“Next year, the Imagine Andrews Public Charter School will open its doors on Joint Base Andrews to provide educational opportunities for military and community students.
‘This is going to be a great school that will offer excellent educational opportunities for the students attending, enhancing the tie between the community and the base,’ said Col. Ken Rizer, 11th Wing⁄Joint Base Andrews commander. ‘The school will be taught and administered by educators who understand the challenging and stressful environment facing the children of military members every day. Having this charter school here at Andrews will build a support structure for the families, students, and community that will enhance everyone’s resiliency while bringing the community and the base closer together.’
Officially falling under the jurisdiction of the Prince George’s County School system, Imagine Andrews PCS will be operated by Imagine Schools, a national charter school management company that operates 72 schools and serves more than 40,000 students in 12 states and the District of Columbia. In accordance with its philosophy that community support is essential to a school’s success, Imagine Schools will seek a partnership with the military units on Andrews, as well as the families and schools in the local community. Additionally, school officials have formed an independent nonprofit board of directors made up of community members and other interested stakeholders.
‘The goal of Imagine Andrews PCS is to create a challenging learning environment for students in the Andrews community while addressing the specific needs of the military child,’ said Pat Crain, Maryland Regional Director for Imagine Schools.
At its core, Mr. Crain said, Imagine Andrews will be devoted to managing the challenges faced by children from military families. A growing body of research indicates that students whose parents are deployed in active war zones often experience emotional and behavioral problems that alter their academic performance and outcomes.
‘Therefore, as part of its mission, Imagine Andrews will incorporate a heightened understanding of the stressors facing the students from military families,’ Mr. Crain said. ‘In order to help students deal effectively with their daily lives, faculty and staff will be specifically trained to recognize and handle the unique circumstances experienced by military families. This understanding will ultimately lead to increased student achievement.’
In addition to addressing the individual needs of the military students, Imagine Andrews PCS will cater to the larger community around Andrews, as well. When it opens in the Fall 2011, Imagine Andrews PCS is expected to enroll approximately 260 students, in kindergarten through fourth grade. Of the student body, 65 percent will be students whose families are assigned to Andrews and 35 percent will come from families not assigned to the base. A lottery will be held to determine enrollment if student applications exceed the number of available seats.
This unique feature — creating a school on a military base and inviting students from the surrounding area to attend and take advantage of the solid curriculum and rigorous instructional program — provides for an enrollment structure that brings the community students and parents together with those of the military to build a stronger community — and that is a win-win for everyone.
For information, [email protected].”
Published by the Capital Flyer on December 16, 2010.