Charter News

Governor Reynolds established a $7 million Charter School Start-up Fund in early 2024. 5 current public charter schools and 6 newly approved schools were awarded almost $4 million to utilize for technology, equipment, facilities, and other critical infrastructure.

3 public charter schools continue to make progress towards launching in Cedar Rapids.

Governor Reynolds signed a new law to increase funding for public charter schools at a ceremony at Horizon Science Academy in Des Moines.

Monica Kasch, the 2nd grade teacher at Horizon Science Academy in Des Moines, was recognized with the Golden Apple Award. The Golden Apple is given to outstanding teachers who are nominated by their peers. It is a competitive award that honors a few recipients out of hundreds of nominations. View...

In its first full charter application season, the Iowa Coalition helped facilitate applications to launch 8 new public charter schools in Iowa. Five schools will open in Des Moines and three will open in Cedar Rapids.

Horizon Science Academy in Des Moines was awarded a federal Charter Schools Program (CSP) Grant by the United States Department of Education. They will receive more than $1.7 million over a five-year period to continue the great work they have started in the Beaverdale neighborhood of Des Moines. Horizon has the mission to provide its students with an innovative world-class education, rich in math, science, and technology focused on preparing students to become bold inquirers, problem solvers, and ethical leaders, skill-ready for post-secondary education to meet the challenges of a competitive global workforce. They will eventually have students enrolled kindergarten through 12th grade, but they launched with students K-3rd during their first year in 2023-24.

Oakmont Education applied to launch a high school in Des Moines that serves dropouts and opportunity youth. They currently operate almost 20 high schools across 12 cities in Ohio. They have been recognized nationally for the success of their model, as they help dropouts earn diplomas and enter the workforce in the career pathway of their choice. They were recently honored by the YASS Prize. With the $500,000 award money, Oakmont Education, will expand throughout Ohio and into Kentucky, and deliver their secret sauce to students nationwide. They are excited to launch their first high school in Iowa in August of 2024.