Ball State University will continue the growth of the charter school movement in Indiana by sponsoring a new school opening in Gary this fall.
The school, KIPP LEAD, is part of the Knowledge is Power Program that currently has 45 charter schools in operation around the country. The Gary school is a college preparatory program for fifth through eighth graders.
It will open with 80-90 fifth graders, but a new grade will be added each year until the school includes all four grades. April Goble, principal, said the school is now recruiting possible students.
"When you start with a really small group of students you get to know the students and their families really well," Goble said. "You really get to know where students are coming from."
Formal conversations with KIPP began in September with the submission of a statement of intent, said Barbara Downey, interim director of Ball State's Office of Charter Schools. As the sponsor of KIPP LEAD, Ball State will be responsible for keeping the charter school accountable to its mission, vision and academic performance.
"KIPP has a really great national reputation for working with students in grades five through eight," Downey said. "Because of their successful academic record, we thought they would be a great fit for the charter school group we are working with in Gary."
KIPP LEAD will focus on leadership and personalizing the curriculum to meet student needs. Students will also spend 62 percent more time in class than students at traditional public schools, Goble said. The school day starts earlier, ends later and includes class on Saturday.
Goble helped open a KIPP charter school in New York and worked with math students for two years.
"They came in testing significantly below school level, but because of the extra time and making learning really exciting and fun for students, they were able to make dramatic gains during the two years they were with me."
KIPP LEAD is the 18th charter school Ball State has agreed to sponsor since state legislation allowing the sponsorship passed in 2001. It is the only university in the state of Indiana to sponsor charter schools, Downey said.
"Overall they had been doing very well, especially as they've been around longer the students continue to do better," Downey said. "They are finding that the students who have a long-term commitment to charter schools are showing improvement, especially in the ISTEP."
KIPP LEAD is one of four charter schools sponsored by Ball State that will open in the fall of 2006, and Downey said the program is still growing.
"We clearly think there is a demand for educational options and choice," Downey said "They haven't always had a lot of options, and we are here to provide additional options and choices."
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