The Minnesota Department of Education received 19 charter school applications by the end of Wednesday, including one from Moorhead.
Former Moorhead teacher Sean Daly wants to open a public charter facility in Moorhead to serve area students who suffer from behavioral or chemical dependency problems.
If approved, the Moorhead school would open in fall 2004 and serve no more than 45 students.
Wednesday was the deadline for charter school applications. The Department of Education has until Dec. 15 to review the applications, said Morgan Brown, the department's director of choice and innovation.
Each applicant has to supply detailed information about its academic program, financial planning, accountability and other aspects.
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If a school isn't approved, it's usually because some areas haven't been sufficiently developed, he said.
Of 10 charter school applications received by the Aug. 15 deadline, the department approved five, Brown said. The remaining five can reapply during a different deadline.
The Department of Education has various deadlines during the year for charter school applications. Wednesday was the final deadline for schools that want to open in 2004, Brown said.
Sheila Holker of the Minnesota Department of Education said the Moorhead application received Wednesday was the only one from western Minnesota. Most were from the Twin Cities area, she said.
Applications that arrive in today's mail may also be accepted, Holker said.
Approved charter schools are eligible for up to $150,000 in federal funding per year for three years, Brown said. Minnesota recently received an $8 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education to help public charter schools.
Daly, a Baker, Minn., resident, said he's received a lot of encouragement from others who support a Moorhead charter school.
Readers can reach Forum reporter Amy Dalrymple at (701) 241-5590
