The Young Scholars of Central Pennsylvania charter school first brought their expansion proposal to the State College Area school board over two months ago, and, after much debate and an out-pouring of support, finally received the go ahead at last night’s school board meeting.
The board’s approval will allow the charter school to expand their accepted grade-levels through eighth grade. Currently, the school only caters to kindergarten through fifth grade students. Next fall, the school will begin accepting sixth-grade students, then will add seventh grade in 2008, and finally offer eighth grade enrollment in 2009.
After the board’s initial hesitance regarding the expansion proposal, students, parents, and other school officials began showing up at the meetings and writing letters to the board to lend their support to the Young Scholars’ program. Following last night’s decision, many of them in attendance shed tears.
The board’s only stipulation regarding the expansion was that the school’s enrollment must remain capped at 120 students. School administrators were hoping to admit more students, but are pleased with the outcome, regardless. The school’s executive director, Bulent Tarman, said they may ask to expand enrollment when the charter ends in 2010.
Young Scholars of Central Pennsylvania opened just last year, and already has plans to construct a new school building at Blue Course Drive and Westerly Parkway, hopefully by this fall. The school currently rents and is operating out of space off Research Drive near the Bristol Building.
The board’s approval will allow the charter school to expand their accepted grade-levels through eighth grade. Currently, the school only caters to kindergarten through fifth grade students. Next fall, the school will begin accepting sixth-grade students, then will add seventh grade in 2008, and finally offer eighth grade enrollment in 2009.
After the board’s initial hesitance regarding the expansion proposal, students, parents, and other school officials began showing up at the meetings and writing letters to the board to lend their support to the Young Scholars’ program. Following last night’s decision, many of them in attendance shed tears.
The board’s only stipulation regarding the expansion was that the school’s enrollment must remain capped at 120 students. School administrators were hoping to admit more students, but are pleased with the outcome, regardless. The school’s executive director, Bulent Tarman, said they may ask to expand enrollment when the charter ends in 2010.
Young Scholars of Central Pennsylvania opened just last year, and already has plans to construct a new school building at Blue Course Drive and Westerly Parkway, hopefully by this fall. The school currently rents and is operating out of space off Research Drive near the Bristol Building.
