Maryland Charter Schools Celebrate National Charter School Week May 2-6, 2011

Baltimore, MD, May 04, 2011 --(PR.com)-- It has been more than 6 years since the first charter schools opened their doors in Maryland. Charter schools, their successes and their contributions to children, families and communities will be celebrated this year during National Charter School Week from May 2-May 6, 2011. In recognition of this special week, Governor O’Malley has proclaimed this week Maryland Charter School Week.

Across the state, many Maryland Charter Schools will open their doors on Friday, May 6, 2011 from 9-10 am for visiting. For more information, go to www.mdcharternetwork.org/nationalcharterschoolsweek.html. Maryland State Department of Education will host a display in their main lobby (200 W. Baltimore St) during the week, spotlighting several charter schools.

Some basic facts:

· 44 charter schools serve over 14,000 charter school students in six counties in Maryland. Nearly all have waiting lists.

· Charter schools are enrolling a diverse student population according to race, gender, and eligibility for free or reduced priced meals, special education, and English language learner services.

· Charter schools are public schools that are responsive to students’ needs and are held accountable for improved student achievement.

· 86% of charter schools reduced the achievement gap for 3rd graders in math, and 52% of these schools eliminated the minority achievement gap; 74% reduced the achievement gap in reading.

More than 1.6 million public school students attend the close to 5,000 public charter schools in 40 states and the District of Columbia, including 44 in Maryland. Charter schools are tuition-free public schools that are open to all students.

MCSN is a non-partisan, nonprofit, statewide organization whose mission is to promote and serve the Maryland charter school movement. For more information about the Maryland Charter School Network, please call 800-689-3795 or visit www.mdcharternetwork.org.

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