Lincoln charter school application tabled

The Arkansas State Board of Education today tabled action on a charter school application from retired Lincoln Superintendent Frank Holman so concerns raised by the Department of Education can be addressed.

The application is expected to be back on the state board agenda as early as January.

In a staff review by the Education Department, concerns were raised that centers may need to be set up around the state to give the students a place to go for tutoring, testing or other special services. The school, called America's Charter School, would be headquartered in Lincoln, in far western Washington County. Students in Washington and Benton counties will be targeted but the virtual school would have the potential to attract students from across the state.

Holman spent more than an hour before the state board, which generally endorsed the concept for the school but wanted staff concerns addressed before a final vote is taken.

In response to the concerns, Holman said he has contacted several school districts and other organizations, all of which have indicated they would be willing to cooperate as student centers. The location of those centers would depend on where the students are from.

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