seven oaks
Seven Oaks Charter School could open in Monroe County this August.
Seven Oaks has been trying for four years to get approval for its school. The state charter board denied the school’s request in 2014 and last year the school withdrew its application after state board staff recommended denial.
The board of trustees of Grace College and Theological Seminary voted to authorize the charter at its meeting Jan. 13.
Grace College currently authorizes two other charter schools in the state: Smith Academy for Excellence in Fort Wayne and Dugger Union Community School in Dugger.
The work begins now for Seven Oaks to find a building and staff.
“Were basically just looking at a different model, a more conservative model than what they have in the public schools right now,” says Seven Oaks’ board member Terry English.
In a press release announcing the charter’s approval, the board stressed that Seven Oaks will not teach with a religious slant event though it is authorized by a Christian college.
The curriculum will focus on liberal arts and science with the Latin language as the foundation.
“We are going to be independent in that we are going to have a curriculum which is based on classical languages,” says English.
The school hopes to enroll 400 students in grades kindergarten through eighth. Tuition will be free because the school will get state funding. Seven Oaks plans to add additional grades annually until they are teaching a K-12 program.
Open-enrollment will begin on Feb. 1 and will extend through March 17
