Posted on November 15, 2011

NewSchools Venture Fund Awards $3 Million for Boston Charter School Expansion

NewSchools Venture Fund has announced inaugural grants totaling more than $3 million to four Boston-area charter school organizations through its Boston Charter School Replication Fund.

Grants were awarded to Excel Academies and the Edward W. Brook, Roxbury Preparatory, and MATCH Public charter schools, each of which opened at least one new school this fall. The successful expansion of the schools is expected to attract thousands of additional high-need students. Over the next four years, NewSchools aims to raise $12 million from both national and local funders to help seat up to six thousand charter school students in Boston and neighboring Chelsea.

"These charter schools share many common design elements, from small schools with tightly aligned no-excuses cultures, to a relentless focus on quality instruction and academic achievement, all pointing toward the unambiguous goal of preparing students for success in college," said Jim Peyser, managing partner at NewSchools and former chairman of the Massachusetts Board of Education. "Our investments will allow them to provide students and families in high-need communities with excellent educational choices."