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North Hills denies charter school application
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The North Hills School Board denied a revised and resubmitted application of Provident Charter School to establish a school within the district for dyslexic students in grades two through eight by a vote of 8-0 at Monday, June 18's legislative meeting.
The district cited in its denial that the applicant failed to adequately challenge the conclusions of law originally adopted by the board on February 6, 2012, and the majority of support for the charter school apparently exists from persons located outside of the North Hills School District, inconclusive to establish support in the North Hills community.
The district also argued the proposal failed to satisfy federal and state law, referring to the Individuals with Disabilities Act, or "IDEA", which mandates students be taught in the least restrictive environment, and additionally the application did not sufficiently demonstrate how the charter will enhance students' learning opportunities.
At the forefront of the push to open the new charter school is Kossman Development Co., listing Curtis Kossman as President of its Board of Directors, but the resubmitted application also counts among its supporters a "dedicated group of parents and professionals who support our mission to help children with dyslexia access their potential by providing a high-quality, well-rounded education which is delivered through multi-sensory instructional methods and individual learning plans."
The charter school has intentions to initially serve 96 students diagnosed with dyslexia in grades three and four in September 2013, with increases each following year eventually totaling 336 students grades two through eight by 2018-19.
The next step in the proceedings will likely be an appeal by the Provident Charter School Board of Directors within the next 60 days, and upon petitioning the Court of Common Pleas, a court order would need to be issued allowing for Provident to have its case heard before the Charter School Appeal Board in Harrisburg.
First Published June 18, 2012 11:33 pm
