DC Public Charter School Board Approves Two New Charter Schools

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Washington, D.C. — DC Public Charter School Board (PCSB) voted May 20 to approve two applications to create new public charter schools for the 2014-2015 school year: Lee Montessori and Academy of Hope.  These applications received conditional approval in a 6-0 vote by the Board and must satisfactorily address several conditions before they can be granted a full charter. Seven applications were denied. 

“We’re setting a tough, high bar for approval,” said PCSB Board Chair John H “Skip” McKoy. “Many of the applications we reviewed were extremely promising and would serve a needy student population, but the applications lacked sufficient detail or reflected incomplete strategies.”

Lee Montessori plans to serve 70 students in pre-kindergarten3 through first grade in the first year and will add one grade each year up to sixth grade and locate in either Ward 5 or 7 with a traditional Montessori curriculum.  At full capacity enrollment will be 228 students. In approving the application, the Board noted that the founding group has proven success in charter school operations and urban education -- including experience with Montessori curriculum and in financial management, school operations, and governance. Lee Montessori, which applied previously, would eventually be the third Montessori public charter school in the District along with Latin American Montessori Bilingual PCS and Shining Stars Montessori Academy PCS. (To view Lee Montessori’s full application click here.)

“Lee Montessori strengthened areas of weakness identified in the last application and we were pleased with how they plan to deal with the whole student population,” McKoy said.

The second school approved, Academy of Hope, would have 220 students in its first year and will be located in two sites in Ward 5 and Ward 8.  At full capacity the school would enroll 260 students. The program will offer an adult education evidence-based academic instruction paired with strong workforce training.  The new charter school would convert the current adult education program run by Academy of Hope’s non-profit center.  The volunteer teaching staff would be replaced with highly qualified teachers and would provide more wrap around services and tutoring to its students. Academy of Hope previously applied for a charter and was denied.  (To view Academy of Hope’s application click here.)

“Academy of Hope was able to articulate how and why becoming a charter school would expand their outreach,” said Board Member Sara Mead.  “There’s tremendous demand for these services and I am pleased to see this program be able to enhance its impact.”

The Board encouraged several of the applicant groups that were denied to strengthen their applications and consider applying again next year.

The Board’s review process began in March, when it received nine applications. PCSB conducted a rigorous review and held a public hearing April 8 before deliberating and voting at the May 20 meeting.   Each applicant will receive a decision letter from the Board detailing the basis for the Board’s decision with respect to its application.

The approved schools will work over the next 15 months to find a facility, hire staff, and meet with the community where they plan to locate to build relationships.  PCSB will notify the approved applicant groups within 10 days of the conditions that must be met and a timeline for addressing these conditions before they can be grated a charter.  In addition, PCSB will work with the applicants groups to discuss school operations and compliance requirements.
 

About PCSB: The DC Public Charter School Board (PCSB) is setting a national model for creating quality public school options through its rigorous review of new charter applications and effective oversight of charter school performance that is leading the transformation of public education in Washington, DC. PCSB currently oversees 57 public charter schools on 102 campuses serving 34,673 students living in every ward of the city. Learn more at www.dcpcsb.org.