Phoenix (Jan. 28, 2019) – The Arizona Charter Schools Association is pleased to announce that the State Board of Education has approved $10 million in federal Charter School Program grants. These dollars will increase the number of high-quality, public charter schools serving disadvantaged students in Arizona. The schools will create nearly 3,000 additional seats for Arizona’s students. Via the Charter School Program, the federal grants commit $250,000 annually for five years to eight schools that will cater to underserved students by either opening new schools, replicating campuses, expanding enrollment or adding grade levels.
“The Arizona Charter Schools Association is committed to advocating for greater choice and expanded opportunities for all Arizona students,” said Association Chief Academic Officer Ildi Laczko-Kerr. “We were proud to support this effort and help secure this critical funding, which will go a long way toward increasing the number of quality public educational options in underserved Arizona communities.”
The Arizona Charter Schools Association played a vital role in helping secure the federal grants by providing technical assistance to the majority of schools as they prepared for their federal start-up grant applications. The Association also has offered ongoing support and professional development for these prospective charter operators through its “Start Smart, Stay Smart” training series – which covers charter application review, governing board development and academic program design – as well as services such as technical reviews and mock interviews. This effort is part of the Association’s strategic plan, which supports Arizona’s effort to increase access to quality charter schools for underserved students.
Charter School Program grants have been awarded to the following Arizona public charter schools:
• A+ Charter Schools
• Educational Models for Learning, Inc.
• Integrated Education Foundation, Inc.
• Providence High School
• Somerset Academy Arizona, Inc.
• Heritage Academy Maricopa, Inc.
• Math and Science Success Academy, Inc. – Glendale
• Math and Science Success Academy, Inc. – Peoria
For media inquiries, please contact Jamar Younger, jamar@azcharters.org or 602-802-5516.
