Coalition Update: Idaho to receive national charter school grant, getting ready for back to school

We hope you’re having a great summer. We wanted to keep you updated on news and information about charter schools in Idaho. We hope you enjoy reading this edition. Please let us know if you have any story ideas for future editions. Send your ideas to info@idchartercoalition.org.

GOOD NEWS ABOUT CHARTER SCHOOLS IN IDAHO

We have learned that Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Luna and officials from the U. S. Department of Education will formally announce Idaho as a recipient of the Charter School Grant at a ceremony Wednesday, August 20 at 2:00 p.m.  The ceremony will be held at the Idaho Arts Charter School, 1220 5th Street North in Nampa.  The total amount of the grant will be announced at Wednesday’s event.
 
Idaho is one of only five states to receive the grant, which will provide funding over three years to support public charter school development.  
 
“Superintendent Luna and his team have provided tremendous support for innovative learning and school choice options in Idaho,” said Briana LeClaire, President of the Coalition of Idaho Charter School Families, “The receipt of this highly competitive grant underscores and recognizes the commitment Tom Luna and the Idaho Legislature have made to provide opportunities for Idaho parents seeking legitimate school choice options for their children.”
 
According to Idaho Department of Education School Choice Coordinator Shirley Rau, the grant will be used to sustain and promote the development of high quality charter schools focused on high student achievement.  Grant funds will improve upon the Department’s Charter Start workshops; increase the number of charter school applicants; provide start-up support for new schools; share best practices among charter schools; and develop a standards manual for charter school authorizers.  The funds will also be used to evaluate and communicate the effects of Idaho charter schools on students, student achievement and parents.  
 
The Idaho Legislature first passed the law to allow the development of charter schools in 1996. Today, there are twenty-nine public charter schools in the state with over 10,500 students enrolled in both traditional classroom and virtual school settings.  It is estimated that nearly 6,000 Idaho students are on waiting lists to enroll in charter schools.


GEARING UP FOR FALL

We wanted to again thank our loyal readers and supporters. As we gear up for another successful school year, we hope you will take time to share our alerts with your friends, families, colleagues, and anyone else who should be kept apprised about all that’s happening in our public charter schools — both brick and mortar and virtual!  And, ask them to sign up on line to receive our regular updates!