The Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners, in voting to adopt the recommendations of interim chief executive officer Charlene Boston and the school system review panels, approved six public charter school applications for fall 2007.

Two of the schools, the Wolfe Street Academy in Upper Fells Point and Dr. Raynor Browne Elementary in East Baltimore, are traditional public schools transitioning to charter status; another, the Baltimore Freedom Academy, is a innovation high school also transitioning to charter status.

The new institutions receiving approval Tuesday night were the Baltimore International Academy; the Bluford Drew Jemison Math Science Technology Academy; and Independence School Local I. All but the Baltimore Freedom Academy are scheduled to open next fall.

The state currently has 24 charter schools, including 17 in Baltimore. The new approvals will bring Baltimore’s count to 23.

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David Stone, Baltimore City Public School System’s director of new, charter and community schools, said that 40 states currently have public charters bylaws, and that Baltimore’s total alone would place the system in the middle of the pack of the various state numbers.

“I think for some reason the perception is out there that we’ve been dragging our feet in terms of charter schools,” Stone said. “But obviously that’s not the case.

“We’re far and away the leader in this area statewide.”

Boston said charter schools have the benefit of greater autonomy in curriculum — as long as they still meets state guidelines — and the ability to reach out independently to other resources.

“They can use innovative approaches, like many of these schools are, in addressing particular student groups,” Boston said.

During ongoing contract negotiations, applicants will work with city school staff to finalize budgets and enrollment projections, inspect the facilities, secure the necessary state Department of Education approval, and meet other benchmarks included in the BCPSS pre-opening checklist and on-site review procedures, the school system said in a written statement.

Keys to applicants’ approval

David Stone, Baltimore City Public School System’s director of new, charter and community schools, said the school system looks for four main criteria from charter school applicants:

» A strong vision and the means to meet the needs of a targeted population

» A strong governing board with the capacity to operate a school

» A strong curriculum and the ability to assess student progress

» The business experience and capacity to manage fiscal responsibilities.

The Bluford Drew Jemison Math Science Technology Academy plans to serve middle-school boys in East Baltimore and include an extended school day and school year.

The Baltimore International Academy, a K-8 language immersion school, will focus student study in Chinese, French or Russian. The Independence School Local I will help struggling high school students with a focus on projects and internships.

Dr. Rayner Browne Elementary and the Wolfe Street Academy each had support among parents and community stakeholders.

rcassie@baltimoreexaminer.com