Einstein Charter Schools Receive $5 Million Grant for Replication and Expansion

 
The U.S. Department of Education announced yesterday that Einstein Charter Schools will be awarded $5 million through its Charter Schools Program (CSP), which funds the creation and expansion of public charter schools across the nation. Einstein Group, Inc. will receive $2,189,999 for its first year, with $5,000,000 total recommended funding (contingent on future Congressional appropriations over five years).
 
Einstein Charter Schools CEO Shawn Toranto said the organization plans to use the money to expand the capacity of three of its current schools and open two new schools. “We are so proud to receive the honor of this grant for Replication and Expansion of High-Quality Charter Schools.  All children deserve the best education and with this money we can provide that for a larger segment of our population.”
 

Einstein Charter Schools operate a group of consistently high-performing, open-admissions schools in New Orleans East. Einstein recently received the 2015 COSEBOC School Award for Excellence and Leadership in Educating Boys of Color. Einstein has been repeatedly recognized by the Louisiana Department of Education as a “Top Gains” and “High Performing, High Poverty ” school and by the Orleans Parish School Board as a “Top Performing” school.
 
Councilwoman Stacy Head, who wrote a letter of support for Einstein Charter Schools said, “I am thrilled to see Einstein Charter Schools receive this money to replicate, expand and improve the educational opportunities in New Orleans.  Dynamic schools like Einstein are creating effective educational environments crucial to New Orleans’ future success.”

Einstein expanded this year to the former Sarah Towles Reed Campus, opening Einstein Charter Middle to serve 375 students.  The group will open a high school in the same location next year for 600 additional students.  Einstein Charter Schools has one of the most diverse student bodies in the city and the largest English Language Learner (ELL) population, with 35 percent of its students receiving ELL services.

"All students have the right to an education that prepares them for college and their careers, and we're thrilled that a growing number of charter schools create opportunities for students to achieve just that," said U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. "In particular, we are excited to see so many high-quality charter management organizations focused on replicating successful models in high-needs communities. As we celebrate charter schools that help children from disadvantaged backgrounds, we must continue empowering educators to create great schools while holding ourselves to the highest possible standards of excellence."

The U.S. Department of Education has awarded new grants totaling more than $157 million through its Charter Schools Program (CSP). Since the program's inception, the Department has invested over $3 billion in the charter school sector, and worked to strengthen the accountability and quality of charter schools that are creating opportunities for students facing challenging circumstances.