ANNAPOLIS, MD (September 27, 2018) \u2013 The Hogan administration today awarded six grants totaling more than $5 million to support the growth of public charter schools across the state. Three-year grants of up to $900,000 each went to programs in Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Prince George\u2019s County, and St. Mary\u2019s County. Governor Larry Hogan made the announcement at Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP) Harmony Academy in Baltimore, where he was joined by members of the Maryland State Board of Education, students, parents, teachers, and business and community leaders.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery child in Maryland deserves access to a world-class education regardless of what neighborhood they happen to grow up in and we owe it to our kids to think more creatively and to expand the choices available to them,\u201d said Governor Hogan. \u201cFor the first time, here today, we are awarding six new grants totaling more than $5 million dollars through the Maryland State Department of Education to spur the growth of charter schools around our state and support more than 3,000 Maryland students.\u201d<\/p>\n
The grants are the first to be awarded under the Maryland State Department of Education\u2019s (MSDE) federal Expanding Opportunity through Quality Charter Schools program. MSDE in 2017 received a five-year, $17.2 million federal grant to expand the state\u2019s public charter schools.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe federal grant provides exciting new opportunities for school innovation throughout our State,\u201d said Dr. Karen Salmon, State Superintendent of Schools. \u201cThese new schools provide valuable options for our students.\u201d<\/p>\n
The new grantees are:<\/p>\n
\u2022 Chesapeake Charter School, St. Mary\u2019s County: To add 170 new students to its current K-8 program focusing on project based learning and arts integration.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Baltimore International Academy, Baltimore City: To replicate its existing K-8 program emphasizing language immersion in another Baltimore neighborhood.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Watershed School, Baltimore County: To launch a new elementary school in 2019-2020 with an environmental focus and extensive community outreach.<\/p>\n
\u2022 DaVinci Collaborative School, Baltimore City: To start a new high school targeting internships and an intensive advisory model.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Legends Charter School, Prince George\u2019s County: To open a new K-4 school, with an intention of expanding to K-8, focusing on financial literacy and entrepreneurship.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Chesapeake Math and IT Academy, Prince George\u2019s County: To replicate its STEM-based school model, already successful at three locations in the county.<\/p>\n
There will be a new opportunity to apply for grant funds in the next year. For more information, go to http:\/\/marylandpublicschools.org\/programs\/Pages\/Charter-Schools\/CSPGrant.aspx<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"