ASHLAND CHARTER SCHOOL HISTORY AND FUTURE PLANS
The School District of Ashland formed a committee of school board members, administrators, and teachers in the Fall of 2011. The committee recommended to the school board that the district pursue the formation of a project based learning (PBL) charter school, starting with grades 3-5 and continuing through high school. The WI Department of Public Instruction offers competitive grants and assistance to encourage districts to innovate and provide educational options. Ashland was pleased to be awarded a $200,000 grant in August to assist with the costs of planning and training teachers to open a new school in 2013. A planning grant was submitted in March for a 6-8 PBL school that would open 2014.
The timeline for grant Applications and School openings:
2010 Discussion of educational options at Community Advisory Team Meetings
Fall 2011 Recommendation by committee to school board to apply for charter planning grant from DPI.
Jan 2012 Planning Grant Committee Formed to apply for grant.
Apr 2012 Submited 3-5 Planning Grant, work by committee continues
Aug 2012 Planning Grant Awarded for Ashland Elementary Charter School (AECS) Planning committee work continues.
Nov 2012 AECS Lead Teacher- Heidi Stricker Hired
Jan 2013 In district enrollment begins
February AECS Teachers Hired- Julie McKuen and Mary Zoesch
Apr 2013 Submited 6-8 Planning Grant/ 3-5 Implementation Grant
May 2013 AECS Teachers - Kaitlyn Hilgemann and Emily Riese hired
Aug 2013 DPI Awards $250,000 Middle School Planning Grant & $200,000 Implementation Grant for AECS
Sep 2013 3-5 School- Ashland Elementary Charter School (AECS) Opens
Apr 2014 Submit 9-12 Planning Grant/ 6-8 Implementation Grant/3-5 Implementation Grant
Aug 2014 Ashland School District Awarded 3 Charter Grants- Implementation Grants for AECS and OPS and a planning grant for the High School
Sep 2014 Oredocker Project School (6-8 Grades) Opens!
Feb 2015 School District Approves High School Charter Contract
Sep 2015 Ashland Charter High School (Grades 9-12) Opens!
The timeline for grant Applications and School openings:
2010 Discussion of educational options at Community Advisory Team Meetings
Fall 2011 Recommendation by committee to school board to apply for charter planning grant from DPI.
Jan 2012 Planning Grant Committee Formed to apply for grant.
Apr 2012 Submited 3-5 Planning Grant, work by committee continues
Aug 2012 Planning Grant Awarded for Ashland Elementary Charter School (AECS) Planning committee work continues.
Nov 2012 AECS Lead Teacher- Heidi Stricker Hired
Jan 2013 In district enrollment begins
February AECS Teachers Hired- Julie McKuen and Mary Zoesch
Apr 2013 Submited 6-8 Planning Grant/ 3-5 Implementation Grant
May 2013 AECS Teachers - Kaitlyn Hilgemann and Emily Riese hired
Aug 2013 DPI Awards $250,000 Middle School Planning Grant & $200,000 Implementation Grant for AECS
Sep 2013 3-5 School- Ashland Elementary Charter School (AECS) Opens
Apr 2014 Submit 9-12 Planning Grant/ 6-8 Implementation Grant/3-5 Implementation Grant
Aug 2014 Ashland School District Awarded 3 Charter Grants- Implementation Grants for AECS and OPS and a planning grant for the High School
Sep 2014 Oredocker Project School (6-8 Grades) Opens!
Feb 2015 School District Approves High School Charter Contract
Sep 2015 Ashland Charter High School (Grades 9-12) Opens!
