Authorized by Ohio in 1997, tuition-free charter schools — also called community schools — use state funds, but operate separately from public schools, instead governed by parent groups or nonprofit organizations.

        Cincinnati has 12 charter schools, two sponsored by the Cincinnati Public Schools. The rest are sponsored by the state board of education. Cincinnati students also are educated through an Internet school based in Toledo. (www.ecotohio.org).

        To date, 3,568 Cincinnati students in grades kindergarten-12 are being educated through those charter schools.

        ISUS Trade and Technology Prep Community School, the third charter school sponsored by CPS and scheduled to open in July, is the only year-round charter school the district sponsors.

        The state already sponsors two year-round charter schools.

        Three additional state-sponsored charter schools are scheduled to open in Cincinnati this fall. They are:

        • Alliance Academy, affiliated with National Heritage Academies, to operate a start-up community school serving up to 655 general population students in kindergarten through eighth grade. (May open late August, contingent on securing property.) Information: David Kransberger, (877) 223-6402.

        • Dohn Community High School, to serve 100 at-risk students in grades 9-12. Located at 608 E. McMillan in Walnut Hills. Set to open mid-September. Accepting applications now on first-come, first-served basis. Call admissions coordinator Ken Furrier, 474-0299.

        • Phoenix Community Learning Center, to operate a start-up community school in the Bond Hill area serving general population students in kindergarten through eighth grade. Information: 591-0138.

        For information on ISUS, call (937) 223-2323, Ext. 202.

Charter school to teach trades
       

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