A proposal to open a Waldorf-style charter school within the Medford School District will be considered during a public hearing Tuesday.
The Medford School Board will accept comments on the Madrone Trail Public Charter School at 7 p.m. at South Medford High School, 815 S. Oakdale Ave.
The proposal by a group of parents and Waldorf educators calls for opening the school for kindergarten through second grade in the fall and adding a grade each year up to eighth.
In Waldorf style, the curriculum would focus on the arts and self-directed learning, organizers said.
"I think it's going to be a huge outpouring of support for a Waldorf-inspired charter school," said Jennifer Tudor, parent and Madrone Trail board member. "As far as we know, there is absolutely no opposition to it."
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Under law, board members can weigh factors including community support, the financial stability of the charter school, capability to provide comprehensive educational programs, impact on overall public education in the district and arrangements for students in need of special education.
Funded through the state, charter schools operate independently through their sponsoring school district, charge no tuition and accept anyone who wants to attend as space permits without an inter-district transfer.
With about 70 student slots in its first year, the school would likely draw private-school and homeschool students back into the district, garnering it an additional $1.5 million in state revenue over five years, organizers said.
"There are a lot of parents looking for other options for their child's education," Tudor said. "The charter school movement really offers flexible, effective education programs."
Through their sponsoring district, charter schools receive a large portion of the state's per-student funding — 95 percent for high school pupils and 80 percent for those in elementary and middle schools. The Medford district receives about $5,400 per pupil from the state.
Priority for admission would go first to the children of the school's employees, followed by students residing in the district. (Correction below) Out-of-district pupils could fill any remaining slots through a lottery process.
The curriculum would incorporate storytelling, drawing, painting, music and movement in lesson activities. Foreign language and music instruction would begin in the first grade and continue through the eighth grade. Each class would receive instruction from the same teacher for three to five years to foster personal relationships and an academic continuum from grade to grade.
"The curriculum more closely follows the developmental rhythms of the child," Tudor said. "Rather than asking, 'How early can we teach reading?' we ask, 'When would be the best time to teach reading?' "
Using seed money from a federal charter-school incentive grant, organizers hope to locate the program in the now-vacant Naval Reserve Center, a 18,000-square-foot building at 3070 Ross Lane, formerly the district's Westside School.
Details about the proposal are available at the district's Web site, www.medford.k12.or.us.
Reach reporter Paris Achen by calling 541-776-4459 or pachen@mailtribune.com.
Correction: The original version of this story incorrectly stated who would get priority for admission to a Waldorf school. This version has been corrected. Return to sentence with error
