Tech-Rich Charter School Seeks Federal Grant Money (IN)

August 18, 2010

Students at the Paramount School of Excellence on the Eastside will have access to iPod Touch devices and iPads inside the classroom and a reflective pond outside when school starts Aug. 30.

With an emphasis on technology and a projects-based appro ach, Paramount is one of about a dozen charter schools vying for a slice of a nearly $11 million federal grant through the state Department of Education.

"Those dollars obviously will help us ramp up how quickly we get all the resources we need to be able to maximize our model," said Michelle Thompson, co-founder of the school, which boasts five wind turbines on its property — part learning experience, part energy provider. "It would definitely be a bonus for us."

Indiana, along with 10 other states and the District of Columbia, on Monday was awarded a chunk of $136 million in grant money from the U.S. Department of Education as part of a push to increase financial support for the startup of charter schools across the nation.

"This grant is important for several reasons, but on the most basic level, it provides funds to high-quality charter schools to purchase the tools an opening school needs to be successful," said Lauren Auld, spokeswoman for the state Department of Education.

"Charters are another great public educational option for students, and it is critical that we offer all children all types of educational opportunities that ultimately allow them to achieve academic success."

Schools could use the funds to hire administrative staff, provide professional development for teachers and cover one-time startup expenditures such as textbooks, computers and lab equipment, Auld added.

Schools that will open this year, including Paramount, and next will be eligible for the grant money. Eight charter schools will open in Indiana this year, including five in Indianapolis. At least four are set to open next year.

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David Dresslar, executive director of the Center of Excellence in Leadership of Learning at the University of Indianapolis, said charter schools traditionally lack startup funding, "which has caused them not to have the kind of preliminary planning that would enable them to have really strong starts when they open their doors."

"By having this grant money, schools will be much more prepared to serve students from day one much more than they have in the past."

Because it is a competitive program for grant funding, Thompson has her fingers crossed for her 462 students in kindergarten through Grade 8.

"As a new charter school, it’s tough during the first couple of years until you kind of level off with enrollment," Thompson said. "For us, (the grant) would provide a little bit of a ramp up for instructional dollars."