Hillsdale plans for charter school
Still seeking location, group of parents; funds already donated
Liz Essley
Issue date: 11/5/09 Section: News
Hillsdale College is getting into the public school business.
The college plans to establish a charter school in the near future and possibly create more, should the first prove a success, said administrators. They have not yet chosen a location for the first school.
"It is an opportunity to break the mold. The idea here is that we're going to seize upon the charter school concept to do something similar to what we do with our private school [Hillsdale Academy]," Associate Professor of Education Jon Fennell said.
A committee of faculty and administrators, led by David Bobb, director of the Center for Teacher Excellence, is currently considering which states have the most favorable charter school laws. It will then accept proposals from parents for a specific location and school concept, Bobb said.
College administration gave the green light to the project this summer. But both Bobb and Fennell emphasized that it is still in its early stages.
"It's going to be a real challenge to find the appropriate parents with the appropriate states," Fennell said.
Because charter schools are local enterprises, the parents chosen for the project will hold the charter for the school, Bobb said. Hillsdale College will provide curriculum and administrative guidance based on the Hillsdale Academy model, teacher and administrator training and supplemental funding.
But parents will compose the board of trustees and provide much of the school's direction.
"We want to hear from them more than we want to dictate to them," Bobb said.
Academy Headmaster Kenneth Calvert said there was an acute need for the charter school. He said he talks to between two to 12 schools on the phone every day, offering guidance.
He also said the Academy annually receives more than 200 visits from those interested in the workings of the private school.
Charter and private and home schools across the country already use the Academy model and curriculum. Calvert said the difference with the new charter school would be the level of college administrator's involvement and networking.
The college plans to establish a charter school in the near future and possibly create more, should the first prove a success, said administrators. They have not yet chosen a location for the first school.
"It is an opportunity to break the mold. The idea here is that we're going to seize upon the charter school concept to do something similar to what we do with our private school [Hillsdale Academy]," Associate Professor of Education Jon Fennell said.
A committee of faculty and administrators, led by David Bobb, director of the Center for Teacher Excellence, is currently considering which states have the most favorable charter school laws. It will then accept proposals from parents for a specific location and school concept, Bobb said.
College administration gave the green light to the project this summer. But both Bobb and Fennell emphasized that it is still in its early stages.
"It's going to be a real challenge to find the appropriate parents with the appropriate states," Fennell said.
Because charter schools are local enterprises, the parents chosen for the project will hold the charter for the school, Bobb said. Hillsdale College will provide curriculum and administrative guidance based on the Hillsdale Academy model, teacher and administrator training and supplemental funding.
But parents will compose the board of trustees and provide much of the school's direction.
"We want to hear from them more than we want to dictate to them," Bobb said.
Academy Headmaster Kenneth Calvert said there was an acute need for the charter school. He said he talks to between two to 12 schools on the phone every day, offering guidance.
He also said the Academy annually receives more than 200 visits from those interested in the workings of the private school.
Charter and private and home schools across the country already use the Academy model and curriculum. Calvert said the difference with the new charter school would be the level of college administrator's involvement and networking.
Viewing Comments 1 - 7 of 8
Frank Kellam
posted 11/19/09 @ 12:01 AM EST
Will this be a first for Hillsdale: the use of tax dollars -- stolen money -- for education?
What am I missing here, in my oonsternation?
Grouchy Alumnus
posted 11/20/09 @ 9:30 PM EST
Frank: Hillsdale was founded in 1844. The school did not officially reject federal funding until the 1980s. In other news, installing a competitive charter into a system dominated by govt oligopoly will not steal tax revenue, but rather divert it to more effective education. (Continued…)
Cathy Cuthbert
posted 11/21/09 @ 4:32 AM EST
How very disappointing to see this announcement. Please explain how a college that supposedly prides itself on shunning government money to remain independent could choose to establish a public school. (Continued…)
michigander
posted 12/03/09 @ 9:24 PM EST
Three words: big government conservatism.
Bob
posted 12/07/09 @ 12:38 AM EST
Scratching my head here. A number of charter schools, including a local one called Hillsdale Prepratory school, already use parts or all of the Academy model. (Continued…)
Luke
posted 12/19/09 @ 10:44 PM EST
I would love to see a charter school modeled after Hillsdale Academy in the South Jersey/ Delaware Valley Philadelphia, PA/ Camden, NJ area. Are there any in this area or planned in the near future?
Kyle
posted 1/21/10 @ 4:07 PM EST
Well, there are a variety of charter schools, many of them focused on Math and Hard Sciences, as if that is all young people need to know. If Hillsdale remains true to their Classical Liberal Arts curriculum, not only will they assist young people in developing their three primary faculties of the intellect, memory and will, but they will also prevent more persons from being de-humanized by overly pragmatic educators. (Continued…)
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