On June 3, 1993 Governor Romer signed legislation known as the Charter Schools Act. It was designed to enable parents, teachers, and community members to “take responsible risks and create new innovative and more flexible ways of educating all children within the public school system”, which resulted in “expanded choices” for parents and students.
It was under this law that the founding parents organized Academy Charter School. An application was submitted and approved by the Douglas County School District Board of Education on August 31, 1993. A Charter School Contract was then negotiated between the Governing Board of the school and the Douglas County School District Board of Education. Within four weeks the parents had converted space leased in the Wal-Mart shopping center from concrete slab floors and studs to classrooms and hired teachers. On September 29, 1993, the Academy Charter School opened its doors. That was the beginning of Colorado’s first K-6 Charter School.
As a “Public School of Choice” it offered 119 students (and their parents) a curriculum alternative that first year; a liberal arts course of study based on the Core Knowledge Series. Students wore uniforms as part of the dress code, a departure from current public school practice, and all parents are requested to volunteer a minimum of 20 hours per year or participate on one or more of the school committees. Class size was small with a ratio of 17:1. Housed in strip mall retail space, the playground was the alley behind the store, next to the railroad tracks, separated only by a barbed wire fence.
The start-up phase was not without its challenges. Daily leadership was provided by an interim School Leader until mid October, and then by the Governing Board members until the School Leader’s position was filled in January 1994. Multiple problem solving committees were formed to do the work of the school – Budget, Curriculum, Discipline, Teacher Review, and Long-Range Planning – as well as solve specific problems such as writing Bylaws and completing facility improvements. Through the process a sense of community was forged and the vision for the school began consolidation.