Representatives of about a dozen proposed West Philly charter schools will present their applications to the  School District of Philadelphia on Thursday beginning at 10:10 a.m.

This is the first time the District has considered adding new charter schools since 2007. The District received a total of 40 applications and the hearings on them began Monday. Protesters have also showed up at the hearings. Most are calling for more support of the District’s neighborhood schools.

The public is welcome to comment on the applications from 3 p.m. (after they are all complete) to 6 p.m. at the District headquarters at 440 N. Broad St. Speakers are asked to register at 215-400-4010 and should arrive before 6 p.m. Each speaker will be allotted three minutes.

Some 62,000 students currently attend one of the city’s 86 charter schools, which account for about a third of the District’s budget – roughly $730 million. The District has until late February to vote on the applications. 

You can review the full application of each proposed school here. The online video stream is here. You can also watch it in the video player embedded below.

Here is the full list of applicants for Thursday, including the start time and the proposed school’s zip code:

• Belmont Charter High School (19104) – 10:10 a.m.
• Girls’ Latin of Philadelphia Charter School (19143) – 10:30 a.m.
• Green Woods Charter School at Overbrook Farms (19151) – 10:50 a.m.
• Innovative Dimensions STEAM Academy (unknown) – 11:10 a.m.
• Independence Charter School West (19142) – 11:30 a.m.
• Independence Charter High School (19104) – 11:50 a.m.
• Richard Allen Preparatory Charter School II (19143) – 12:35 p.m.
• ACES Business Entrepreneur Academy Charter School (19151) – 12:55 p.m.
• Global Leadership Academy International Charter School (19131) – 1:15 p.m.
• Philadelphia Music and Dance Charter School (19139) – 1:35 p.m.
• PHMC Preparatory Charter School (19143) – 2:05 p.m.
• KIPP Dubois Charter School (19131) – 2:25 p.m.
• KIPP West Philadelphia Charter School (19143) – 2:45 p.m.

– Mike Lyons

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