The Albemarle County School Board will continue to review a proposal to establish a public charter middle school to help underachieving students. The proposal, written by local education advocate Roberta Snow, lays out an arts-infused curriculum that provides students with an “alternative and innovative learning environment.” The school-within-a-school model being considered would place charter school students on the campus of Jackson P. Burley Middle School.
“The Board sees some merit in the proposal,” says Bruce Benson, assistant superintendent for student learning, adding that the charter school “could be a very powerful model.”
 Roberta Snow says that her idea for a charter middle school, served heavy on the arts, will help at-risk youth. The county is considering her proposal, which would create just the fourth charter school in Virginia. |
The Board, however, had an initial list of reservations concerning the proposal when it was officially introduced at the May 24 meeting. Among the Board’s concerns, the school “must close achievement gaps for students enrolled in the school.”
Snow, who recently worked with two charter schools in Washington, D.C., argued that children involved in arts-infused programs are not only taught high-ordered thinking skills but also do well across the board in academic achievement.
“I know what the reservations are,” says Snow. “We feel confident we will close the achievement gap for these kids.”
School Board member Brian Wheeler said that while the Board wants more information about the curriculum, a recent survey of parents shows there is significant interest in a local school with a focus on the arts.
“We know our parents want this,” says Wheeler. “This proposal wouldn’t have made it to the School Board the way it did if the superintendent thought this wouldn’t be successful.”
This is not the first time that the proposal for a charter middle school has been considered in the area. In late 2005, a review panel for the Charlottesville City School Board recommended that the Board deny Snow’s application. Calling the Board at the time “too dysfunctional,” Snow withdrew her proposal. According to Snow, multiple members of the community suggested that she take an updated proposal to the Albemarle County School Board instead.
There are currently three public charter schools in Virginia. Established in 2001, Murray High School in Albemarle County was the first. All three schools use nontraditional methods to reach at-risk students.
A public hearing will be held June 14 to discuss the charter middle school proposal.
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