October 28, 2004
Contact: Luci Willits (208) 332-1591

Commission Approves Two New Schools

BOISE - The Treasure Valley will be home to two new charter schools after the Idaho Charter School Commission approved Compass Charter School in Meridian and Falcon Ridge Charter School in Kuna to open in the fall of 2005.

The approval brings the number of new charter schools to four for the 2005-2006 school year. The schools are: Idaho Arts Charter School, Nampa; Rolling Hills Charter School, Boise; Compass Charter School, Meridian; and Falcon Ridge Charter School, Kuna. According to Idaho statute, no more than six new charter schools in the state can be approved either by the State Charter School Commission or local districts.

“Charter Schools are unique because they are started by parents,” said Commission Chairman Jim Hammond. “The founders of Compass and Falcon Ridge have done a tremendous job of retooling their petitions to ensure a successful school. The Commission feels confident that both of these schools will offer parents a specialized curriculum and another choice in public education.”

The Commission also approved the Idaho Virtual Academy (IDVA) to be under the jurisdiction of the Commission. Under Idaho statute, virtual schools may apply directly to the Commission. With the addition of IDVA, there are five charter schools for the 2004-2005 school year: Victory Charter School, Nampa; Thomas Jefferson Charter School, Caldwell; Richard McKenna Charter School, Mountain Home; and Idaho Distance Education Academy sponsored by the Whitepine School District.

Both the Idaho Leadership Academy’s request for its Pingree campus to be under the jurisdiction of the Commission and its request for a new school in Idaho Falls were tabled until the Commission’s next meeting.