Topic: Teachers College
January 22, 2010
Rock Creek Community Academy has received the green light from Ball State University to open its doors in Sellersburg, Ind., beginning in fall 2010. President Jo Ann M. Gora has approved the sponsorship of the charter school after receiving a recommendation from the Office of Charter Schools and community input at a public meeting.
According to Larry Gabbert, director of Ball State's Office of Charter Schools, the new school will open with 395 students in grades K-12 and will offer students distinctive educational opportunities for learning by providing rigorous standards of academic excellence in a small, safe and nurturing environment.
Through prior approval cycles, Ball State has already agreed to sponsor four other charter schools scheduled to open this fall — Hammond Academy for Science and Technology, Discovery Charter School in Porter, Imagine Bridge Academy in Fort Wayne and Cardinal Academy of Muncie.
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 authorizing charter schools in Indiana. Currently, 32 are in operation. This fall, the total will increase to 37.
As a public charter schools authorizer, Ball State does not run the schools but reserves the right to rescind a charter if a school fails to meet performance standards.