Charter school queries rising

• By CHARLES LUSSIER
• Advocate staff writer
• Published: Jun 13, 2009 - Page: 1B

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A handful of groups want to start public charter schools in Baton Rouge in the fall  2010, but the time to apply is fast approaching.

The latest would-be charter is Desire Street Academy. The Christian private school, which educates inner-city boys, with a special focus on athletics, announced Wednesday it’s closing in hopes of being reborn as a taxpayer-funded charter school.

The clock, however, is ticking. The state Department of Education wants a “notice of intent” to apply by July 10; a completed application by Aug. 21; and it plans to choose winners in October. The state is planning to rule July 31 on whether applicants meet state requirements for charter schools.

The state also requires most charter applicants to apply first to the local school board, which then has up to 30 days to say “Yes” — in most cases it’s “No” — before the proposal can advance to the state.

Desire Street Academy Executive Director Danny Wuerffel said his organization plans to submit a charter application soon. Next year, he wants to get approval for a similar charter school in New Orleans that would open in fall 2011.

“This is a huge opportunity for kids in at-risk communities to have access to a much better education,” said Wuerffel, a Heisman Trophy winner and former quarterback for the University of Florida and the New Orleans Saints.

Here are two likely applicants for a charter school in Baton Rouge:

• Louisiana Connections Academy, which wants to create a statewide online school in grades kindergarten to 12, but with offices in Baton Rouge. The group last month was turned down by the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and plans to apply next to the state.
• Advance Innovative Education, an offshoot of the better known Advance Baton Rouge, has plans, announced 14 months ago, to start two technology-oriented charter high schools, one focused on math and science, the other on the digital arts, in the fall  2010. Project Director Charlotte Frugé said her office sent notice to Superintendent Charlotte Placide in January of its desire to start these new schools, but has not heard back yet.

At least two other groups have expressed interest in forming charter schools, but have not turned in applications.

Kenneth Campbell, director of the state’s charter school office, said he expects to receive eight to 10 charter applications from groups throughout the state.

“I think it’s fair to say there is a lot of interest in Baton Rouge,” Campbell said.

Louisiana heretofore has converted existing public schools into charters rather than create brand new charters. Campbell said state law caps such charters at 70, but only 28 are currently in operation and only four are in Baton Rouge.

Campbell said that is changing.