New Charter Application Cycle
The 2020-21 application cycle for new charter schools in Philadelphia is underway. Please use the links below to access the new charter application materials for the 2020-21 cycle.
For charter schools seeking to open in the 2021-22 school year, the deadline for submitting all applications and supporting materials to the Charter Schools Office (CSO) is November 15, 2020.
NOTE: The information on this page pertains to the application process to open a new charter school in Philadelphia. If you are seeking more information on how to apply for admission into a charter school for a student, please visit our Directory.
Information Webinars
The CSO hosted three identical informational webinars regarding the New Charter Application process for those interested in opening a new charter school. If you have any questions regarding the information sessions, please email charterapplications@philasd.org or call 215-400-6139.
- Tuesday, September 15, 2020 (10:00AM – 10:30AM)
- Wednesday, October 1, 2020 (2:00PM – 2:30PM)
- Thursday, October 8, 2020 (12:00PM – 12:30PM)
Timeline/Process
- The CSO holds informational meetings in September and October.
- Letters of Intent are due by October 15, 2020.
- Completed applications and supporting materials are due to the CSO by November 15, 2020.
- Within 45 days of the application deadline, the Board of Education will hold a public hearing to review all charter applications.
- Within 75 days of the first public hearing, the Board of Education will determine whether to grant or deny each new charter.
Application Requirements
The CSO updates New Charter Application materials each academic year. Applicant teams seeking to open a new charter school in Philadelphia are encouraged to review both the Charter School Law and prior year’s application guidance and evaluation reports for submitted New Charter Applications prior to submitting a New Charter Application. Please note: The CSO does not review or provide feedback on draft applications. Once an application is submitted by the due date, it is considered final and will be reviewed as submitted.
2020-21 New Charter Applications
The table below contains information from New Charter Applications for the 2020-21 Cycle that were submitted to the Charter Schools Office by November 15, 2020. The table has been updated with information on submitted applications, including Application Narratives.
| Proposed School Name | Status | Proposed School Opening Date | Year 1 Grade Span / Enrollment | At-Scale Grade Span / Enrollment | Target Community | Primary Contact | Email Address |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASPIRA Bilingual Business, Finance, and Technology Charter High School | Application Narrative | August 1, 2021 | 9-10 / 600 | 9-12 / 1200 | 19120, 19134, 19140 | Kathryn McKinley | kmckinley@aspirapa.org |
| Eugenio Maria De Hostos Preparatory Charter School | Application Narrative | August 1, 2021 | K-5 / 690 | K-8 / 1035 | 19134, 19140 | Kathryn McKinley | kmckinley@aspirapa.org |
| Philadelphia Collegiate Charter School for Boys | Application Narrative | September 23, 2021 | K, 1, 4 / 220 | K-12 / 1268 | 19119, 19126, 19138, 19140, 19144, 19150 | Mr. Jack Johnson Pannell | info@collegiateschools.org |
| Pride Academy Charter School | Application Narrative | August 30, 2021 | K-2 / 180 | K-5 / 360 | West Oak Lane | Dr. LaToya Johnson | info@pridecharter.org |
| Empowerment Charter School | Application Narrative | September 6, 2022 | K-2 / 234 | K-5 / 504 | Citywide | Courtney Taylor | courtneysdtaylor@gmail.com |
| JAG-CTE Innovative Academy Charter School | Withdrawn | September 7, 2022 | 9-10 / 250 | 9-12/ 500 | 19118, 19119, 19120, 19138, 19141, 19144, 19150 | Dr. Ruth B. Patterson | dr.patterson@jag-pa.org |
The CSO received Letters of Intent, but did not receive New Charter Application materials, for the following proposed charter schools:
- Brilliant Minds Charter Leadership Academy
- CB Community School
- Roberta B. Kennedy Charter School for Girls
- The Academy for Urban Scholars