Prince George’s County could consider developing specific community contract schools for students who have previously dropped out, students of the same gender, students who are recent immigrants or English-language learners and a variety of other groups, according to a proposal by Superintendent John Deasy.

Although those are just some possibilities, in the coming weeks the school system will work with PTAs and community stakeholders to develop themes.

“The Community Contract Schools model will increase the [Board of Education’s] ability to provide additional school choice options with specialized programs that focus on quality instruction, academic rigor, and result in improved student academic performance,” Deasy’s proposal states.

Last week, the Prince George’s Board of Education voted to allow Deasy to move forward with further development and planning of his Community Contract Schools Development Proposal.

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“These are community contract schools under you, the Board of Education,” Deasy told the board. “We are not proposing multiple independent boards. This is an example of where it differs strongly from charter [schools].”

Deasy’s timeline calls for the school system to send out proposal requests for groups or people who want to open schools that meet the specific themes in late fall with Board of Education approval.

The schools would open in the 2008-2009 school year. Deasy said it’s possible that multiple schools could operate in one building.

“A community contract school is an opportunity for the system to ask for what the students and what the children’s parents want,” schools spokesman John White said. “And then organizations respond to the [proposal requests] that believe they can ... help us meet those needs.”

Deasy’s proposal also mentioned the possibility of contract schools that “focus on particular academic models” including science and technology, language immersion, aeronautics and architecture.

dfowler@dcexaminer.com