April 21, 2005
Contact: Luci Willits (208) 332-1591

INSPIRE SECURES FINAL 2005-2006 CHARTER SCHOOL SLOT

ACADEMY AT ROOSEVELT CENTER TO OPEN 2006-2007

BOISE- Seven minutes essentially separated one year of operations for two charter schools in the running for the last charter school slot for the 2005-2006 school year.

State law allows six new charter schools to open per school year; each school must be authorized by the Idaho Charter School Commission or local school districts. On April 14, the Idaho Charter School Commission approved three new schools, INSPIRE, a statewide virtual school; Taylor’s Crossing in Idaho Falls, and the Academy at Roosevelt Center in Pocatello. Five-charter school slots were filled for the 2005-2006 school year; so only one school could open in the Fall. Because Taylor’s Crossing had additional work to do on its petition, the ARC and INSPIRE would compete for the final spot. Taylor’s Crossing is likely to open in the 2006-2007 school year.

Commission staff notified petitioners for the ARC and INSPIRE Tuesday, April 19 that their paperwork would be faxed that day. Petitioners were required to submit the paperwork and hand deliver a copy of it along with a copy of the charter to the State Board of Education office. INSPIRE Charter School handed delivered its paperwork at 7:43 a.m. Tuesday, followed by the ARC at 7:50 a.m., delaying the ARC’s opening until the 2006-2007 school year.

The next Charter School Commission meeting is scheduled on Thursday, May 12 at Boise State University.

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