Winthrop Charter School Begins Enrolling Students

Enrollment has begun for the area's newest charter school, now under construction behind the Winthrop Town Centre on Providence Road.

Enrollment information sessions for the Winthrop Charter School are set for today at 6 p.m. at the Barn Theatre at Winthrop, 11349 Bloomingdale Ave., Riverview, and March 22 at 6 p.m. at The Bridges, 71202 Dewhurst Drive, Riverview.

Enrollment forms are available online at www.winthropcharter.org.

The new charter school, set to open for the 2011-12 school year, is part of the Charter Schools USA, based in Fort Lauderdale, and focuses on individualized lesson plans for students in kindergarten through eighth grade. Charter Schools USA has schools throughout Florida and George, but this will be the first in Hillsborough County.

The new Riverview school will accommodate about 860 students.

Enrollment for 2011-2012 school year began on March 1. In the initial "open enrollment" period, all applicants have an equal opportunity for admission regardless of submitting an application on the first day or the last day of "open enrollment."

 The open enrollment period runs to May 1. Applications will be accepted in all grade levels. If the number of applications exceeds the number of available spaces for any grade level, a system-generated, random lottery will be held to determine who is admitted.

After May 1, applications will continue to be accepted and admission will be offered based on the order in which the application is received.

Charter schools are tuition-free public schools of choice, but each charter school is governed independently. Unlike traditional public schools, every charter school must demonstrate success or it will lose its charter.

The new charter school will provide personalized lesson plans for students with assessments performed periodically.

Parents are given access to their children's personal information through a password-protected computer-based system that allows them to monitor their progress. Parents can monitor test scores, homework and attendance on a daily basis.

Parental involvement will be mandatory at the new charter school.  Parents are required to commit to volunteer hours each year for the school.

School uniforms will be mandatory at the school.

Before- and after-school care will be offered and bus transportation will be available on a limited basis. Specific routes will be developed based on demand to maximize the number of students who can be transported. Students living within two miles of the school will be expected to furnish their own transportation.

Breakfast and lunch service will be available to all students. The Winthrop Charter School will participate in the National School Lunch Program, and free or reduced pricing will be available to those students who meet the guidelines.