Propel Charter Schools awarded $3.4M federal grant
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Propel Charter Schools has won a $3.4 million federal grant to expand one charter school and create four new ones, serving a total of 1,800 additional students over five years.
Propel is one of 12 charter school management groups nationwide that was awarded a grant from the U.S. Department of Education last week to "replicate and expand high-quality charter schools that have demonstrated success."
For Propel, $1.1 million will be awarded to cover the first two years. Subsequent grants are dependent on congressional appropriations and whether or not Propel meets the requirements of the award.
About 2,080 students are enrolled in Propel Schools, so the grant to enable new or expanded schools could nearly double enrollment.
In a news release, U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan said all of the winners have student bodies that are at least 70 percent low-income and "virtually all" exceed the average academic performance in their state.
Propel, which opened its first school in 2003, currently operates six schools: including five K-8 schools -- Propel Braddock Hills, East, Homestead, McKeesport and Montour -- and one high school, Andrew Street High School in Munhall.
Charter schools are public schools. Students do not pay tuition, but Pennsylvania requires their home school districts to pay a fee set by the state for each student.
"We're thrilled to have the resources to continue to grow and meet the demand for more Propel seats," said Jeremy Resnick, Propel executive director and founder.
He said the grant can cover costs of opening a school, such as teacher training, books and computers, and literacy coaches, but not buildings and rent.
He said Propel's initial focus will be expanding Propel Montour, which now is K-8, to provide for high school students next fall. To do that, it will need to win approval to modify its charter from the Montour school board.
First Published October 8, 2010 12:00 am
