The state Board of Regents has approved a new charter school in Buffalo. The Charter School of Inquiry will open in August 2015.In its first year, the new charter school will enroll 50 students in grades Kindergarten through second.
Each year after that, a new grade will be added. By the end of the five year charter term, the school will have an enrollment of 350 students through the sixth grade.
Helene Kramer is one of the school's founders and will serve as board chair. Kramer says the Charter School of Inquiry will take a new approach.
"Children need skills in critical thinking," Kramer said.
The location of the new school has not yet been selected. But Kramer says they are planning on a site somewhere on the East Side where they hope to attract children who are at risk of academic failure.
"For too long, thousands of Buffalo children have been allowed to fall through the cracks and be resigned to a life of poverty," Kramer said. "We are hopeful CSI will begin to address some of these inequities for Buffalo's at-risk children."