Are Pennsylvanians interested in charter schools?
Absolutely. Since January 1997, the Department of Education has awarded competitive planning grants to Pennsylvanians interested in establishing charter schools in their communities. More than $5 million has been awarded to diverse organizations, enabling them to prepare charter school applications. One hundred seventeen public charter schools serving more than 50,000 students are operating in Pennsylvania. Twelve of these charter schools are cyber charter schools and serve over 10,000 students. To assist Pennsylvanians in planning these innovative new schools, the Pennsylvania Department of Education has sponsored an ongoing series of workshops that focus on the essential elements of successful charter schools. Thousands of Pennsylvanians have attended these workshops, and the Department continues to receive many calls each week from individuals seeking more information about charter schools. Additionally, individuals at the grassroots level have mobilized their support for charter sc
