Board approves Carroll Learning Alliance charter application

The Carroll County Board of Education unanimously approved the charter school application submitted by the Carroll Learning Alliance on July 16, 2025, formally allowing the group to proceed to the next stage of developing a charter agreement. The approval begins a multi-step process: an approved application is the board’s initial consent to proceed, not final authorization to open a school. Superintendent Dr. McCabe said, "The application is not the final approval to open a school." She told the board staff and legal counsel will work with the Alliance to develop a formal charter document that will protect the legal interests of the board. Why it matters: approving the application starts a timeline that requires staff and the Alliance to translate the application into a legally binding charter and to plan for how any approved charter will be incorporated into the system budget. Dr. McCabe said the students at an approved charter school would be included in the district’s enrollment count and funding in the first fall the school opens; she added staff will incorporate the school into FY27 budget planning once the charter agreement stage begins. Board and staff said the application process involved sustained back-and-forth review. Dr. McCabe noted the Alliance revised its submission after staff feedback and submitted a final version on July 1. She praised the Alliance’s willingness to collaborate with district staff during the review process. Carroll Learning Alliance leaders present at the meeting included Kimberly Zents (president), Brian Thompson (vice president), Megan Mann (secretary) and Danielle Daley (treasurer). Board members commended the work done by Alliance volunteers and district staff; one board member said opening a new school is a “monumental task” and thanked staff for outlining legal and policy parameters. The vote: The board took a recorded voice vote and approved the application unanimously. The superintendent stated staff will next work with legal counsel and the Alliance on a charter document and then incorporate any planned opening into upcoming budget development. Looking ahead: Approval of the application does not guarantee a school will open — it authorizes the formal charter-writing phase, legal review and subsequent steps needed before enrollment and financing occur.