$8 Million in Federal Charter School Grants Announced (WI)
August 12, 2010
State Superintendent Tony Evers is awarding $8 million in federal charter school grants for planning and dissemination activities to 44 charter schools during the 2010-11 school year.
“Wisconsin schools must continue working to ensure every child graduates with the knowledge and skills needed for success in the workforce or if they pursue additional education,” said Evers. “One of the ways we can achieve this goal is to pursue innovation that works, and charter schools can provide innovative, rigorous, and relevant educational learning experiences for students in school districts across the state.”
In 2009, Wisconsin received nearly $86 million in federal charter school grant funds to support the development, sustainability, and expansion of quality charter schools in the state over the next five years. Earlier this month, the Department of Public Instruction awarded $3.3 million from that grant to support charter schools with their implementation activities. The department is now announcing an additional round of funding from this grant for charter school planning and dissemination activities for the 2010-11 school year:
• 33 planning grants, totaling $6,600,000, for the development of new charter schools;
� A;• 8 dissemination grants, totaling $1,000,000, for the expansion of successful charter schools models; and
• 3 dissemination renewal grants, totaling $375,000, for charter schools in the second year of their dissemination plans.
“We are supporting grants for charter schools that will help students improve academic achievement by providing them with unique learning experiences,” added Evers. “These grants will help districts across Wisconsin plan for new charter schools and help established, high quality charter schools share their knowledge and expertise with other school districts.”
Charter schools are public schools that are accountable to their authorizing agency for performance measures included in the charter contract. Charter schools must employ licensed teachers, involve parents, administer statewide tests, and comply with federal regulations that govern all public schools. Under state law, school districts can authorize an unlimited number of charter schools. In addition, the City of Milwaukee, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee Area Technical College, and the University of Wisconsin-Parkside, have authority to charter schools. During the 2009-10 school year, there were 206 charter schools operating in Wisconsin, serving 36,100 students. For the upcoming 2010-11 school year, 209 charter schools are expected to serve students in 82 school districts and communities across the state.