 53 public charter schools on 98 campuses serving more than 32,000 students living in every ward of the city. Public charter schools serve 42% of all public school students in Washington, D.C. Learn more about the PCSB at www.dcpubliccharter.com.

2012 Charter School Applications

Applicant School Name

Program/Focus

1st Yr Grades

 # of Students

Grades/Size at  Capacity

Desired Location

1

Community College Preparatory Academy

Adult Education

Adult Ed

150 students

Adult Education

1,225 students

Wards 5, 7 and 8,

2

Ingenuity Prep

Early Childhood

PS-K

108 students

PS-8

500 students

Ward 6,7, or 8

3

SPACE

Arabic immersion/Bilingual

K-5

280 Students

K-12

840 students

Ward 3

4

Washington Day School

Elem/Middle

K-2

120 students

K-8

Ward 5,6,7

5

Washington DC Clean Energy Adult

Adult Education

Adult Education

175 students

Adult Education

Ward 5, 6

6

DC Hebrew Language

Hebrew immersion

Pre K4-1st

124 students

PreK-8

535 students

Ward 1, 4, 5

7

Somerset Preparatory Academy

College prep

6-9

320 students

6-12

840 students

Ward 4 or 8

8

DC Flex Academy

Combined traditional and online K-12 instruction

K-12

250 students

K-12

650 students

NE or NW

9

FLOW

Virtual

Adult Education

Adult Ed

150 students

Adult Ed

450 students

Virtual

10

Lee Montessori

Montessori

PS-3

70 students

PS-6

185 students

Ward 5

11.

MaiAngel Leadership Academy

Alternative education for at-risk youth  ages 16-21

Alternative education

90 students

Alternative education

200 students

NW or SW