April 8, 2011 12:26 p.m. EDT
Dr. Cecil C. Gray signs the Gates Compact while Commissioner Neil Duke, left, CEO Dr. Alonso, and
CBCS Co-Chair Bobbi MacDonald look on.
Dr. Cecil C. Gray and several other Baltimore City leaders signed a historic compact on Friday,
April 8th. The collaborative agreement is an inititative of the Bill and Melinda Gates
Foundation. The multi-year alliance was created to encourage collaboration between
public charter schools, public traditional schools, the public school system, the
mayor's office, and supporters of public charter schools in the City in an effort to
make a high-quality education available to all students.
Eight other cities in seven other states across the nation have signed similar compacts.
The agreements were finalized at a conference in Denver, CO this past December.
The Northwood-Appold Community Academy opened as a public charter school in August 2005.
The school served grades K through 2 in its innaugural year. It has since grown to
serve approximately 400 students from throughout Baltimore City in grades K through 7.
NACA enjoys support from members of its local board of directors
, its community partners, and members of its national board, including poet Dr.
Sonya Sanchez, professor and freedom movement veteran Dr. Vincent Harding, and former
Surgeon General of the United States Dr. Jocelyn Elders, among others.
