photo c/o lizmarie's flickr photostream (creative commons)

35% of children in the United States’ public education system are failing. 1.2 million students in the United States drop out every year. 18th in the world is our education ranking. Instead of waiting for change, it’s time we take action. I strongly believe the charter school movement is and will continue to change the face of education. Charter Schools are privately run, publicly funded schools founded by concerned parents, passionate teachers, community members, and people all over the country who want to make a difference.

Now to the logistics. How in the heck do you start a charter school? Yes it can feel daunting but that’s where Building Excellent Schools comes in. Building Excellent Schools is an amazing year long fellowship that gives you the necessary tools to start and manage a successful charter school in an urban area.

According to the Building Excellent School site, your fellowship year entails:

• Approximately 100 days of intense training at BES central offices in Boston, which include visits to approximately 30 of the top performing urban charter schools in the northeast United States. Schools visited in the past have included Academy of the Pacific Rim (MA), Amistad Academy (CT), Boston Collegiate (MA), Milwaukee College Prep (WI), North Star Academy (NJ), and Roxbury Prep (MA).
• Extended residency in a high-performing urban charter school. During the residency, Fellows receive substantial access to school leadership, work intensively on challenging projects for the school, and participate in routine work every school day.
• Ongoing coaching and support around board and charter application development.

Since the program’s inception in 2001, 34 successful charter schools are up and running. Among them is New Orleans College Prep . Built after the hurricane, students are transported from all parts of New Orleans to attend school here. In it’s first year, students scoring proficient on state exams increased by 11% - 38% in math, english, science and social studies. West Denver Prep was started in 2006 with 100 sixth-grade students, 92% of which are Latino and 84% are eligible for free/reduced lunch. In the school’s first year, 66% of West Denver Prep’s sixth graders scored proficient or advanced in math, exceeding the district average by 26%.

The application deadline for the 2009 fellowship is May 11th. One last incentive, the fellowship is free and you are given a salary for your hard work and dedication during your fellowship year. This program is a once in a lifetime opportunity and will not only change your life but the lives of hundreds of children in urban neighborhoods.