Part I of this series examined the implementation work that has happened in Maine since the passage of its public charter school law through the authorization of its first group of public charter schools. Today’s blog looks at the preparation to open these first charter schools.
Last week we witnessed the first lottery for admission to one of the two public charter schools opening on October 1st. Cornville Regional Charter School had 90 applicants for 60 seats. If a family had two or more children applying, when the first one was admitted through the lottery, if the parents signed the letter of commitment right away, the other siblings were also admitted. The event was observed by several members of the state charter commission and MACS. The news article can be viewed here. The other charter school opening this fall school, MEANS, had 49 applicants for 50 seats by the deadline, so no lottery was needed. Charter schools in Maine have had a delayed start due to the highly compressed application and contracting process this year, but the new opportunities have been welcomed by the many families who have indicated their intent to apply. Our next steps will include helping these new schools to meet their promises – it’s really rewarding work! A parent reacts to her child winning a seat in the Cornville Regional Charter School lottery. Photo credit: Michael G. Seamans, “Winners drawn in Cornville charter school lottery,” Morning Sentinel, Sept. 5, 2012. Authors Judith Jones and Roger Brainerd work for the Maine Association for Charter Schools.
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