How is a charter school approved?

Charter school applications are submitted to the local school district (the district in which the charter will be physically located) by November 15th of each year. The school district must review the application, hold public hearings within 45 days, and make a decision within 77 days after the hearings are held. If a charter application is not approved, the applicant may appeal to a State Charter Appeals Board, appointed by the Governor. The Wissahickon Charter School application was approved by the School District of Philadelphia in March 2001, for opening in September 2002. A copy of the application may be found on our web site.