Another charter school is coming to Appleton.
United Public Montessori, an Appleton charter school for grades seven through 12, is on track to open in fall, one of 11 charter schools to receive federal planning grants from the state Department of Public Instruction for 2009-10.
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UPM’s initial grant for the school year is $175,000, and if all goes well, will total $525,000 over the three-year funding period.
Charter schools are public schools that are allowed to waive certain state regulations to deliver their programs. They are accountable to authorizing school districts and must hire licensed teachers and administer statewide tests.
UPM would be Appleton’s 15th charter school.
Two other Appleton schools also received charter grants.
Fox River Academy, an environmental charter school, is one of five charter schools in the state to receive a $125,000 dissemination grant to promote the idea to other schools.
Valley New School, a student-driven, project-based school, is one of two charter schools in the state to receive its second dissemination grant of $125,000.
Judy Baseman, assistant superintendent of school services who oversees Appleton’s charter schools, said UPM did well on its application, considering the federal and state government’s greater focus on self-governance.
“They are looking for more autonomy by governing boards,” she said. “They require a lot more of planners to show staff development and sustainability. They have to keep their schools growing, vital and meeting standards.”
Steve Krause, a UPM board member and treasurer, said there is strong interest in the school that extends the Montessori approach to the middle and high school levels.
“Our goal is to start with grades 7 through 9 and grow it into a senior high within three years,” said Krause, who expects to open with about 30 to 35 students next fall and eventually enroll about 100. “We’ve had a good response from the preliminary application process.”
Based on the philosophy and teaching methods of Maria Montessori, UPM will feature multiage classrooms (grades seven through 9 and 10 through 12), longer blocks of study than traditional secondary classes, peace teaching, use of mentors and specialists, a student business and apprenticeships.
“We will stress getting kids involved in their community and how they can affect it,” Krause said.
An optional International Baccalaureate curriculum also is planned along with an organic farm and greenhouse.
Baseman said UPM will be located in one classroom at Appleton West High School next fall.
“If the charter school has the student enrollment to expand to two classrooms in 2011-2012, two classrooms will be provided at West,” she said.
Krause said most students will come from Appleton Public Montessori, a charter school based at Johnston Elementary School for grades one through six.
“Our kids will be able to go on in what they started with,” he said. “Our focus is to give kids opportunities to grow at their own pace which is harder to do in traditional school.”
He said a public secondary Montessori school is “definitely new for this area,” and rare in the state.
“It’s exciting to be a part of creating another middle school option in the district,” said Stacy Dornfeld, board member and secretary, adding that out-of-district students are welcome. “It will be an open-enrollment charter school.”
