We've always been known as being leaders in training teachers and educators. This we see as a natural extension of that, offering more opportunities in education for students and families.

It was easy to coach. They just kind of went out and did their thing. They were great leaders, the three of them together.

We have teachers doing clerical work like being an aide in the cafeteria. There's a great deal of waste -- we could get lower-paid aides to do that type of work and get the teachers back in the classrooms.

Overall they had been doing very well, especially as they've been around longer the students continue to do better. They are finding that the students who have a long-term commitment to charter schools are showing improvement, especially in the ISTEP.

KIPP has a really great national reputation for working with students in grades five through eight. Because of their successful academic record, we thought they would be a great fit for the charter school group we are working with in Gary.

Early registration not only provides smooth transition into the schools but helps us to find highly qualified teachers because teachers are allocated based on enrollment.