Only 2 new charter schools out of 7 OK'd

Only two of the seven charter schools that applied to open in the fall of 2011 got the green light last week to continue on in the approval process.

The State Charter School Board voted to recommend Aspire Online Charter School and Good Foundations Academy to the Utah State Office of Education for endorsement. Five other schools, including one with an athletic theme and another intended to help home-schooled children feel comfortable in the public school system, were given the ax.

The State Charter School Board's decision to give the go-ahead to so few schools is "very unusual," said Brian Allen, chair of the State Charter School Board. But it was an aberration driven by discernment, he said, and not financial stress — despite the state's recent talks of cutting back on charter funding.

"We're getting a bit more particular," Allen said. "We are learning more about what it means to be prepared to open a school, and these schools just didn't live up to expectations."

Since 2001, between six and 15 charter schools have been approved each year. Seven charter schools started classes this year. Six schools are approved to open in 2010.

"We could approve all seven of these schools," Allen said during the voting last week. "There's not going to be an automatic drop-off because of enrollment caps. We have to draw the line."

For the 2011-2012 school year, Utah capped charter school growth at 7,550 students. Combined, all seven charter schools vying for approval requested only 3,567 seats.

The board seemed uneasy after the votes were tallied and only two schools came out ahead. Someone made a motion to revote. The ballots were passed out again, but the results didn't change.

The room was filled with quiet murmurs of disappointment. Those whose schools were approved seemed too shocked to celebrate.

"I was like, 'Whoa,' " said Tom Koehler, chair of the board for Good Foundations Academy, a proposed Davis County school. His school was given the thumbs-up. "There's a lot of work that goes into creating a charter. I can't imagine being turned away at this point."

Charter school advocates were surprised by the vote results but not displeased.

"This decision shows us that there is no longer a need for a cap because the board is raising the bar," said Kim Frank, of the Utah Association of Public Charter Schools. "Only good quality schools get through."