More than 50 people are interested in opening charter schools in the District, the most enthusiasm that the school board has ever seen.
Teachers, principals and people from all walks of life — including psychiatrists and entrepreneurs — packed a Columbia Heights conference room for a D.C. Charter School Board information session on charter application guidelines.
“I was surprised by the session, to see that large number,” said school board member Darren Woodruff, chairman of the schools oversight committee. “You would think with the growth we’ve already had, you’d see a smaller number of people coming out for charters to be authorized, but that hasn’t been the case.”
Woodruff said attendance was high at last year’s sessions, but not like this — and there’s another session planned for December.
The board approved four schools, out of 13 completed applications last year, set to open next fall.
Woodruff said the board likely will approve more than four schools to open in fall 2012, with an emphasis on early-childhood development and high schools. “We’ll be looking for value added to our current portfolio of schools,” he said.
Charter schools spokesman Audrey Williams said an increased interest in education reform — such as documentary “Waiting for ‘Superman’ ” and Oprah Winfrey’s own investment — contributed to the high turnout. “People are seeing where they can help improve or add to the whole education reform effort in the District, and they want to give it a try.”
Currently, 52 D.C. charter schools with more than 90 campuses serve 27,660 students. An annual report from the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools found that 38 percent of D.C. public school students are enrolled in charter schools, a rate second in the nation only to New Orleans.
D.C. charter schools’ enrollment increased 7 percent over last school year, while D.C. Public Schools celebrated its first enrollment increase in 39 years — a more modest bump of about 1.6 percent to 46,515.
Erin Dillon, senior policy analyst for independent think tank Education Sector, said that the local charter system’s strong framework and solid funding make it an attractive playground for entrepreneurs, but that demand may soon outstrip itself.
“Eventually the market will be saturated and charter schools will have to start competing with themselves for enrollment,” Dillon said. “That will bring change and turnover in schools, which isn’t always the best thing for the community.”
