New Haven, CT – The Connecticut State Board of Education approved the initial charter for five proposed public charter schools in communities across the state. The approvals came at the recommendation of the Connecticut State Department of Education, which rigorously evaluated each applicant using internal subject matter experts, independent external reviewers, and two public hearings for community members to give their input.

Connecticut’s public charter school sector currently consists of 21 schools serving nearly 11,000 students in some of the state’s most challenged districts. The high demand among thousands of students and families looking for new, innovative public school options in their community led to several applicants in the 2024 Request for Proposals. 

The five new state charter schools are spread across four Connecticut communities, with each offering a unique educational approach that’s attuned to the needs of students in the communities they hope to serve. The newly approved public charter schools include:

  • Olam Public Charter School (Stamford) – Serving Pre-K through 5th grade, this school aims to prepare a diverse student body for advanced studies through a rigorous curriculum and integration of global citizenship, including instruction in Modern Hebrew. The school hopes to open to Pre-K to 1st grade students, before adding a grade level each year to eventually serve more than 340 students.
  • Stamford Big Picture Learning Academy (Stamford) – A partnership of Stamford Public Schools and Stamford Charter School for Excellence, which was named a 2023 National Blue Ribbon School, this 9th-12th grade school hopes to ignite curiosity and foster connections that empower students to chart their own path to success. They plan to open in Fall of 2025 with 200 students and add one grade level each year to eventually serve 400 students. 
  • PROUD Academy (Ansonia) – Created to address discrimination and bullying based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or race, PROUD plans to create an open and accepting space that allows students to develop personally and academically. The school plans open to 50 6th grade students before expanding to grades 6-8. 
  • Taino CoLAB Academies (New Haven & Waterbury) – Focused on critical thinking, learning and preserving cultures, and preparing for a modern workforce, these schools in New Haven and Waterbury plan to open to 100 9th grade students, before expanding one grade level each year to become 400 students in grades 9-12. 

The initial approval from the Board is the first step in opening a new public charter school. For the second, the approved schools will have to be funded by the General Assembly in order to open their doors to students. These schools will join previously-approved Danbury Charter School and Capital Prep Middletown in seeking funding in the biennial budget. 

All five schools garnered significant support from the community at public hearings, through written submissions, and at Wednesday’s Board of Education meeting.

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