PACSP Subgrantees
Penn Hills Charter School of Entrepreneurship
2022
The Penn Hills Charter School of Entrepreneurship (PHCSE) is a K-8 public school located in the Pittsburgh region, serving an 86% black student population who receives all meals free. Since 2011, PHCSE has represented the only K-8 public school in Pennsylvania with a core focus in entrepreneurship education.
LIFE Male STEAM Academy Charter School
2023
The mission of LIFE Male STEAM Academy (LIFE MSA) is to prepare all male scholars for college success and career readiness. LIFE MSA recruits from the Woodland Hills District, which has a 70% economically disadvantaged population, and the greater Pittsburgh region with a 64% economically disadvantaged population. The overarching vision of LIFE MSA is to operate a STEAM-focused K-12 school that serves male students of all races and national origin focused on nurturing the intellectual capacity of male students whose academic progress has been limited by poverty, community violence, and lack of access to rigorous learning opportunities through inquiry-based science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM) education.
California Academy of Learning Charter School
2024
As the first and only face-to-face charter school in Washington County, and serving students in
four, the California Academy of Learning Charter school seeks to provide a charter choice for families in
rural populations. Washington and Fayette County demographics are 93% White and 3% Black, with
9.4% of people in both counties with a disability (census.gov). In both counties, the poverty level is 9.1%
(census.gov). The California Academy of Learning (CAL) Charter Academy offers low-income families
and families of students with disabilities a face-to-face charter choice to meet the needs of their children.
The CAL Charter Academy was approved for 25 students for the 2022-2023 school year in grades K-6
and has grown by 313% in the second year of enrollment. The growth in student enrollment is expected
to be in the free/reduced, special education, and white populations due to the demographics of the
Washington, Fayette, and Greene counties (surrounding counties). The CAL Charter Academy seeks to
provide instruction to a diverse population of students, with the importance of serving marginalized
communities.
Pennsylvania STEAM Academy
2022
The Pennsylvania STEAM Academy Charter School (“PA STEAM”) is a new, high-impact education opportunity that offers students a rigorous and relevant learning experience by emphasizing and exploring the interconnections between and among Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Math.
Provident Charter School - West
2023
Provident Charter School - West is designed to serve students with dyslexia and other language based learning disabilities. As the most common specific learning disability, dyslexia affects approximately 15-20% of the general population. While students with dyslexia have average/above average intellectual abilities, learning to read, write and spell can seem like an impossibility. Without a very specific type of remedial regimen, the Orton-Gillingham Approach, students will quickly fall behind in school, lose confidence and motivation, and often become anxious, fearful and dread going to school each day. The future for students who are not proficient readers by third grade is grim. Many will remain behind throughout high school, while some may drop out, develop mental health or substance abuse issues and some will become incarcerated. Provident Charter School exists to change trajectories for these students.
Dominus High School
2024
In the fall of 2025, Dominus will proudly open its doors to Pennsylvania's first entrepreneurial-focused high school, welcoming its inaugural 9th-grade class. Our mission is to immerse students in an entrepreneurial learning journey, fostering a mindset primed for career ownership. Our vision entails instilling an entrepreneurial ethos in every student by exposing them to six industry-specific pathways: retail, culinary, healthcare, arts & media, law & education, and technology. In pursuit of our mission, we are seeking funding through the Pennsylvania Charter Schools Program grant to (1) develop an innovative curriculum infused with entrepreneurial concepts, (2) acquire furniture for classrooms, offices, and communal spaces, and (3) facilitate robust staff and student recruitment efforts to assemble a diverse and talented community committed to the principles of entrepreneurship education.
Midland Innovation & Technology Charter School
2021
Midland Innovation + Technology Charter School is a response to the needs of diverse children from underserved communities throughout southwestern Pennsylvania and to the “skills gap” in the region’s job market in its first reindustrialization in more than a century.
Seven Generations Charter School
2023
After 14 years of successful operations, Seven Generations Charter School (SGCS) is answering the continued demand of parents and community members of the Lehigh Valley by expanding programming and enrollment. With the acquisition and renovation of a new building and campus, SGCS is ready to expand its operations to meet these needs. This expansion will include the addition of a Kindergarten classroom, the expansion of the Middle School program, their specialist classes and outdoor learning program. They plan to expand enrollment by 30% in the next three years and further support the accessibility to Seven Generations’ high-quality public charter school for at-risk student populations.
Philadelphia Hebrew Public Charter School
2024
Philadelphia Hebrew Public Charter School (PHPCS) is applying for an expansion PACSP grant that will grow our successful five year old school of 460 students in grades K to 5 into a 700 student, grades K to 8 school over the next three years. PHPCS is an intentionally diverse, secular, charter school that is focused on improving world peace and building intercultural communication through the medium of the Hebrew language and the context of ancient and modern middle-eastern cultures. Our goal is that our students “will emerge as highly educated, globally aware, ethical citizens who are prepared with a foundation for success in high school, college, workplace, and society.” PHPCS is part of an expanding network of high quality schools (Hebrew Public), all of which serve primarily low income, ethnic minority students in economically challenged neighborhoods.
Vision for the project: PHPCS is proposing to add 240 high quality seats to Philadelphia over the 3 years of the grant, with the addition of 3 new grades: 6th in year 1, 7th in year 2, 8th in year 3. Funds will add new space, new furniture and supplies, and new personnel.