New Charter School Possibly Coming To Hope

The Hope Kiwanis Club recently heard from Phoebe Bailey and Monica Morris of the Southwest Arkansas Educational Co-op.  Morris said the Co-op has submitted an application for an Aspire Academy Charter School to be located in Hope.  If the school is approved and funded by the state, it will serve children who have been affected by various trauma such as severe poverty, foster care, abusive home life, and more.  Morris cited studies that show students who have suffered trauma are subject to serious and chronic health issues later in life; however, these situations can be reversed with proper care.  That’s what the school would focus on, getting these students ready to be returned to conventional classrooms.

The proposed school would start with up to 40 students in grades k through 3 and eventually expand to all 12 grades.  Morris stressed that all teachers and staffers would be trained to deal with children who have been subject to trauma.

If funded, the school would be located in Hope and would draw students from the 9 school districts served by the co-op.