New Charter Application Cycle
The links and timelines below reference the 2022-23 cycle.
For charter schools seeking to open in the 2023-24 school year, the deadline for submitting all applications and supporting materials to the Charter Schools Office (CSO) was November 15, 2022.
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 Application & Enrollment page here.
2022-23 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 215-400-5786.
- Wednesday, September 21, 2022 (2:00 PM)
- Monday, October 3, 2022 (1:00 PM)
- Friday, October 7, 2022 (11:00 AM)
The slide deck from the webinars can be accessed HERE.
Timeline/Process
- The CSO holds informational webinars in September and October.
- Letters of Intent are due by October 15.
- Completed applications and supporting materials are due to the CSO by November 15.
- Within 45 days of the application deadline, the Board of Education holds a public hearing to review all charter applications.
- Within 75 days of the first public hearing, the Board of Education votes to grant or deny a new charter at a public action meeting.
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.
2022-23 New Charter Applications
The table below contains information about New Charter Applications for the 2022-23 cycle that were submitted to the Charter Schools Office by November 15, 2022. The table has been updated with Application Narratives and Evaluation Reports.
| 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 College and Career Preparatory Academy | Application Narrative | Evaluation Report | August 1, 2023 | 9-10 / 600 | 9-12 / 1200 | Kensington, Olney, 19134, 19140, 19120 | Kathryn McKinley | kmckinley@aspirapa.org |
| ASPIRA Dr. Ricardo E. Alegria Preparatory Charter School | Application Narrative | Evaluation Report | August 1, 2023 | K-5 / 690 | K-8 / 1035 | Kensington, Olney, 19134, 19140, 19120 | Kathryn McKinley | kmckinley@aspirapa.org |
| Global Leadership Academy International Charter High School | Application Narrative | Evaluation Report | August 14, 2023 | 9 / 150 | 9-12 / 600 | Citywide | Dr. Naomi Johnson Booker | drbooker@ga-schools.org |
| Perseverance Leadership Academy Charter School | Application Narrative | Evaluation Report | August 28, 2023 | K-8 / 1296 | K-8 / 1296 | 19131, 19139, 19151 | Dr. Deshawnda Williams | Drwilliams@blufordcharterschool.org |
| Philadelphia First Responders Academy Charter School | Not Submitted | August 28, 2023 | 9-11 / 375 | 9-12 / 600 | Northwest Philadelphia, 19144, 19138, 19119, 19151 | George Gossett | gossettlaw@msn.com |
| The Kennedy Charter School for Girls | Not Submitted | September 5, 2023 | 6-8 / 375 | 6-12 / 875 | Citywide, Females 11-18 | Elzena Robinson | Promising_Minds@comcast.net |