Montgomery Co. Approves First Charter School; Montessori-Based Elementary To Serve Low-Income Families

ROCKVILLE, Md. (AP) -- The Montgomery County Board of Education has approved its first charter school.

The board authorized a new Montessori-based elementary school on Monday night. It will be run by the nonprofit organization Crossway Community.

The Washington Post reports the school will open in Kensington in 2012 and will serve up to about 190 students in preschool through third grade. Crossway Community currently runs a Montessori-based preschool program at the same site.

Kathleen Guinan, the organization's executive director, says she is thrilled about the partnership. The organization serves predominantly low-income families, but charter school regulations require that admissions remain open to everyone.

The new charter school will admit students through a lottery system. However, its operators are being allowed to market more aggressively to students from low-income families.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)