About School Lane Charter School

The Charter school initiative began in Pennsylvania with the passing of the Charter School law by the Pennsylvania State legislature in July 1997. Local non-profit Boards of Trustees were given the opportunity to start charter schools in an effort to provide viable alternatives for parents, students, and teachers within public education in Pennsylvania.

The Board of Trustees of School Lane Charter School came together with Mosaica Education, Inc., a private management company, to form Mosaica Academy Charter School (now known as School Lane Charter School) and presented an application for a charter to the Bensalem Township School District Board of School Directors. On June 24, 1998 the application was approved unanimously and subsequently opened its doors on August 24, 1998.

Why

With growing evidence of the unique challenges of the future, we recognized a need to hold parents, students, and teachers accountable for the educational process; to stimulate and develop innovative programs and partnerships; to empower parents, students, and teachers with new choices, opportunities, and provide quality public education.

Where

School Lane Charter School is the first Charter School in Bucks County and the first suburban K-8 charter school in Pennsylvania. The community of Bensalem with its rich history, diversity of people, and proximity to a wealth of educational resources was a natural choice. This historic building, the former Cornwells Elementary School was the perfect location, a tangible symbol of the future evolving from tradition and the foundation built in the past.

Who

The School Lane Charter School Board of Trustees was organized by a group of local parents who were in search for choice in public education for their children.

The teaching staff, initially selected from 280 qualified applicants, is Pennsylvania State Certified and dedicated to the mission and vision of School Lane Charter School. The Administration and support staff is gifted in their energy and leadership from many years of proven experience in public education. Our committment to staff development provides ongoing opportunities for teambuilding and professional growth.

Parent involvement has been shown to be the single most important element in student achievement. School Lane Charter School parents are required to contribute at least 2 hours per month in some form of support activities. Ten school committees, an alternative to the traditional PTO format, are organized to empower parents, community members, teachers, school staff, and students to be active participants. By sharing their skills and expertise in meaningful ways they demonstrate the value of education to our children. This kind of involvement and these kinds of partnerships are vital to the success of both our school and our students. Two hundred and twenty parents and community members initially contributed hundreds of hours of volunteer time and more than $60,000 worth of painting labor in order to prepare the building for opening on time. We continue to experience exceptional participation. We will continue to seek to nurture these partnerships and discover new ones that will benefit and support our children, our school, and our community.

SLCS opened with a student body of 450, grades K-6, in the 1998-99 school year. Seventh grade was added in 1999-2000 and eighth grade in 2000-2001. Students currently come from nine surrounding school districts, including parochial and private schools. The waiting list is extensive at each grade level and we continue to receive inquiries and visits by interested parents daily.

How

School Lane Charter School was based on the vision of a school whose sole focus is academic achievement for all children in a safe environment. This vision of a safe school is one where every child feels physically, psychologically, socially, and morally safe. Creating and maintaining this safe place for children to learn is a process that requires maintenance, constant monitoring, and diligence by every member of the school community. The importance of providing for children's needs for safety is based on the work of Dr. Sandra Bloom in her book "Creating Sanctuary" . School Lane Charter School students will have the courage to try new things, the courage to learn from their mistakes, and the freedom to become the best that they can be.

By addressing our children's basic needs for safety, we set the stage for them to confidently discover themselves, the world around them, and their place in it. The curriculum combines the best teaching practices, the latest tools of technology, and an interdisciplinary, thematic approach that integrates all areas of curricula and stresses application of knowledge and skills. School Lane students cultivate a multi-cultural perspective, appreciation, and global awareness.

School Lane's objectives include higher standardized test scores, steady improvement in the quality of authentic and performance based assessments, improved student attendance, superior teacher training, as well as enhanced motivation, satisfaction and morale on the part of students, staff, parents, and community members.

The school day and academic calendar is extended. Increased learning time allows for greater mastery of curriculum content and for increased exposure to engaging enrichment programs and activities that develop and support the whole student.

School Lane Charter School is a model of and for academic achievement, of which our entire school community takes pride in being a part.

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