Foundation planning private school in Arnold now pursuing charter status

A nonprofit foundation planning to open a middle school in Arnold in 2025 says it will apply for charter school status in the New Kensington-­Arnold School District.

The Teach from DeHart Foundation, which bought the former elementary school and most recently a halfway house on Fourth Avenue in March, previously said its Teach from DeHart Academy for fifth through eighth grade students would be a private school.

If successful, it would be the first brick-and-mortar charter school to open in the Alle-­Kiski Valley.

Charter schools are public schools funded by taxpayers through school district and state funds, said Casey Smith, spokesperson for the state Department of Education. In contrast, private schools are privately funded, usually through tuition charged to parents who send their children there.

In July, when the academy was still expected to be a private school, DeHart Foundation founder Matt DeHart of South Carolina said they were aiming for tuition to be under $10,000 and heavily supported through scholarships.

“After over a year of intentional community engagement opportunities, we saw this route was the best way to maximize our impact and be a benefit to our community,” DeHart said. “The academy will still uphold its push for academic and social excellence, but this gives the opportunity of a tuition-free education to those in our area. By being a charter school, we are able to benefit even more students than previously expected with the private school model.”

The New Kensington-­Arnold School District would have limited involvement with the establishment of a private school. The approval comes only from the state through the State Board of Private Academic Schools, Smith said.

But with a charter school, New Kensington-Arnold must grant DeHart a charter before students from the district may enroll in it, she said.

New Kensington-Arnold Superintendent Chris Sefcheck said neither he nor the school board has had any official communication with DeHart officials.

“When the time comes, we are happy to do so to ensure the integrity of the process,” he said.

Sefcheck said it’s hard to tell what impact the charter school would have on New Kensington-Arnold. The district currently is spending about $2.8 million of its $48.9 million budget in payouts to charter schools.

DeHart said they have met individually with six of the nine school board members, in person and remotely, to present their plans.

School board President Tim Beckes did not respond to a request for comment.

DeHart said they will apply for a charter sometime next year. Once the application is complete, he said they would move forward with a formal public presentation to the school board.

If the district denies a charter to DeHart, the foundation could appeal to the state Charter Appeals Board, Smith said.

The foundation plans to open the school in fall 2025. In addition to serving middle school students, it would have adult education programs focusing on job training and career advancement.

Related:

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• Educator aiming for ‘Ivy League feel’ at new private school in Arnold