CBS News
August 16, 2007

Aug 16, 2007 10:53 am US/Pacific
4 New LAUSD Charter Schools To Open This Fall
$4.2M In Grants To Fund 2 Middle Schools, 2 High Schools


(CBS) LOS ANGELES The Inner City Education Foundation received $4.2 million in grants that will allow it to open four charter schools this fall in South Los Angeles, officials announced Thursday.

"These generous grants speak to the track record that we've established of preparing underserved kids to succeed at four-year universities, and it will provide vital new opportunities for thousands in our community," ICEF founder and Chief Executive Officer Michael D. Piscal said.

The grants will provide operating funds for Thurgood Marshall Middle and High schools, as well as Lou Dantzler Middle and High schools, which will serve nearly 4,000 students when fully enrolled.

Foundation officials said there are currently more than 5,000 students on waiting lists at ICEF for five existing charter schools. The new schools will give ICEF nine charter schools operating within the boundaries of the Los Angeles Unified School District.

ICEF's flagship school, View Park Preparatory Charter High School, just graduated its first class in June. All 71 graduates were college-eligible, with 65 of the newly minted college freshmen heading to four-year universities this fall. The other six are headed to junior colleges. By comparison, nearby public high schools are only graduating 40 percent of their students, foundation officials said.

Contributions from three organizations made up the hefty grants. The NewSchools Venture Fund contributed $1.8 million, Michael and Susan Dell Foundation gave $1.45 million, and $920,000 came from the Walton Family Foundation.

"There is a tremendous demand for ICEF schools in our community, and now we can go a long way towards meeting that demand," Piscal said.

"These generous grants speak to the track record that we've established of preparing underserved kids to succeed at four-year universities, and it will provide vital new opportunities for thousands in our community," ICEF founder and Chief Executive Officer Michael D. Piscal said.

The schools will serve nearly 4,000 students when fully enrolled.