CALENDAR

Cornerstone Montessori Elementary, which will be located on Saint Paul's East Side Phalen community and Hiawatha Middle School, both received approval for $250,000.00 towards their start-up activities.  Cornerstone Montessori Elementary, the only new charter to receive approval from authorizer Volunteers of America for the 2011-2012 school year, had previously received $30,000.00 of its $250,000.00 from Walton as a pre-authorization grant earlier in 2010. Hiawatha Middle School, which is affiliated with Hiawatha Leadership Academy, 3810 E. 56th Street, Minneapolis, is expanding its elementary program into a new middle school, which will be housed at a separate location still to be determined. 

"Based on the quality of application and start-up teams, Cornerstone Montessori Elementary and Hiawatha Middle School have the potential to become two very high-performing charter schools serving the Twin Cities minority and immigrant communities", said Mr. Fan. "The support from the Walton Family Foundation sends a very strong signal about the quality of these two charter school programs."