schoolsearch: Special interests, needs met at charter schools

Special interests, needs met at charter schools

Four of these public schools in Pinellas are operated by nonprofit organizations.

By JON WILSON, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published September 15, 2002

ST. PETERSBURG -- Special interests or needs sometimes go beyond the curricula offered in the array of regular, fundamental and magnet schools.

That's where charter schools can help. They are considered public schools, but are operated by nonprofit organizations. Youngsters attend for free. Employees work for the charter school, not the Pinellas County school system.

There currently are four charter schools in the county.

Academie Da Vinci, 1380 Pinehurst Road, Dunedin, (727) 298-2778. Grades 1-5. It is the county's first charter school, and has a concentration on fine and performing arts in addition to its regular academic curriculum.

The Athenian Academy, 1120 Curlew Road, Dunedin, (727) 298-2718. Grades K-3, with plans to add a grade each year. It offers bilingual Greek cultural immersion and intensive Spanish instruction.

The Love of Learning, 403 First Ave. SW, Largo, (727) 581-9550. Grades 4-6, with plans to add a grade every year. It is designed for creative students with leadership potential.

Whole Child at UPARC, 1501 N Belcher Road, Clearwater, (727) 799-3330. Prekindergarten. It offers early intervention for children with developmental and physical disabilities.

A concept called "extended grandfathering" allows students who were enrolled in a public school as of June 6, 2001, to go through their currently zoned elementary, middle and high schools, as if choice didn't take place.

Charter schools add another wrinkle to the concept.

For example, Love of Learning currently has grades 4-6. A student graduating from the school and entering seventh grade loses extended grandfathering because he or she left a zoned elementary school to attend Love of Learning, school district officials say.

For information: www.pinellas.k12.fl.us/infosvcs/pdf/schooldir_charter.pdf.