The new Discovery Charter School is now taking applications for students for the 2010-11 school year.

The charter school is accepting applications for students who will be in kindergarten through sixth grade. Applications must be returned by April 16.

Any Indiana student, regardless of what school district they currently live in, is eligible to apply for enrollment.

Discovery will also host three upcoming community information meetings to answer questions about the new school. Discovery founder and board president Laurie Metz said because the school building is undergoing remodeling, the school can’t yet hold an open house. Instead, it will hold the community meetings to answer any questions about the new school or American Quality Schools, the management company that will run the day-to-day operations of the school.

The new charter school will be located in the former Canonie building at 800 Canonie Drive, Porter.

The community meetings will be on March 9 at the Westchester Public Library Service Center; March 10 at the South Haven Library, 403 W 700 N; and March 16 at the Beverly Shores Administration Building, 500 S. Broadway. All meetings start at 7 p.m.

Applications for enrollment can be downloaded from the Discovery School’s webpage at www.dunesdiscoverycharter.org

The applications can be returned via email, mail or fax. Applications are not to be delivered in-person.

If more applications are received than space allows, Discovery will hold a lottery on April 23 to select students, with priority given to siblings of enrolled students. The lottery will be conducted in accordance with established Indiana charter school regulations.

A waiting list will be established for any applicants not selected in the lottery. The waiting list will be maintained through the end of the first school year and re-created each year.

For more information, see the charter school webpage or email at discoverycharterschool@gmail.com

Discovery Charter School was granted a charter last year by Ball State University. Like other charter schools, it will be a public school and will receive state tuition funding for each student enrolled. The school’s mission includes a place-based approach, integrating the academic subjects with outdoor environmental education.

Posted 3/1/2010