Baltimore Increases Number Of Charter Schools

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Baltimore is boosting the number of charter schools. The city already has the most in Maryland and, as Gigi Barnett reports, school leaders are raising the standards to open a charter.

Jack Pannell's dream for an all-boys charter school in Baltimore is one step closer to reality. Last week, school leaders approved Pannell's Baltimore Collegiate School for Boys, one of two charter schools set to open soon.

"I am excited. We are excited. This is a dream come true for scores of families who believe their sons deserve a quality education," said Pannell.

Pannell's future school focuses on getting boys to college. It's modeled after successful programs in Chicago and New York.

Charter schools are public schools that are independently operated. Last week's approval boosts Baltimore's charters from 33 to 35, giving the city more charters than any other district in the state.

Last week wasn't the first time Pannell asked the city to open a charter. School leaders denied several applications last year. It's part of their quest to make sure charter schools can stand up to the test of tough academics.

"This is serious business running a school. We have to make sure these schools are going to offer good quality options for our students and so the process is very rigorous," said Allison Perkins Cohen, chair of the Office of New Initiatives.

Pannell says the next move is finding a space for the new charter school and a principal to run it. His school opens in the fall of 2014.

School leaders also approved the Creative City Charter School in Northwest Baltimore. It focuses on art programs for elementary students.