Ball State University has authorized three new public charter schools in Gary, East Chicago and Richmond that will open in fall 2005.

Based upon recommendations by a charter school review panel and each school receiving overwhelming community support at its public hearing, Ball State President Jo Ann M. Gora approved sponsoring the schools. 

• 21st Century Charter School at Gary: The 21st Century Charter School at Gary will initially serve grades 6-9 and will work to expand to grades K-12. The school will provide a self-paced curriculum for every student. Teachers will serve as mentors to guide and inspire students to own the learning process and master each skill before moving on to the next. The school will also incorporate 21st-century technology to track student progress.

• The East Chicago Urban Enterprise Academy: The East Chicago Urban Enterprise Academy will serve grades K-4 and add one grade each year until it serves grades K-8. The academy will offer a rigorous academic program; provide a safe, supportive environment for learning; and encourage the involvement of its students' families and the community. The school will also offer pre-school, after-school care and summer camps.

• Galileo Charter School, Richmond: Initially, Galileo Charter School in Richmond will serve grades K-3 and later add grades 4-6. The school will focus on literacy, character development and self-esteem. The public school will place emphasis on preventive rather than remedial curriculum with reading viewed as the foundation of academic success. Scientific, evidence-based programs and intervention techniques will be used to prevent illiteracy. The school will educate students in a community of mutual respect to inspire a lifelong love of learning.

"Each of these schools embraces an educational program that differs not only from traditional public schools but also from the other public charter schools sponsored by Ball State," Gora said. "This is in keeping with our two-pronged philosophy on public charter schools, which is to provide parents and students with a public alternative to traditional schools and to see how the lessons learned in charter schools can be adapted and used to help improve teaching and learning in traditional school settings."  

Applications were reviewed for strong community support, engaging educational programs and other aspects such as finances and facilities.

"Ball State's Proposal Review Team was impressed with each organizing team's educational vision and the infrastructure they have built to successfully implement that vision," said Marty Dezelan, director of Ball State's Office of Charter Schools. "Each school's organizers will tell you that our proposal process is rigorous and our review team challenges them to articulate a clear and compelling educational vision and plan for implementing that vision."

In 2001, the Indiana General Assembly approved legislation allowing four-year public universities, public school districts and the mayor of Indianapolis to sponsor charter schools. Ball State is the only university in Indiana to sponsor charter schools.

The university now sponsors 16 public charter schools across Indiana, with 10 currently operating, five scheduled to open in 2005 and one in 2006. These public schools receive state funding, but are independent, nondiscriminating, nonsectarian entities that operate under a performance contract known as a charter.

As a charter schools sponsor, Ball State does not run the schools, but reserves the right to revoke a charter if a school fails to meet performance standards. 

(Note to Editors: For more information, contact Dezelan at (765) 717-2165 or mdezelan@bsu.edu.)