City charter schools yesterday applauded a decision to extend the Pittsburgh Promise scholarship program to their students, saying it's the right thing to do.

Tyler Coulverson, 18, a senior at Northside Urban Pathways, Downtown, had his own term for it.

"In my situation," he said, "it's really a blessing to me."

Pittsburgh Public Schools Superintendent Mark Roosevelt and Mayor Luke Ravenstahl announced the Promise in December 2006, saying the program would encourage student achievement and attract families to the city.

Not until yesterday did officials publicly say they would extend the program to charter schools, which sometimes are criticized for luring away school district students and accompanying state subsidies.

"I don't think anybody balked at it," said Richard W. Reed, executive vice president of the Pittsburgh Foundation, which is administering the program. Rather, he said, an evaluation of program goals showed that including the charter schools was the "sensible and logical" approach.

Mr. Reed said the decision won't dilute the Promise's marketing value to the school district. He said the district will attract families by showing it can successfully educate students and help them pay for college.

Besides Urban Pathways, the decision affects City Charter High School, Downtown; Career Connections Charter High School, Lawrenceville; and The Academy Charter School, in the Carrick area. The schools combined have about 230 seniors this school year, but the foundation estimated that only 115 will be eligible for the program.

To qualify, 2008 graduates must have a grade-point average of at least 2.0, live in the city and meet other requirements. The same conditions apply to seniors in the Pittsburgh Public Schools.

This year's graduates each will receive up to $20,000, to be spent over four academic years at any of about 100 colleges, universities and trade schools. Each student's aid level will depend on college costs and other factors.

"My mom needs the help," said Alexandra Romano, 18, of Stanton Heights, a senior at City Charter High who has been admitted to four universities but hasn't yet picked one.

The aspiring marketing major said she had doubted the Promise would be extended to charters -- independently run public schools that admit students without tuition; money comes from the students' home school districts.

Richard Wertheimer, City Charter co-founder, principal and chief executive officer, said students were jubilant when they received the good news a couple of weeks ago.

"You know, you never assume you're going to be included," he said. "But to be honest, we are a public school, and we are a Pittsburgh public school, if you will, so I think it's only fair our kids would be involved in this activity."

Mr. Coulverson, a Homewood resident who plans to study business and sports management at Clarion University of Pennsylvania, said the news was a relief because money is tight in his one-income home.

Foundation spokesman John Ellis said the decision to include charter schools was made in consultation with the city, school district and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, which donated $10 million outright this school year and has offered another $90 million through a 10-year challenge grant.

"I'm not surprised by this decision. I think it sends out the message that our young people, and their futures, are at the top of the agenda for leaders of this community," said Mike Hepler, president and chief executive officer of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Pennsylvania, which operates Career Connections.

A student enrolled in city schools since kindergarten is eligible for up to 100 percent of the maximum scholarship; lesser amounts are available to those enrolled for shorter periods. Mr. Ellis said enrollment in city charter schools and Pittsburgh Public Schools will be counted the same, with students receiving credit even if they've moved back and forth.

Mr. Ellis said there are no plans to extend the Promise to students of private or religious schools.

Mr. Reed said the foundation this month hopes to announce the appointment of a board to oversee the Promise. Since UPMC's funding was announced four months ago, he said, the foundation has received 50 to 60 donations totaling about $20,000.