Sign Up For Our Newsletter

Charter school seeks state's stamp of approval: Decision expected in early February

by Jordan-Ashley Baker
Shelby Star
November 7, 2011

SHELBY — Organizers of what could become the county’s only charter school submitted their application Monday to the N.C. State Board of Education for approval and anticipate a decision in early February.

And although it will be several months before anyone knows whether Cleveland County will have its own charter school, supporters of Pinnacle Classical Academy: A Challenge Foundation Academy are continuing their plans to open for the 2012-13 school year.

“We’re planning like this school’s going to open in August,” said Lauren Tucker, proposed school director and primary charter school application author.

The application for Pinnacle Classical Academy was also submitted to Cleveland County Schools as part of the application process. Cleveland County Schools can submit a statement or other response directly to the state Office of Charter Schools.

Pinnacle Classical Academy, if granted charter school status, will be a public charter school with enrollment available for all North Carolina students who are otherwise eligible to attend state public schools. Tuition is free.

The school focuses on a classical education approach to learning, as well as education in the Core Knowledge Curriculum, science, technology, engineering, arts and math courses and character education.

“By seamlessly fusing these four components together, students graduating from PCA-CFA will have a broad knowledge base, be able to critically analyze, clearly express their ideas and beliefs, and be ready to competitively enter the 21st century global society as productive citizens,” the application states.

The General Assembly passed Senate Bill 8 in June to life the cap on North Carolina charter schools, which was previously set at 100. State Sen. Debbie Clary, who co-sponsored the bill, is one of the founding members of the Pinnacle Classical Academy board.

“We do anticipate success with the application and we’re continuing to discuss location options (for the school),” Clary said. “The community is excited to have the opportunity to have a choice.”

Taking the fast track

Public tax dollars are the primary funding source for charter schools, according to the North Carolina Office of Charter Schools website. Local, state and federal dollars follow children to the charter school of their choice, the website says.

Tucker said the school submitted a “fast track” application to the Board of Education, which allows charter schools to open as early as August 2012. The State Board of Education voted in September to approve the fast track application for potential charter schools whose organizers could prove they have the means to open a school in less than one year.

The 23-page fast track application requires potential schools to submit information about their mission statement, educational plan, budget calculations and health and safety guidelines. It took Tucker about three months to complete the application, she said.

Pinnacle Classical Academy’s application is based on a cap of about 260 students, Tucker said. Tentatively, the school will serve students in kindergarten through fifth grade with two sections per grade and 22 students per section. Those projections, however, aren’t set in stone and are based on preliminary letters of intent available through the school’s website, Tucker said.

If the application is approved, Tucker said school organizers will start accepting enrollment applications from February to late March. The only requirement for enrollment in a charter school is the availability of a spot in the requested grade level. If there are more applicants than available classroom spots, a lottery will be held for the contested grade level(s).

The school doesn’t currently have a facility to house students. The plan is to find land that can accommodate modular units, according to the school’s press release.

Charter schools aren’t required to provide students with transportation to and from school, but Pinnacle Classical Academy plans on using two buses for students who need transportation. The school’s latest press release says pick-up locations will be determined by student enrollment and family need.