A group looking to open a charter school focused on the arts in the Upper Darby School District is hoping to succeed where others have failed, writes Kathy Boccella for the Philadelphia Inquirer.

“This group thinks they can provide a program that concentrates on the arts, a win for the kids,” said Harold Kurtz, the educational consultant for the proposed Upper Darby Charter School for the Arts.

Plans for the K-8 charter school are scheduled for an Upper Darby school board hearing on Dec. 18. The charter applicants are proposing a school with studios focused on dance and choral music, along with visual and digital arts.

All previous attempts to open charter schools in the district have been squashed by officials.

Now the latest proposal for the 360-student, arts-oriented school in Clifton Heights that would open in September is being met with skepticism from district officials. Various community leaders believe it is also not needed and would only take away funds from the district’s traditional public schools.

Upper Darby currently pays around $6 million to send students to charter schools in Chester or Philadelphia or for online education for students at cyber-charters.

Read more about the proposed charter school in the Philadelphia Inquirer by clicking here.