May 13, 1999
CONTACT: Nathea Lee
(202) 387-0405

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DISTRICT CHARTER SCHOOL MOVEMENT EARNS GRANTS AND RECOGNITION

Washington, DC – The District's public charter school movement received good news last week as Friends of Choice in Urban Schools (FOCUS) and Techworld Public Charter School received generous grants to support their activities. Meanwhile, the Elsie Whitlow Stokes Community Freedom Public Charter School was honored with a D.C. Council Resolution sponsored by Ward One Councilmember Jim Graham.

FOCUS received a $25,000 grant from an anonymous donor to help the District's public charter schools locate, acquire and finance adequate facilities for their schools. According to FOCUS president, Malcolm E. Peabody, “Acquiring and financing adequate facilities is the toughest challenge that public charter schools in the District must overcome.” Because public charter schools are new business entities, banks and other financial institutions have been reluctant to provide loans for their facilities needs. Similarly, public charter school leaders are primarily educators with little experience in dealing with lenders.

FOCUS intends to bridge this knowledge gap by offering schools help with financial management, real estate and debt transactions, and educating lenders about the credit worthiness of public charter schools. As the leading public charter school support organization in the District, FOCUS monitors implementation of relevant legislation, conducts education and outreach activities, provides technical assistance to public charter schools, and facilitates collaboration among the schools.

Techworld Public Charter School received a boost from its business partner, the Microsoft Corporation. Microsoft donated $132,000 worth of software to the technology-oriented high school and made a $15,000 gift to the student internship program. Techworld offers a choice of college preparatory programs in graphic design, computer programming, management and information systems in a rigorous academic environment. “Techworld is unlike any other school,” according to executive director Daanen Strachan. “We are preparing our students to develop and use 21^st century technology. Microsoft's continued support is essential to achieving our goal of preparing students to enter the job market, attend college, or become entrepreneurs,” he continued. Techworld is located in southwest Washington in the Waterside Mall. During its first year of operation, the 1998-99 school year, it is open only to ninth graders. The school will add a grade each year until it includes all high school grades.

Students at the Elsie Whitlow Stokes Community Freedom Public Charter School were recognized by the D.C. Council for their efforts to rid their community of trash and pollution. Stokes's 35 Kindergarten and first grade students have formed Kids Who Seek Solutions to Pollution. The Kids invited Ward One Councilmember Jim Graham to visit their school at 16^th & Newton Streets, NW and discussed with him their concerns about the trash and pollution in the neighborhood. Councilmember Graham was so impressed with their efforts that he sponsored the Elsie Whitlow Stokes Community Freedom Public Charter School Recognition Resolution of 1999. According to Stokes founder and director, Linda Moore, “Community service is an important part of what we teach our students. Young children are very curious about the world and should be taught that they have a role to play in making it the kind of world they want.” The school's foreign language immersion program features instruction in Spanish and French.

The District's 19 public charter schools are non-profit, nonsectarian and receive public funding. Each school has its own mission and educational focus. For more information about charter schools in the District, call FOCUS at (202) 387-0405.