Proposed charter school clears hurdle

A prospective charter school that would serve Charleston students with severe disabilities overcame a critical hurdle Tuesday in its quest to open, but it still faces one final, and likely difficult, step in the approval process.

The state Charter School Advisory Committee signed off on the proposed Pattison's Academy for Comprehensive Education, which means the group's application will go to the Charleston County School Board within the next 30 days.

The school board would have to give the prospective charter school its OK to enable it to open.

"We're really hopeful that will go smoothly," said Sloan Cooper, executive director for Pattison's Academy. "We know the need is there. These kids need choices. ... When something is needed, you have to work together as a community to make that happen. Hopefully, they'll see it that way."

In December the school board placed a moratorium on approving charter school applications until a number of issues are resolved, and board Chairwoman Toya Green said Tuesday that she's not sure how the board would vote on this application, especially given the district's financial crisis.

"I think the mission and the purpose of the school sounds like it's offering a good thing for students with disabilities, but realistically, money is an issue," she said. "It's a problem. We're faced with nothing but hard decisions right now, so we'll make the best decision we can. The choices are getting tougher and tougher."

The charter school plans to open in fall 2010 and serve 30 students between kindergarten and the eighth grade who have profound disabilities. The school would grow by 12 students annually until it enrolls about 70 students.

Larry DiCenzo, chairman of the state advisory committee and principal of Orange Grove Elementary Charter, said the committee is tough on the applications it reviews because it wants charter schools to be successful.

Pattison's Academy worked hard to provide the documents and changes requested by the committee, and it had a "very good application," he said.

"They've been hustling and working hard," he said. "They have a lot of support behind them, and we're excited about that application because it's dealing with the special needs population. I think they are going to do some great things for kids."

Cooper said the school hasn't found a building but is hoping to find a space in North Charleston. She hopes that the charter school can become a national model for serving students with special needs.

"It's a well-thought-out plan, and we feel very strongly that we're doing the right thing," she said.

Another prospective charter school, the Apple Charter School, is trying to receive the state advisory committee's approval to open, and it has another week to address concerns cited by the committee. Apple Charter hopes to serve 280 at-risk Charleston students in kindergarten through eighth grade and open in the fall of 2010.

A third prospective charter group, Palmetto Scholars Academy, also appeared before the state advisory committee but must make more changes before its application can be approved. The charter school plans to seek approval from the state charter district and serve sixth- through eighth-grade students throughout the Lowcountry beginning in the fall of 2010.

Reach Diette Courrégé at 937-5546 or dcourrege@postandcourier.com.