Franklin Career Academy

Students Served:  35-40 in year 1; full enrollment will be 120-130

Ages/Grades:  Grades 7-12 (the charter was for 9-12 & then was amended)

The Franklin Board chose to stop operations, saying they could not continue without knowing that there was a guaranteed funding stream. Articles about the Franklin situation are posted under the "news" section of our website. Click here.

Abstract:  With very high drop-out rates in Franklin, a Business and Education non-profit was formed and met many times before advancing this proposal for a small, chartered career academy. Area businesses are supportive, particularly in the medical industry.

The Franklin Career Academy proposed a 12-hour day, including dinner and evening tutorial, with a college-prep program and committing to a 90% success rate with students. This concept of a "you can do it" high school connected with and supported by area industries was adapted from a nationally-recognized model career high school:  Textron Chamber of Commerce Charter School in Providence, RI.

Franklin Career Academy opened in August 2004 with 30-35 students in grades 7-12. Our information is that all students who applied were accepted and no lottery was needed in the first year. This charter school is a true open enrollment school available to any student statewide.

FCA had a successful year in terms of meeting academic goals. In fact, the school defines its progress in reading as spectacular with students schoolwide averaging over 2 grade level gains. Franklin held high school graduation for 4 of its 35 students, and the ceremony included a warm speech from the class valedictorian who was a volunteer fire fighter 3x week, a hard-working student, and someone who now plans to enter college with a degree goal in radiology.

Franklin Career Academy is the only open charter school in New Hampshire where sending districts have refused to forward state funds required under RSA 194-B. State-authorized New Hampshire charter schools receive state and federal funds, only, unless districts choose to provide students funding available to other town students. The 2004-2005 funding scheme passes state and federal funds through the student's sending school district. The Attorney General's office has clarified that sending districts have a duty to provide funding to the charter school and the charter school does not have to borrow to have its own state funding. Franklin and a few adjoining districts have just refused. Statewide, a few districts have refused to forward any state aid for the purpose of home educated students returning to a charter school.

Franklin has had student applications for next year and has interviewed some new teachers for 2005-2006 since the complete FCA staff from 2004-2005 resigned. The charter school says it has no other source of operational funding so if they are denied access to state funding they will not open. City leaders have said publicly they are going to withhold funds and also file with the state to revoke FCA's charter because the school is financial unsustainable. The charter school does have some funding balance from 2004-2005 which could cover expenses for a few months only.

Laurent Clerc Academy

Area Located: 

    95 Pleasant St.

    Concord, NH 03301
    Phone: 603-223-6770 (v)
    TTY: 603-223-2332

2005 Status:  Opened January 18th, 2005

Employment Application:  Click Here

New Student Application:  Click Here

Charter:  Click Here

Email:  Susan Brule, Director

Web Site:  Click Here

Additional Resources: nhdeaf-hh.org

Ages/Grades:  This charter school opened for grades 1-6 and is accepting applications for students in grades 1-8 in 2005-06. This school has the eventual goal of serving students grades 1-12 and early childhood.

Students Served:   This specialty school operated in its first year with only 4 students because placement and funding decisions were new and confusing to most districts. Special education administrators were told any funding that went to students at LCA would not count toward catastrophic aid and this had a chilling affect on districts considering the school. There were other approval complications related to special education because the school was designed for deaf students. Founders of LCA wanted to assure that any students who needed a school taught in American Sign Language would have this in New Hampshire. The school distinguishes itself from other programs by being 100% language accessible to students who work directly with their teacher. INterpreters are not used. The school has a high academic standard and includes hearing students who use ASL.

The school plans 2 classrooms in 2005-06, elementary and middle school. The current director and teacher are specialists in teaching deaf children and are certified to give American Sign Language fluency assessments. This school is considered a bilingual American Sign Language and printed English academy.

Abstract:  Click Here for Executive Summary This charter school will be a school of choice for students who are deaf or significantly hard of hearing. Envisioned to include the best features of specialty schools nationwide, the academy is intentionally small and has typical and high academic expectations in a supportive and ASL environment. The communication philosophy will embrace all forms of communication based on the individual student .

Anticipating students from far distances, the school will make provisions for fewer than 5 days of of attendance/week. Extended day program options as well as ongoing community and civic participation are anticipated. There's a lot of community involvement within the city of Concord and around New England. The school is planned with extensive parent involvement and a strong focus on literacy, the key ingredient in these student's ability to compete and advance in career and secondary education.

Support amendment to HB2-FN-A! A letter from parents.

Strong Foundations Learning Academy

Area Located: Proposed for the Concord Area.

Ages/Grades:  Either K-4 or 1-4, following clarification if K can be part of NH charter schools

2005 Status:  Submitted a school planning grant.

Students Served: Appropimately 60-100 students.

Contact: Beth McClure for more information.

Web Site:  N/A

Abstract:  N/A

Students served: This charter school is being designed by learning disabilities specialists for intellectually typical
children at risk for or already diagnosed as having language learning disabilities. Over the 5 years of the charter, the
school would havea maximum enrollment of 100 students but would open with a smaller number of students and grow to this size.

Parents choosing this school can expect a full elementary school program but the emphasis and specialty will be
basic academic skills and grade-level competency in reading, writing, and math. The program will use research-based
programs and practices, an area of specialty for applicants. The school will offer all academic subjects, a requirement
of all NH chartered public schools, including computer skills. Strong Foundations proposes an individual plan for every
student to develop areas of weakness and strength.Systematic and sequential instruction is the primary instructional
approach with frequent skill development monitoring to assure progress.

If approved, this charter school will be a demonstration school in the area of special education prevention.
If students with learning disabilities had skills at or above grade level at end of 4th grade, their academic program
through middle school would be more advanced and the need for remedial services would be lessened. This school
hopes that schools districts will contract for spaces and perhaps do their own lottery for parents for spaces they'd
like reserved for their district students. Class size will be 1:12, and so participating school districts will need to
provide some funding.

2005 status: Charter application writing is almost complete as of June 2005; application will be submitted summer 2005,
and the school plans a September 2006 opening. Proponents have formed a non-profit to advance their application and have
been awarded a pre-charter planning grant for $11,700.

Museum School for Visual Arts

Area Located:  Concord, NH

Ages/Grades:  11

2005 Status:  On hold...awaiting new leadership.

Students Served:   25 Serious Art Students.

Contact: Susan Hollins

Web Site:  N/A

Abstract:

This school idea was advanced by a teacher with an extensive Studio Art and public school background. The concept was a one-year program (11th grade) where students had a college prep academic program with Art History and English (related to art) as well as other academic subjects. Anticipated to be on the grounds of an art museum or teaching center, this school would offer high level exploratory studio arts throughout the year to serious art students who anticipate pursuit of a college degree in art. The extensive exploratory studio art program in grade 11 would help students clarify their own art specialty interests and allow them to develop a competitive art portfolio, which would advance competitive edge for college admissions and scholarships. During this year, students would work with mentor artists in their areas of interest.

This project is stalled because the proponent has married and has two infants. Great idea with backing from a community art center. Looking for a new entrepreneurial art teacher or two to carry on the vision.

Abstract:

This school idea was advanced by a teacher with an extensive Studio Art and public school background. The concept was a one-year program (11th grade) where students had a college prep academic program with Art History and English (related to art) as well as other academic subjects. Anticipated to be on the grounds of an art museum or teaching center, this school would offer high level exploratory studio arts throughout the year to serious art students who anticipate pursuit of a college degree in art. The extensive exploratory studio art program in grade 11 would help students clarify their own art specialty interests and allow them to develop a competitive art portfolio, which would advance competitive edge for college admissions and scholarships. During this year, students would work with mentor artists in their areas of interest.

This project is stalled because the proponent has married and has two infants. Great idea with backing from a community art center. Looking for a new entrepreneurial art teacher or two to carry on the vision.

Concord Virtual School

Area Located:  Concord area

Ages/Grades: Concept is k-8.

2005 Status:

Students Served: 60-120

Contact: AT this time proponents can be reached through Susan Hollins.

Web Site:  N/A

Abstract:  The concept of the Concord Virtual School involves teacher-mentored individual programs and some in-school classes. This school combines home-based teaching, virtual/internet instruction, rigorous academic content, inschool classes, and community experience. Courses might be broadcast by the school or provided through existing virtual schools. A full range of subjects will be taught each year. Parents will need to be highly involved as co-teachers.

2005 Status: At this time, Concord Virtual School is a concept gathering parent and professionals interest. A planning grant will be advanced over Summer 2005.