Charter and Secondary Transformation Schools

The deadline for charter applications for the 2009 - 10 school year is September 2, 2008. For more information about the application please come to our technical assistance meeting on Monday, June 23, 2008. The meeting will be held at 200 East North Ave., Baltimore, MD, 21202, in room 301, from 11 A.M. to 1:00 P.M.

Note: Some of the documents below require Adobe Acrobat Reader. Click Here to Download a free copy

Secondary Transformation Schools:

• Budget Template Instructions (Adobe PDF File)
• Transformation School Budget Template (Microsoft Excel File)
• Request for Information for Secondary Transformation Schools to open in Fall 2009 or Fall 2010

Charter Schools:

• Charter Application and Guidelines
• Board Approved Funding Model
• Budget Worksheet
• Goals Worksheet

Schools in Baltimore:

008-City Spring School (K-8)
015-The Stadium School  
023-Wolfe Street Academy
025-Dr. Rayner Browne Academy
044-Montebello Elementary
047-Hampstead Hill Academy (K-8)
063-Rosemont (K-6)
097-Collington Square School (K-8)
107-Gilmor Elementary
125-Furman L. Templeton Elementary
262-Empowerment Academy (K-2)
321-Midtown Academy (K-8)
322-New Song Academy (K-8)
323-The Crossroads School (6-8)
324-KIPP Ujima Academy (5-8)
325-ConneXions (6-8)
326-City Neighbors Charter (K-5)
327-Patterson Park (K-5)
328-Southwest Charter (K-1)
329-Inner Harbor East (K-3)
330-Northwood Appold
331-MATHS (Maryland Academy of Technology and Health Sciences) (8th)
332-The Green School (K-2)
333-Independence School Local 1
334-Bluford Drew Jemison MST
335-Baltimore International Academy
422-New Era Academy High
423-Baltimore Freedom Academy
427-Academy for College and Career Exploration (ACCE)
428-Talent Development High School
432-Coppin Academy
433-Renaissance Academy

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#008 City Springs School (K-8)

We believe that all students have talents and can learn through a variety of instructional experiences that will help them to develop their vocational, cultural and leisure pursuits. These experiences should enable students to be contributing members in a diverse society. They will be able to apply critical thinking skills and functional skills necessary to perform in an increasingly complex, technological society, to develop skills of leadership and fellowship, to develop an appreciation for the cultural differences among themselves and other members of society, and to develop their individual and collective talents.
Bell Schedule – 7:30 – 3:10 p.m.

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#015 The Stadium School (4 – 8)

Principal – Ron Shelly
1300 Gorsuch Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21218
443.984.2682 (office)
410.366.2672 (fax)
www.stadium school.com

Statement of Mission and Philosophy

The mission of The Stadium School is to spark in students of diverse backgrounds and talents a passion for learning, accomplishment, and contribution to their communities.

The philosophy of The Stadium School centers around three essential partners in the educational process: the student (child), the parent(s)/guardian(s), and the teacher. These partners must be thoroughly empowered to ensure effective learning and to build a successful learning community. Each partner must hear (listen) to the voice of the other, e.g.,

I want to be successful, but also want school to be fun and engaging.
I want my child to take tests, e.g., MSA, High School Assessment, and CTBS/Terra Nova and pass them.
I want to feel supported for my effort to teach.

High quality and inspiring results are achieved through basic skills, using alternative programs such as the Algebra Project, as well as the BCPSS curriculum.  The Stadium School staff members participate in Summer Curriculum Writing and staff development.  As much as possible, students learn by working on projects that have real results such as:  creating works of art, writing and publishing books and essays, creating small businesses or entrepreneurships, staging plays, presenting exhibitions, and researching social, historical and scientific problems to find solutions for real problems.  In addition, students’ basic mathematic and reading skills are assessed on an ongoing basis to assure preparation for mandated standardized tests. 

Students progress through the school by meeting educational outcomes, scoring at proficient levels on assessments, and maintaining a portfolio of their best work products.  The students’ exhibit these portfolios to a panel of teachers, parents, and community members.  The students’ exhibitions must prove that they have met the required       academic outcomes.  Students’ grades are given following teacher constructed rubrics, which outline the criteria for outcomes, based upon the MD Voluntary State Standards.  Each students meets daily with a teacher advisor.

Students in grades five through eight are grouped according to grade levels.  Occasionally, students work in project classes regardless of grade.  Teachers plan interdisciplinary lessons by meeting weekly in curriculum meetings.

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#023 Wolfe Street Academy (Pre-K – 6)

Principal - Mark Gaither
245 S. Wolfe Street
Baltimore, MD 21231
410.396.9140 (office)
410.534.1066 (fax)

Wolfe Street Academy is a Pre-Kindergarten through Fifth grade conversion public charter school operated by Baltimore Curriculum Project.  Serving more than 160 students from across the entire city, Wolfe Street Academy uses a researched based reading program with over 30 years of data marking its success.  Wolfe Street Academy focuses on providing individualized support for all students.  Students are guided through a coherent and cohesive curriculum that brings students from learning their letter sounds in Pre-Kindergarten to reading novels in Fifth grade.  Using this program along with a Maryland State Department of Education aligned Mathematics program, a full after school program and the support of the Upper Fells Point community in which it is situated, the Wolfe Street community has met Adequate Yearly Progress for two consecutive years. 

All members of Wolfe Street Academy strive for one expectation.  “All members of the Wolfe Street Academy community will be respectful and responsible at all times.”  Through living this expectation every day community members have created the strong relationships that have lead to our success.

Bell Schedule: 7:20 - Breakfast; 7:50 - Morning Meeting; 8:00 - Classes Begin; 2:40 - Dismissal for all students.

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#025 Dr. Rayner Browne (Pre-K – 5)

Principal - Lisa Eason
1000 N. Montford Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21205
http://www.baltimorecp.org

Dr. Rayner Browne Academy is named after the late Dr. Grafton Rayner Browne, a member of the Baltimore Chirugical Society, the Monumental City Medical Society, and the American Medical Society. The school serves 213 African-American students in grades pre-kindergarten through seven.
Dr. Rayner Browne will expand to include eighth grade in the 2008-2009 school year. Dr. Rayner Browne is a conversion public charter school operated by Baltimore Curriculum Project. The school is a zoned school serving students residing in the Madison/east end area of Baltimore City.

Vision

“The Dr. Rayner Browne learning community will ensure that all students are equipped with the necessary attitudes, skills and proficiencies to soar to higher levels of success in the 21st century”

Mission

“To accelerate student progress through effective implementation of the School Improvement Plan, focusing on quality instruction, maintaining an orderly learning environment, and sustaining a culture of excellence”

Schedule:  8:00 a.m. through 2:40 p.m.

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#044 Montebello Elementary (K – 6)

Principal – Camille Bell
2040 E. 32nd Street
Baltimore, MD 21218
410.235.4801 (office)

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#047 Hampstead Hill Academy (K-8)

Principal – Matthew Hornbeck
500 S. Linwood Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21224
410.396.9146 (office)
410.396.3637 (fax)

Hampstead Hill Academy is as Baltimore Curriculum Project charter school.  Hampstead Hill began as a regular neighborhood public school that converted to charter while remaining in the existing facility.  Hampstead Hill uses Direct Instruction’s Accelerated Student Achievement Program, which involves the school-wide use of Direct Instruction for language arts and mathematics; and Core Knowledge in other content areas.

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#063 Rosemont (K – 6)

Principal – Charles Shockney
2777 Presstman Street
Baltimore, MD 21216
410.396.0574 (office)
410.545.3298  (fax)

Rosemont Elementary/Middle School is operated by Coppin State University. As a part of the university’s Education Corridor, Rosemont will serve students in the Rosemont/Coppin Height’s neighborhood in grades Pre-Kindergarten through eighth. Students will then have the opportunity to attend the Coppin Academy, a charter high school also operated by Coppin State on the university’s campus.  Rosemont will become a charter school on July 1, 2006 and will add a seventh grade at the same time. The eighth grade will be added at the start of the 2007/2008 school year.

The underlying belief in everything we do is that all students have gifts and talents and given the proper support, all students can succeed. It is the school’s mission to help develop these gifts and talents.  To this end, Rosemont offers a variety of teaching and learning opportunities. Students attend regularly scheduled instruction in vocal music, physical education library and visual arts. Technology instruction is offered in two computer labs in addition to computer work stations in each classroom. An after-school academic program is held each school year starting in October which assists students to prepare for the Stanford 10 and Maryland School Assessments. Rosemont has partnerships with the US Fish and Wildlife Service, NASA (as a NASA Explorer School, one of only two schools in the state of Maryland) and has been named a Green School for our efforts in ecology and the environment. These partnerships offer our students opportunities to further their education at both school based programs and field trips to sites away from the building.

Rosemont is a uniform school with our elementary students wearing navy blue and white and our middle school students wearing navy blue and khaki. The school day runs from 8:00am to 2:40pm.More information can be obtained by calling the school or visiting our website at
HTTP://ROSEMONT.COPPIN.EDU.

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#097 Collington Square School (K-8)

Principal – Harold Eason
1409 N. Collington Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21213
410.396.9198 (office)
410.396.8632 (fax)

Collington Square School is a Baltimore Curriculum Project charter school in East Baltimore that was a regular neighborhood public school that converted to charter.  This school uses a challenging curriculum (combining Direct Instruction and Core Knowledge) emphasizing reading, writing, mathematics, geography, history, science, and world civilization.

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#107 Gilmor Elementary (K – 6)

Principal – Dr. Cassandra Dixon
1311 N. Gilmor Street
Baltimore, MD 21217
410.462.2700 (office)

1. Vision - Accelerating the academic achievement of all students, in partnership with the entire community, to ensure that students have the attitudes, skills, and proficiencies needed to succeed in college and in the 21st century global workforce.
2. Mission - To accelerate student progress through effective Implementation of the Master Plan, focusing on quality instruction, managing systems efficiently, and sustaining a culture of excellence.
3. Research Based Curriculum and Instruction - Edison’s curriculum also complies with the requirements for scientifically-based or research-based programs as defined by NCLB regulations.  The programs are closely aligned with national standards and outcomes, and are supported by years of testing and research. 
4. Open Court Reading – 25 years of research: This widely used balanced literacy program is a highly structured, research-based program that has a strong phonics component in its early levels.  Gilmor uses this program in 90-minute daily reading blocks.
5. Everyday Math – 12 years of research: The University of Chicago’s Everyday Mathematics (K-6) is a researched-based program with a non-traditional approach to math instruction. It uses a hands-on, performance-based approach to math concepts and applications that promotes skills in reasoning, problem solving, communication and connections.  It requires 60 minutes of math daily.  Prentice Hall is used for our Grade 6 program.
6. The Step Up to Writing Project - Taught through a writers’ workshop approach, our English/Language Arts program for grades K-6 has a strong emphasis on the writing process and an in-context approach to spelling, grammar and writing conventions. Students become knowledgeable about what constitutes exemplary writing and they are able to use rubrics to gauge the quality of their compositions.
7. Delta Science:  This is a 30 year program that incorporates hands-on science with full inquiry based learning.  Science modules provide activities that are focused on discussion questions, opportunities for research and inquiry, and tips for reading in content area.  Cross-curricular connections demonstrate ways that teachers can integrate activities and ideas in an interdisciplinary approach.  Delta also provides frequent and varied assessments to gauge the students’ understanding of the concepts and skills in each unit.
8. Social Science – History Alive - Our Social Science Program incorporates a different commitment to Social Studies instruction.  This program has a commitment to depth, dialogue and discovery. Guided inquiry shapes student research, projects, discussions, and other aspects of student investigation in the social sciences.

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#125 Furman L. Templeton Elementary ( K – 6)

Principal – Ken Cherry
1200 N. Pennsylvania Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21217
410.462.9560

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#262 Empowerment Academy (PreK - 8)

Principal – Carolyn Smith
851 Braddish Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21216
443.984.2381 (office)
410.362.2454 (fax)

School Profile

School Vision

Mission Statement

Programs offered at The Empowerment Academy:

• After School Academic and Cultural Enrichment Program (BOOST)
• Field Trips
• Family activities
• SIT (School Improvement Team)
• PTA
• Parent Seminars and Workshops
• 50 Hours of Committed Volunteerism
• Summer Academy in July
• Artists in Residency Program
• Arts program in Dance, Visual Arts, Vocal & Instrumental Music, Drama
• Cultural Enrichment Assemblies
• Chess Club

Our Partnerships:

• The Empowerment Temple A.M.E. Church
• Goucher College
• Johns Hopkins University
• Morgan State University
• The Walters Art Gallery
• The Baltimore Museum of Art
• The Continentals Society Inc.
• Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc.
• Allender Transportation
• Enoch Pratt Library
• Family League of Baltimore City Schools

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#321 Midtown Academy (K - 8)

Principal – Kathy O’Hanlon
1398 Mount Royal Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21217
410.225.3257 (office)
410.225.3514 (fax)
www.midtwonacademy.org

Midtown Academy is a 180-student K-8 Charter School serving the Reservior Hill and Bolton Hill neighborhoods and the City at large.  It offers a variety of special enrichment programs (foreign language, tae kwan do, music, artistic enrichment – by way of example) in a collaborative team learning/teaching experience.

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#322 New Song Academy (K – 8)

Principal – Susan Tibbels
1530 Presstman Street
Baltimore, MD 21217
410.728.2091 (office)
410.728.0829 (fax)
www.newsonglc.org

New Song Academy is a small public school located in the Sandtown-Winchester neighborhood. We serve students from the surrounding neighborhood only. We have aprox. 125 students in our k-8 setting. We are part of the New Schools Initiative - a precursor to the Charter School movement in Maryland and as such we enjoy a certain amount of autonomy from the System demands. Here is what makes our school different:

1. While we are in session for the same 190 days that all other Maryland schools are (180- with students and 10 for professional development), we run a "year round" calendar consisting of 6, 5 - 7 week sessions with a 1 or 2 week break between each session (1 professional development day is scheduled during each "intersession").
2. We have an extended day for the first 5 sessions. Our clock schedule runs from 8:40 until 5:00 Monday through Wednesday and 8:40 - 3:15 on Thursday's and Friday's. Every effort is made to ensure that teachers have adequate planning time, but extended blocks of instruction allow our teachers to fully implement our curriculum.
3. We use the Workshop model as the framework for our instruction for math, reading and writing. We use Expeditionary Learning from Outward Bound as the basis for the planning. All planning and instruction is focused on State and National standards. For more information on ELOB please refer to <http://www.elob.org/design/index.html>.
4. We believe strongly in the importance of creating and maintaining a strong school culture. We have a full time social worker who is integrated into our school's discipline plan. A great deal of time is spent on creating and maintaining the protocols that allow classrooms to function smoothly.
5. The corner stone of our school is that productive classrooms and school can only come from consistency, structure and relationships between staff, students, parents and communities. To that end, we all use the workshop model (although the content varies from room to room, and grade to grade), we all use the same school wide discipline model and we all spend a lot of time (though the use of morning meeting, ELOB and other curriculum based structures) on developing a community of learners.
6. In the upper grades - 5th - 8th - we split the classes by gender and combine grade levels. This means that we have 4 classes in the upper team - a 5th/6th boys class, 5th/6th girls class, 7th/8th girls class and 7th/8th boys class. The middle grade teachers are responsible for teaching all subjects to their homeroom except for math, science and PE.

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#323 The Crossroads School (6-8)

Principal – Mark Martin
802 South Caroline Street
Baltimore, MD 21231
410.685.0295 (office)
410.752.8433 (fax)
www.thecrossroadsschool.org

The Crossroads School is working with the nationally recognized organization Outward Bound in the creation of its instructional program.  This curriculum model, known as Expeditionary Learning, is designed around long-term, in-depth investigations of a topic that engage students through authentic projects, fieldwork and service learning.  The work students do within learning expeditions centers on rigorous academic achievement, critical thinking, essential skills and habits, personal development and high quality original work.

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#324 KIPP Ujima Academy (5-8)

Principal – Shayna Hammond
4701 Greenspring Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21209
410.545.3669 (office)
410.664.6865 (fax)
www.ujimavillage.org

We are a college preparatory middle school aiming to develop in students the academic skills, intellectual habits, and qualities of character necessary to succeed in rigorous high schools and colleges, self determined professions, and societal improvement.  We fulfill this mission through a rigorous academic program based on KIPP’s five pillars:  High Expectations, More Time on Task, Choice and Commitment, Power to Lead, and Focus on Results.  
Our fifth and sixth grade students are due to school by 7:15 A.M. and are dismissed at 4:30 P.M.  And our 7th and 8th grade students are due by 7:45 A.M. and are dismissed at 5:00 P.M. 

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#326 City Neighbors Charter School (K-8)

Principal – Mike Chalupa
4301 Raspe Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21206
410.325.CNCS (2627) (office)
410.325.CITY (2489) (fax)
www.cityneighbors.org

City Neighbors Charter School is a K-8 school rooted in the ideals of progressive, creative, and small school education.    With arts integration and project-based learning at the core of our philosophy along with an emphasis on developing strong relationships between students, between teachers and students, and between parents and the school, we strive to help students develop a love of learning, a deeper awareness of themselves and their community, and the self-confidence and self-motivation to thrive. 
Hallmarks of our program and philosophy include:

• A play-based kindergarten which engages students in the world of school, acclimates them to the social world of school, and begins to develop a love of learning while building numeracy and literacy skills through play.
• An arts program that not only include dedicated arts classes in visual arts, music, drama, and theater, but uses the arts in the classroom to make learning accessible and to help students express their learning and understanding.
• A project approach to learning in which students and teachers develop guiding questions, spend a significant amount of time research and answering that question, and then find effective ways to present their learning.  Through this approach, students dig deeper and develop critical thinking skills.
• A focus on literacy and develop the love and appreciation of reading – starting from the first days of Kindergarten.
• A middle school that includes an advisory program, daily small group tutoring, elective choices, Algebra in 8th grade, and a small teacher-student ratio.
• An approach to education that is mindfully multicultural, inclusive, and embracing of the individuals that make up a classroom, a school, and a community.

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#327 Patterson Park (K-5)

Principal – Chad Kramer
27 North Lakewood Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21224
410.558.1230 (office)
410.558.1003 (fax)
www.pppcs.org

Patterson Park Public Charter School is a school committed to developing well-educated, community-minded children by providing high-quality, community based education capitalizing on the diversity of nearby neighborhoods and the resources of Patterson Park.  It is a local public school of choice that is open to all students and that does not charge tuition.

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#328 Southwest Charter (K-2)

The mission of Southwest Baltimore Charter School (SBCS) is to acknowledge and to nurture the talents of all children in a culturally and socially diverse school community.  A powerful combination of committed staff and family members will work together to help each child develop to his or her full potential, both academically and emotionally.

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#329 Inner Harbor East (K-3)

Principal – Ella Waters
200 North Central Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21202
410.537.5890 (office)
410.537.5892  (fax)

Inner Harbor East Academy for Young Scholars, located on the campus of Sojourner-Douglass College, is a unique educational program that fosters Kindergarten to Grade 3 student achievement through an ecological model.  This afro-centric community-based approach promotes standards-driven student learning in small classes while providing family support services including adult education, employment and counseling.

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#330 Northwood Appold (K-5)

Principal – Virginia Richardson
4417 Loch Raven Boulevard
Baltimore, MD 21218
410.323.6712 (office)
410.323.1836 (fax)
www.nacacad.org

Northwood-Appold Community Academy (NACA) is a public charter school whose mission is to cultivate young people who are proficient relative to academic achievement and intellectual skills; advanced, constructive, and healthy relative to character development; empowered to make a life; equipped to make a living; and positioned to participate fully in freedom and democracy.

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#331 MATHS High School (8 – 12)

Principal – Rebekah Ghosh
4701 Greenspring Avenue – 4th Floor
Baltimore, MD 21209
410.545.0955/56 (office)
410.3960338 (fax)
www.mathsbaltimore.org
E-mail Address – mathsbaltimore@yahoo.com

MISSION STATEMENT:

The Mission of the Maryland Academy of Technology and Health Sciences (MATHS) is to provide an intellectually rigorous, personalized and supportive college-preparatory education for 9th-12th grade students of Baltimore City, with a focus on the biotechnology and health science fields. 

• Intellectually rigorous: We believe that all students can achieve when held to 
                     high standards.  MATHS will emphasize high student achievement based on a
                    standards-based curriculum, internally developed and standardized assessments
                    and standards-aligned effective instruction.
• Personalized: We believe that students learn most effectively in small learning
                    environments.  MATHS will maintain a low student to teacher ratio (~16:1),
                    establish personalized student work plans (PWP) and assign an academic
                    advisor to each student.
• Supportive:  We believe in a supportive educational environment that addresses
                    the needs of all students.  MATHS will continually seek to identify and address
                    those students who need academic, emotional and developmental assistance
                    through a variety of ways including additional instruction, counseling, advisory
                    groups and a committed relationship with the student’s family.
• College Prep:  MATHS aims for each one of its students to attend college and
                    will build an environment that prepares students for entry and success at the
                    college level.
• Biotechnology and Health Sciences: In the 3rd and 4th years, MATHS will offer
                    a specialized curriculum, internship and research opportunities, and a Senior
                    Practicum in these fields to prepare students for success in college programs in
                   the medical sciences.
  
  Our Vision is that a MATHS education will allow our students to establish themselves academically and professionally, as well as cultivate them into contributors and leaders of their respective communities. 
  
  

  EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY:

  
  

  The educational philosophy of MATHS is based on our belief that all students, with proper instruction and skill development, can achieve at high levels when held to high standards in a supportive educational culture.  We believe that systematic testing leads to improved student performance and that a high quality teaching staff should be developed and maintained to attain sustainable achievement.  Our program is built on these principles, as well as on a partnership between the student, the parent/guardian and school staff to create a learning home environment. 

  CURRICULAR FOCUS:

  
  

  The MATHS curriculum is aligned with MSDE and BCPSS requirements and the MATHS mission.  We will focus on preparing students for successful entry into post-secondary opportunities in the biotechnology and health sciences fields.

  PARTNERSHIPS:

  
  

  Our partnerships are aligned with the MATHS mission and will serve to integrate and supplement students’ academic lessons with research, work and service experience. 

• Johns Hopkins University
• Johns Hopkins Hospital
• University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute
• Career Associates Education, Inc.
• Queen’s Mobile Education
• Historic East Baltimore Community Action Coalition
• EBA engineering
• Shangri-La Assisted Living
• YMCA
• Enoch Pratt
• Welch Medical Library
• Moveable Feast
• Maryland College of Art

GRADES SERVED/NUMBER OF STUDENTS:

MATHS will enroll 120 students in each grade level.  For the 2006-2007 academic year, MATHS will enroll 120, 8th grade students.  Every year thereafter, an additional grade will be added until MATHS serves students in grades 8-12. 

SCHOOL DAY/YEAR:

#332 The Green School of Baltimore (K-3)

Principal - Kate Primm
335 W. 27th Street
Baltimore, Maryland 21211
410-366-2152 and 410-366-2153 (office)
410-366-2154 (fax)
http://www.thegreenschoolofbaltimore.org/

The Green School of Baltimore is an elementary charter school founded by Baltimore City teachers. We opened in September 2006 in the neighborhood of Remington, with Kindergarten and grades 1 and 2.  Each year we will add one grade, until we reach our K-5 capacity.  We will move to a new building in the neighborhood of Belair-Edison for the 2008-2009 school year.
The Green School offers an innovative curriculum that integrates project-based learning with balanced literacy. We follow an educational approach called “using the Environment as an Integrating Context (EIC) for learning.” EIC uses the school’s surroundings and community as the context for reading, math, science, and social studies. This approach integrates learning from textbooks, problem-solving opportunities, and hands-on experiences.

Students will be involved in projects that align with Maryland State standards and require the students to apply skills learned in all subject areas.  Projects include: creating rain gardens; planning and growing an edible, organic garden; developing a recycling program; and creating a tree nursery.  For example, as second graders create rain gardens, they read diagrams, maps, and gardening books; they calculate prices for plants to purchase; and they measure and map sites.

We are committed to providing a rigorous educational program to meet the diverse needs of our students. Our teachers have experience with special education, inclusion, differentiation of instruction, and gifted and talented programs.  Our mission is to motivate every student to participate fully and to achieve high standards.

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#333 Independence School Local 1 ( 9 – 12)

Principal – Helen Atkinson/Cranston Dize/Erik Sunday
1250 W. 36th Street
Baltimore, MD 21211
410.467.1090 (office)
410.467.1091 (fax)

Independence is a public charter high school that allows Baltimore city youth to learn through real life experiences. We are in the business of de-schooling children and reintroducing them to the environment in practical and intellectual ways.

Our mission is to cultivate practical and creative intellectuals who use the knowledge gained from smart conversations and debates, from daily reading, writing and math, and from a wide variety of challenging field experiences to reflect critically on themselves and their involvement in civic life.

The Program Features:

• Experiential learning through internships and extended projects
• Cultural experiences in and around the city and in the wilderness
• A few primary adults, who develop trusting relationships with the students
• A commitment of a four years for each advisory teacher working with one group of students
• Individualized learning plans
• Key performances (exhibitions) and active engagement instead of exams
• A “Gateway” requirement after two years of the program before entering the third year
• An emphasis on technology
• An ethos of joint decision-making by staff
• Strong local and citywide partnerships

Independence School Local 1 is a school for students willing to earn credits through the completion of a four year program with a framework based in experiential learning.  By experiential, we mean that the fundamental emphasis of a student’s course of study will be the exploration of critical questions as they related to a student’s own life, history, family, and community.  This will involve great amounts of tactile learning, visits to numerous locations inside and outside of our immediate community, and expeditions which push a student to learn survival skills in both the natural and unnatural world.
The curriculum is driven by students’ locus of reality.  A student at Independence School Local 1 will be honored in their individuality, but will be pushed to expand the sense of meaning in his/her life to include a larger community.  We thrive on diversity; we even study our own diversity; so students should be willing to be engaged in a school where difference and uniqueness are celebrated.
Active participation in the unique aspects of the ‘curriculum’ is a requirement to continue with the program.  This participation includes joining after school programs, engaging in new cultural experiences; volunteering for community service on evenings and weekends; going on week-long backpacking trips; taking all-day walking tours of the city; and being an enthusiastic member of seminars and workshops led by experts in many different fields.

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#334 Bluford Drew Jemison MST (6 – 8)

Principal – Kevin Parson
1130 N. Caroline Street
Baltimore, MD 21213
410.276.3095 (office)
410.276.3096 (fax)
www.bdjacademy.org

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#335 Baltimore International Academy (K - 5)

Principal – Elena Lokounia
3501 Taylor Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21236
410.426.3650 (office)
410.426.4688 (fax)
www.baltimoreinternationalacademy.org

Baltimore International Academy opened in the 2007-2008 school year as Baltimore City’s First International Language Immersion school serving grades K-5. One grade will be added each school year until the Academy is fully operational as a K-8 school.

Parents of kindergarten and first grade students can choose to totally immerse their children in French, Mandarin Chinese and Russian as their language of instruction. (Spanish is being considered for the 2008-2009 school) Students in grades 2 to 5 follow the partial immersion model. The Rosetta Stone Program, which is an interactive, multi-media language-learning set of programs that replicate the environment in which learners naturally acquire new language is used to accelerate the language acquisition process.

French, Mandarin, Russian and Spanish are the official languages that are used by the United Nations for inter-governmental meetings and for document publication; Russian and Chinese are also on the U.S. government’s list of critically needed language.  Additionally, the Baltimore International Academy is applying to become certified as one of Maryland’s first elementary school accredited as an “IB World School” under the prestigious International Baccalaureate Organization’s Primary Years Program.

Research and local experience with other language immersion programs show that these programs develop students who show strong academic performance.  The Maryland State Assessments results for students in immersion programs are amongst the highest in the state, with students of all races and socio-economic levels performing well above average.  Structural aspects of immersion programs and the Rosetta Stone Program are particularly helpful for students with limited proficiency in English.

The BIA’s Board of Trustees is well-endowed with skilled and dedicated professionals with expertise in all areas necessary for the establishment and oversight of a public charter school.  Its Board members have designed a truly innovative, exciting and educationally rigorous program and they have the relevant experience in language immersion and international education, in educational administration and management, in accounting, in law and in community activism to ensure the successful launch of the Baltimore International Academy.

In short, the Baltimore International Academy aims to be a thriving school known for its culture of both inclusion and excellence and for its strong links to organizations and communities throughout Baltimore.

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#325 ConneXions (6 – 9)

Principal – Dana Polson/Rodney Powell
2801 N. Dukeland Street
Baltimore, MD 21216
443.984.1418 (office)
410.669.4418 (fax)

ConneXions is a public middle school located on the west side of Baltimore. In the 2006-2007 school year, we will add a 9th grade class on our way to becoming a grade 6-12 school. 
                                                                                      
Academic classes at ConneXions are project-based and strongly oriented towards deep understanding rather than superficial coverage. Meaningful reading and writing, discussion and debate, and projects and simulations are preferred classroom activities. ConneXions’ electives program includes African Drum and Dance, taught by members of the renowned Sankofa Dance Theater; Martial Arts; Spanish; and Studio Art.

ConneXions’ school climate is enhanced by a strong advisory program and constant focus on character and community. ConneXions is a teacher-led school.  

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#422 New Era Academy High

Principal – Paul Covington
2700 Seamon Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21225
443.984.2415 (office)
410.355.1130 (fax)
www.theneweraacademy.com

New Era Academy will build in young women and men the cultural awareness, self-confidence, experience, academic record, skills and access that they will need to prosper in high school and beyond.  Through discipline, structure, high expectations and exploration, scholars will take personal responsibility for their education and realize their full potential.

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#423 Baltimore Freedom Academy (9 – 12)

Principal – Dana Hunter
101 S. Caroline Street
Baltimore, MD 21231
443.984.2737/2735 (office)
410.675.5205 (fax)
www.baltimorefreedomacademy.org

The aim of the Baltimore Freedom Academy is to provide an environment which cultivates young adults who will emerge dedicated to serving their families and their communities and prepared to be informed problem-solvers and effective advocates for positive social change.  BFA believes that the education of our students is a collaborative effort among faculty, administrators, community members, students and their families.  Personal responsibility of each party is both expected and respected.
School begins at 8:45 a.m. and ends @ 4:00 p.m.

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#427 Academy for College and Career Exploration (ACCE) (9 -12)

Principal – Ivor Mitchell
1300 W. 36th Street
Baltimore, MD 21211
410.396.1520 (office)
410.396.7607 (fax)
www.accebaltimore.com

The philosophy at AACE is focused on shaping the futures of our students.  Designed as a small learning environment for a maximum of 400 students, AACE will combine academic rigor, innovative curricula, small supportive structures, and effective, accountable leadership with extensive college and career exploration opportunities.

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#428 Baltimore Talent Development High School (9 -12)

Principal – Jeffrey Robinson
1500 Harlem Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21217
443.984.2744 (office)
410.669.7519 (fax)
www.btdhs.org

Baltimore Talent Development high school is a Baltimore City Public School in partnership with Johns Hopkins University that focuses on student support that blends college prep with a career focus.  The mission of the school is to provide all students with a caring, personalized, and academically rich learning environment designed to maximize their talents…

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#433 – Renaissance Academy (9 -12)

Principal – Karl E. Perry
1301 McCulloh Street
Baltimore, MD 21217
443.984.3164 (office)
410.947.2968 (fax)

Renaissance Academy is a new innovation high school based on an old proven formula.  The school is based on the work done by Mike and Tonya Milkie at the Noble Street Charter High School (NSCHS) in Chicago, IL. In 1999, after careers as teachers, Mr. and Mrs. Milkie were granted a charter from the City of Chicago to create a Chicago school in which they could implement every best practice they had used or studied.  The essential features below are an integral part of Renaissance Academy.

Renaissance Academy’s instruction, organization, and staffing are built on the belief that student scan master the skills, knowledge, concepts, and habits of mind to succeed as adults in our society.  Renaissance Academy will be a place of scholarship in which students learn to be civically responsible.

• Rigorous Academic Instruction, including;
  • College Preparatory Curriculum
  • Extended School Day
  • Double Dose of Math and Language Arts for 9th and 10th grades
  • Reading is FAME Program
  • Collins Writing Program
  • Saxon Math
  • Foreign Language for 11th and 12th grades
• Physical Fitness Program
• Technology
• Student Decorum, including:
  • Classroom Greeter
  • Orderly Hallways
  • Respectful Discourse
  • Uniforms
• Discipline Code and Code of Conduct, including:
  • Merit and Demerit Program
  • Saturday Detention
• Advisory Period, consisting of:
  • Single Sex Classes
  • Uses 7 Habits of a Highly Effective Teen
• Community Service
  • 80 hours from start of Freshman to Senior Year
• High School and College Transitions
• Enrichment and Supplemental Instructional Services,
• Involving All Constituencies and Communicating with Families

The Renaissance Academy will:

• Provide students with a rigorous secondary school education.
• Prepare students to be successful, contributing members of society.
• Focus on the whole child, by integrating academic instruction with an ongoing program of physical education, health and nutrition.
• Promote service to the community as part of the students’ learning experience.
• Make students aware of the ecological system in which they live and expose them to measures they can take to improve the health of the earth.
• Underscore the relationships between academic subjects through an integrated curriculum.
• Nurture the emotional, mental, and physical well being of each member of our school community.
• Maintain an intimate learning environment through small classes, advisories, and parental involvement.
• Cultivate students’ desire to express themselves creatively and constructively through an integrated arts curriculum.
• Expand the horizons of our students through participation in volunteer program and college enrichment experiences throughout the United States.
• Build strong and lasting relationships among students, faculty, parents, and the community.

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#432 Coppin Academy (9 – 12)

Principal – William Howard
2500 W. North Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21217
410.951.2600 (office)
410.951.2610 (fax)
www.coppin.edu/coppin_academy

Coppin Academy is the new and innovative high school in Baltimore City founded on the premise that all Academy students will further their education at professional institutions of higher learning upon graduation.  Affiliated with and situated on the campus of Coppin State University, the Academy opened in July of 2005 and will serve a population of 400 students in grades nine through twelve when it reaches capacity - September, 2009. In July of 2005, the first student cohort of 100 selected ninth graders participated in a three week Academy Prep Summer Orientation Program prior to beginning their ninth grade program in the September. Using the latest student achievement data, Academy staff, students, and parents acknowledged student strengths, identified student challenges, and worked as a team to complete Personal Education Plans that guide each student in reaching individual educational goals. This effective approach will be replicated with future cohorts. The school day begins at 8:00 am to 3:20 pm.