CSP as the model for the Loudoun Gulen Charter School (LMITA)
CapitalGazette.com, June 7, 2012: "...a county schools audit of CSP raised concerns about transparency and errors in student transcripts and in accounting for public money the school receives. The audit found that school officials used money meant for capital projects to run the school.“It’s not illegal, I don’t think, but it doesn’t pass the sniff test,” Lane said.
Auditors also looked at a sampling of 10 of the high school’s 80 students. Of those 10, seven had major issues, Lane said. Some students are taking advanced math classes without first passing courses in the basics required for graduation.
“We have kids at CSP now that didn’t take Algebra 1,” Lane said. “You can’t forget he still owes that before he graduates.”
(above) Students at a Gulen school in Istanbul sing the Turkish National
Anthem
------------------------------------------------------------
Chesapeake Science Point: Timeline & Information
June 23, 2012
Chesapeake Science Point (CSP) is a publicly-funded Gulen charter school in Hanover, Anne Arundel County, Maryland. The story of CSP
contains all the typical elements of Gulen charter schools: problems with special education and record-keeping, failure to comply with regulations; troubling audits; obstructionism; legal threats; abuse of staff and teachers; sudden appearances of Gulenists arriving from charter schools in other states; support from Americans who have a strong ideological commitment to charter
schools; and awards at "international competitions" that are touted as if they should cause everyone to overlook all other issues. In fact, this school
already had serious problems before the first student even walked through the
door.
TIMELINE:
June 2012
Chesapeake Science Point files a lawsuit against Anne
Arundel County Public Schools alleging they are owed more than
$737,000, while negotiations over CSP's renewal charter contract
continue. Link
June 6, 2012
Chesapeake Science Point's charter is renewed by
Anne Arundel County Board of Education for 3 years, but under
conditions that bear on the school's hiring, admissions process, and governing
board. Link
Jan 2012
An application for a charter school to be named Loudoun
Math and IT Academy, in Loudoun, Virginia, shows Fatih Kandil as member
of the board.
Aug 2011
(Mehmet) Ilker Gurbuz replaces Fatih Kandil as CSP
principal. Gurbuz was formerly principal of Baltimore IT Academy. CSP
adds a 10th grade.
Aug
2010
CSP starts school year with new 9th grade in addition to
grades 6-8 which it had the previous year.
June
2010
CSP student wins silver medal at INESPO science fair
in Amsterdam. INESPO is run by the Cosmicus Foundation, affiliated with
the Gulen Movement. A June 2011 article in a high-circulation Dutch
newspaper reported how 3/4 of INESPO participants came from Gulen schools.
The student qualified to attend INESPO by winning a gold medal at ISWEEEP
science fair, also run by the Gulen Movement. Link
April
29, 2010
Fatih Kandil, principal of Chesapeake Science
Point, and Ben Karaduman, later to become Board President of Chesapeake
Lighthouse Foundation, appear before Delaware Department of Education and
State Board of Education in connection with the charter application for
First State Math and Science Academy. Kandil identifies himself as a member of
the board for First State Math and Science Academy.
April
2010
CSP student wins gold medal at ISWEEEP, a science fair
organized by the Cosmos Foundation, which runs the Harmony Public Schools in
Texas and has been linked to the Gulen Movement in two New York Times
articles.(ISWEEEP has a disproportionate number of winners
from Gulen schools, not only in the US but around the
world.)
Aug
18, 2009
CSP moves into new building, made possible
partially by a $250,000 grant from Anne Arundel County, on the initiative of
County Executive John R. Leopold, "a known advocate for charter schools"
(Maryland Gazette, May 23, 2009). (As an
aside, Leopold was indicted on Mar 2, 2012 on "four counts of misconduct in
office and one count of misappropriation of county funds;" see Baltimore Sun.)
Mar
2008
CSP put on probation until June 2009 due to bookkeeping and
management issues. Principal Fatih Kandil and teacher Ali Tuna, previously
removed from their positions due to charges of student abuse, are
reinstated.
Feb
23, 2008
Deadline for Chesapeake Science Point to address five
issues identified by Anne Arundel Public Schools, or face extended probation or
closure. As Baltimore Sun article states, "The school has
wrestled with critical audits since it opened in September 2005 that have found
inadequate records of special education students' progress, weak finances and
personnel problems."
August
2008
CSP starts school year without 9th grade; school is
scaled back to only 6th-8th grades.
Jan
2008
CSP given one month to "cure" (county
official's word) problems with management and to hire a special education
teacher.
August
2007
CSP starts school year with a new 9th grade; in previous
year it had only grades 6-8.
Aug
15, 2007
Anne Arundel County Public Schools approves the
reassignment of Fatih Kandil from Site Manager to Acting Principal.
Feb 7,
2007
By unanimous vote, Anne Arundel County Board of
Education votes to extend CSP's probation; charter violations found in November
and apparently not yet satisfactorily addressed are a factor in the
decision.
Nov
2006
Anne Arundel County audits CSP and performs site
inspection. Several charter violations are
discovered.
June
21, 2006
A largely negative report on CSP's progress
towards complying with its charter is presented to the Anne Arundel County
School Board. "Chesapeake Science Point did not meet the school systems'
standards in special education, student support services, student records and
reporting, personnel and fiscal matters" (Baltimore Sun). CSP board members seek to
replace the acting principal with Fatih Kandil, who began working at
CSP as a volunteer less than a year after founding Horizon Science Academy
Dayton, a Gulen charter school in Ohio. (Prior to that, Kandil had worked at
Wisconsin Career Academy, another Gulen charter school.) County officials are
concerned that Kandil lacks experience (it is not clear whether Kandil disclosed
his prior position at Wisconsin Career Academy to them). Further, Kandil is not
certified by the state for the position of school principal. "Walter
Federowicz, the school system's auditor, told the board that it has been
difficult to get appropriate documentation from Chesapeake..." (Baltimore Sun). It is unclear whether the school
will be allowed to remain open.
Mar
2006
CSP principal and director Ozcan "Jon" Omural is
replaced by Karen Keyworth, a former principal of another school, who becomes
acting principal. David Hill, also a former principal, is appointed as acting
Dean of Students. The problems were precipitated by the resignation of the Dean
of Students, who then wrote a critical letter. Teachers then filed a complaint
about mistreatment. It was found that Omural lacked state certification to be
principal. County officials also found the school site to be unacceptably
dirty.
Sep
6, 2005
Chesapeake Science Point opens with 112
students in 6th and 7th grade. The school opens 8 days late, due to issues such
as not meeting Fire Department standards, not having a certificate of occupancy
and not providing proof of insurance. Director is Ozcan "Jon" Omural, who
would later leave to work for Ebru TV (a Gulenist media
outlet).
NEWSPAPER ARTICLES:
For those articles with text no longer available online,
try newslibrary.com.
June 21, 2012 Maryland Gazette
"Chesapeake Science Point charter school files lawsuit against
schools" Link
June
10, 2012 Baltimore Sun "Arundel school must comply with
still-to-be-negotiated charter or be dissolvedChesapeake Science Point allowed
to expand high school program but is put on two years' probation" Link
June
6, 2012 Washington Post "Should Chesapeake Science Point have its charter
extended?" Link
June
5, 2012 Capital Gazette "Battle brews over charter's ability to
run school" Link
May 17, 2012 Capital
Gazette "Report: Charter high school may not be viable.
Sloppy business practices criticized as Chesapeake Charter
up for renewal" Link
Dec 29, 2011
Baltimore Sun "Chesapeake Science Point readying for 11th-grade expansion" Link
April
2, 2011 Maryland Gazette "Chesapeake Science Point keeps growing
despite county criticism" (no longer available
online)
May
12, 2010 Maryland Gazette "Chesapeake Science Point wins charter school
of year" Link (full text
no longer available online)
Dec
22, 2009 McClatchy-Tribune Regional News "Financial woes could sink
charter school: Chesapeake Science Point needs to expand" (no
longer available online)
Dec
21, 2009 Maryland Gazette "Charter School Could Go Bankrupt. Chesapeake
Science Point Leaders Say Expand or School Can't Make Rent" Link (full text
no longer available online)
August
19, 2009Baltimore Sun "Charter School Opens Building. Chesapeake
Science Point Often Struggled As Students Excelled" Link
May
23, 2009 Maryland Gazette "Charter school to move to new building next
year" (no longer available
online)
Mar
5, 2009 McClatchy-Tribune Regional News "Charter school expansion
halted: Board also approves restructuring at Annapolis Middle" (no
longer available online)
Mar
1, 2008 Maryland Gazette "Chesapeake Science Point escapes with
caveat" Link
Jan
27, 2008 Baltimore Sun "Deadline nears for school on probation,
Chesapeake Science Point Charter in Hanover faces possible closure if
deficiencies aren't corrected" Link
Jan
23, 2008 Baltimore Sun "School facing continued probation. Maxwell
calls Chesapeake Science Point improved but says it has a way to go" Link
Jan
21, 2008 Maryland Gazette "Guest Column: County Fulfilling
Responsibilities Regarding Charter School" Link
Dec
2, 2007 Baltimore Sun "Last charter school defends its performance.
Chesapeake Science Point complains about audits by county" Link
Feb
10, 2007 Maryland Gazette
"Board expresses support, doubt for charter school" (no
longer available online)
Feb
3, 2007 Maryland Gazette "Probation extended for school" (no
longer available online)
June
23, 2006 Baltimore Sun "Charter Decision Stalled: School Board Could
Vote on Closing Troubled Hanover Site in July" Link
April 21, 2006
Baltimore Sun "Charter schools struggle to survive: Problems with locations,
administrators, highlight challenges to starting an institution. Missteps
reveal challenges to starting a charter school" Link
Mar
14, 2006 Baltimore Sun "Charter School Under Scrutiny: Teachers Allege
Mistreatment; Leader Suspended" Link
Sep
7, 2005 Baltimore Sun "Chesapeake Science Point almost didn't
open. But after a last-minute scramble to get the building ready, pupils were
yesterday's final addition to the science and math charter
school." Link
Aug
31, 2005 Baltimore Sun "Charter school may face year
delay, Certificate of occupancy needed by tomorrow for Tuesday opening
Chesapeake Science Point still is renovating" Link
ASSOCIATED SCHOOLS AND UMBRELLA
ORGANIZATIONS
Chesapeake Science Point's
charter holder corporation is the Chesapeake Lighthouse Foundation, which also
runs Baltimore IT Academy and Chesapeake Math and IT Academy.
The
following charter schools are said to be modeled after CSP:
Gulen charter schools in the Mid-Atlantic
states, including Maryland and North Carolina, contract with WEDUF, the
Washington Education Foundation, an organization that Ben Karaduman is/was
associated with. Link
"INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIONS"
In common with
other Gulen charter schools, CSP advertises itself as having won recognition at
"international competitions." The competitions referred to are ISWEEEP, INESPO,
the Turkish Language Olympiads, and the EMC2 math competition at Phillips Exeter
Academy (to the best of our knowledge, these are the only ones).
A few
examples of how CSP boasts of "international" recognition:
ISWEEEP,
INESPO, and the Turkish Language Olympiads are all run by the Gulen Movement,
and favor Gulen schools. ISWEEEP is run by the Cosmos Foundation, which the New
York Times connected to the Gulen Movement. INESPO is run by the Cosmicus
Foundation, also Gulenist. The Gulen Movement clearly has a financial interest
in using the competitions it operates to generate awards for students at its own
schools.
GRANTS (including other
schools run by Chesapeake Lighthouse Foundation)
Chesapeake
Science Point $250,000
As reported by Maryland Gazette, May 23, 2009,
$250,000 grant from Anne Arundel County, on the initiative of County Executive
John R. Leopold, "a known advocate for charter schools."
Baltimore
IT Academy $1,392,235
Document from Maryland
Public Schools website: "Based on its approved SIG [School Improvement
Grant] Plan, Baltimore IT Academy will receive $465,091.00, in the first year;
$463,572.00, in the second year; and $463,572.00, in the third year. The 3
year SIG grant totals $1,392,235.00 for Baltimore IT Academy." Link
Chesapeake
Math & IT Academy $550,000
CMIT (Chesapeake Math and IT Academy)
received a $550,000 start-up grant from the state of Maryland. Link
Auditors also looked at a sampling of 10 of the high school’s 80 students. Of those 10, seven had major issues, Lane said. Some students are taking advanced math classes without first passing courses in the basics required for graduation.
“We have kids at CSP now that didn’t take Algebra 1,” Lane said. “You can’t forget he still owes that before he graduates.”
(above) Students at a Gulen school in Istanbul sing the Turkish National
Anthem
------------------------------------------------------------
Chesapeake Science Point: Timeline & Information
June 23, 2012
Chesapeake Science Point (CSP) is a publicly-funded Gulen charter school in Hanover, Anne Arundel County, Maryland. The story of CSP
contains all the typical elements of Gulen charter schools: problems with special education and record-keeping, failure to comply with regulations; troubling audits; obstructionism; legal threats; abuse of staff and teachers; sudden appearances of Gulenists arriving from charter schools in other states; support from Americans who have a strong ideological commitment to charter
schools; and awards at "international competitions" that are touted as if they should cause everyone to overlook all other issues. In fact, this school
already had serious problems before the first student even walked through the
door.
TIMELINE:
June 2012
Chesapeake Science Point files a lawsuit against Anne
Arundel County Public Schools alleging they are owed more than
$737,000, while negotiations over CSP's renewal charter contract
continue. Link
June 6, 2012
Chesapeake Science Point's charter is renewed by
Anne Arundel County Board of Education for 3 years, but under
conditions that bear on the school's hiring, admissions process, and governing
board. Link
Jan 2012
An application for a charter school to be named Loudoun
Math and IT Academy, in Loudoun, Virginia, shows Fatih Kandil as member
of the board.
Aug 2011
(Mehmet) Ilker Gurbuz replaces Fatih Kandil as CSP
principal. Gurbuz was formerly principal of Baltimore IT Academy. CSP
adds a 10th grade.
Aug
2010
CSP starts school year with new 9th grade in addition to
grades 6-8 which it had the previous year.
June
2010
CSP student wins silver medal at INESPO science fair
in Amsterdam. INESPO is run by the Cosmicus Foundation, affiliated with
the Gulen Movement. A June 2011 article in a high-circulation Dutch
newspaper reported how 3/4 of INESPO participants came from Gulen schools.
The student qualified to attend INESPO by winning a gold medal at ISWEEEP
science fair, also run by the Gulen Movement. Link
April
29, 2010
Fatih Kandil, principal of Chesapeake Science
Point, and Ben Karaduman, later to become Board President of Chesapeake
Lighthouse Foundation, appear before Delaware Department of Education and
State Board of Education in connection with the charter application for
First State Math and Science Academy. Kandil identifies himself as a member of
the board for First State Math and Science Academy.
April
2010
CSP student wins gold medal at ISWEEEP, a science fair
organized by the Cosmos Foundation, which runs the Harmony Public Schools in
Texas and has been linked to the Gulen Movement in two New York Times
articles.(ISWEEEP has a disproportionate number of winners
from Gulen schools, not only in the US but around the
world.)
Aug
18, 2009
CSP moves into new building, made possible
partially by a $250,000 grant from Anne Arundel County, on the initiative of
County Executive John R. Leopold, "a known advocate for charter schools"
(Maryland Gazette, May 23, 2009). (As an
aside, Leopold was indicted on Mar 2, 2012 on "four counts of misconduct in
office and one count of misappropriation of county funds;" see Baltimore Sun.)
Mar
2008
CSP put on probation until June 2009 due to bookkeeping and
management issues. Principal Fatih Kandil and teacher Ali Tuna, previously
removed from their positions due to charges of student abuse, are
reinstated.
Feb
23, 2008
Deadline for Chesapeake Science Point to address five
issues identified by Anne Arundel Public Schools, or face extended probation or
closure. As Baltimore Sun article states, "The school has
wrestled with critical audits since it opened in September 2005 that have found
inadequate records of special education students' progress, weak finances and
personnel problems."
August
2008
CSP starts school year without 9th grade; school is
scaled back to only 6th-8th grades.
Jan
2008
CSP given one month to "cure" (county
official's word) problems with management and to hire a special education
teacher.
August
2007
CSP starts school year with a new 9th grade; in previous
year it had only grades 6-8.
Aug
15, 2007
Anne Arundel County Public Schools approves the
reassignment of Fatih Kandil from Site Manager to Acting Principal.
Feb 7,
2007
By unanimous vote, Anne Arundel County Board of
Education votes to extend CSP's probation; charter violations found in November
and apparently not yet satisfactorily addressed are a factor in the
decision.
Nov
2006
Anne Arundel County audits CSP and performs site
inspection. Several charter violations are
discovered.
June
21, 2006
A largely negative report on CSP's progress
towards complying with its charter is presented to the Anne Arundel County
School Board. "Chesapeake Science Point did not meet the school systems'
standards in special education, student support services, student records and
reporting, personnel and fiscal matters" (Baltimore Sun). CSP board members seek to
replace the acting principal with Fatih Kandil, who began working at
CSP as a volunteer less than a year after founding Horizon Science Academy
Dayton, a Gulen charter school in Ohio. (Prior to that, Kandil had worked at
Wisconsin Career Academy, another Gulen charter school.) County officials are
concerned that Kandil lacks experience (it is not clear whether Kandil disclosed
his prior position at Wisconsin Career Academy to them). Further, Kandil is not
certified by the state for the position of school principal. "Walter
Federowicz, the school system's auditor, told the board that it has been
difficult to get appropriate documentation from Chesapeake..." (Baltimore Sun). It is unclear whether the school
will be allowed to remain open.
Mar
2006
CSP principal and director Ozcan "Jon" Omural is
replaced by Karen Keyworth, a former principal of another school, who becomes
acting principal. David Hill, also a former principal, is appointed as acting
Dean of Students. The problems were precipitated by the resignation of the Dean
of Students, who then wrote a critical letter. Teachers then filed a complaint
about mistreatment. It was found that Omural lacked state certification to be
principal. County officials also found the school site to be unacceptably
dirty.
Sep
6, 2005
Chesapeake Science Point opens with 112
students in 6th and 7th grade. The school opens 8 days late, due to issues such
as not meeting Fire Department standards, not having a certificate of occupancy
and not providing proof of insurance. Director is Ozcan "Jon" Omural, who
would later leave to work for Ebru TV (a Gulenist media
outlet).
NEWSPAPER ARTICLES:
For those articles with text no longer available online,
try newslibrary.com.
June 21, 2012 Maryland Gazette
"Chesapeake Science Point charter school files lawsuit against
schools" Link
June
10, 2012 Baltimore Sun "Arundel school must comply with
still-to-be-negotiated charter or be dissolvedChesapeake Science Point allowed
to expand high school program but is put on two years' probation" Link
June
6, 2012 Washington Post "Should Chesapeake Science Point have its charter
extended?" Link
June
5, 2012 Capital Gazette "Battle brews over charter's ability to
run school" Link
May 17, 2012 Capital
Gazette "Report: Charter high school may not be viable.
Sloppy business practices criticized as Chesapeake Charter
up for renewal" Link
Dec 29, 2011
Baltimore Sun "Chesapeake Science Point readying for 11th-grade expansion" Link
April
2, 2011 Maryland Gazette "Chesapeake Science Point keeps growing
despite county criticism" (no longer available
online)
May
12, 2010 Maryland Gazette "Chesapeake Science Point wins charter school
of year" Link (full text
no longer available online)
Dec
22, 2009 McClatchy-Tribune Regional News "Financial woes could sink
charter school: Chesapeake Science Point needs to expand" (no
longer available online)
Dec
21, 2009 Maryland Gazette "Charter School Could Go Bankrupt. Chesapeake
Science Point Leaders Say Expand or School Can't Make Rent" Link (full text
no longer available online)
August
19, 2009Baltimore Sun "Charter School Opens Building. Chesapeake
Science Point Often Struggled As Students Excelled" Link
May
23, 2009 Maryland Gazette "Charter school to move to new building next
year" (no longer available
online)
Mar
5, 2009 McClatchy-Tribune Regional News "Charter school expansion
halted: Board also approves restructuring at Annapolis Middle" (no
longer available online)
Mar
1, 2008 Maryland Gazette "Chesapeake Science Point escapes with
caveat" Link
Jan
27, 2008 Baltimore Sun "Deadline nears for school on probation,
Chesapeake Science Point Charter in Hanover faces possible closure if
deficiencies aren't corrected" Link
Jan
23, 2008 Baltimore Sun "School facing continued probation. Maxwell
calls Chesapeake Science Point improved but says it has a way to go" Link
Jan
21, 2008 Maryland Gazette "Guest Column: County Fulfilling
Responsibilities Regarding Charter School" Link
Dec
2, 2007 Baltimore Sun "Last charter school defends its performance.
Chesapeake Science Point complains about audits by county" Link
Feb
10, 2007 Maryland Gazette
"Board expresses support, doubt for charter school" (no
longer available online)
Feb
3, 2007 Maryland Gazette "Probation extended for school" (no
longer available online)
June
23, 2006 Baltimore Sun "Charter Decision Stalled: School Board Could
Vote on Closing Troubled Hanover Site in July" Link
April 21, 2006
Baltimore Sun "Charter schools struggle to survive: Problems with locations,
administrators, highlight challenges to starting an institution. Missteps
reveal challenges to starting a charter school" Link
Mar
14, 2006 Baltimore Sun "Charter School Under Scrutiny: Teachers Allege
Mistreatment; Leader Suspended" Link
Sep
7, 2005 Baltimore Sun "Chesapeake Science Point almost didn't
open. But after a last-minute scramble to get the building ready, pupils were
yesterday's final addition to the science and math charter
school." Link
Aug
31, 2005 Baltimore Sun "Charter school may face year
delay, Certificate of occupancy needed by tomorrow for Tuesday opening
Chesapeake Science Point still is renovating" Link
ASSOCIATED SCHOOLS AND UMBRELLA
ORGANIZATIONS
Chesapeake Science Point's
charter holder corporation is the Chesapeake Lighthouse Foundation, which also
runs Baltimore IT Academy and Chesapeake Math and IT Academy.
The
following charter schools are said to be modeled after CSP:
- Baltimore IT Academy (opened 2011)
- Chesapeake Math and IT Academy (opened 2011)
- Loudoun Math and IT Academy, Loudoun VA (currently applying for a
charter) - First State Math and Science Academy, Delaware (this school never
materialized)
Gulen charter schools in the Mid-Atlantic
states, including Maryland and North Carolina, contract with WEDUF, the
Washington Education Foundation, an organization that Ben Karaduman is/was
associated with. Link
"INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIONS"
In common with
other Gulen charter schools, CSP advertises itself as having won recognition at
"international competitions." The competitions referred to are ISWEEEP, INESPO,
the Turkish Language Olympiads, and the EMC2 math competition at Phillips Exeter
Academy (to the best of our knowledge, these are the only ones).
A few
examples of how CSP boasts of "international" recognition:
- Fatih Kandil, speaking at a meeting of the Delaware State Board of
Education on April 29, 2010 to appeal the denial of the charter application of
First State Math & Science Academy, stated that "Chesapeake Science
Point Public Charter School was established in 2005. And in the five years, it
has accomplished local, state, national and international
accomplishments in terms of math, science and technology." - A Feb 1, 2011 press release from CSP about the success at the EMC2
competition quoted a parent as saying "Our team competed very well in this
tournament and gained a lot of experience in this international
level competition." As noted elsewhere in the press release, the only
non-US teams attending the competition were 4 teams from China. Only one of these teams placed in the top
rankings in any of the categories; all other winning teams were from the US.
Describing this competition as "international" seems exaggerated. - An April 6, 2011 article in the Capital Gazette stated "The
school has one of the largest science fairs in the state and its students have
won honors in national and international
math and science competitions."
ISWEEEP,
INESPO, and the Turkish Language Olympiads are all run by the Gulen Movement,
and favor Gulen schools. ISWEEEP is run by the Cosmos Foundation, which the New
York Times connected to the Gulen Movement. INESPO is run by the Cosmicus
Foundation, also Gulenist. The Gulen Movement clearly has a financial interest
in using the competitions it operates to generate awards for students at its own
schools.
GRANTS (including other
schools run by Chesapeake Lighthouse Foundation)
Chesapeake
Science Point $250,000
As reported by Maryland Gazette, May 23, 2009,
$250,000 grant from Anne Arundel County, on the initiative of County Executive
John R. Leopold, "a known advocate for charter schools."
Baltimore
IT Academy $1,392,235
Document from Maryland
Public Schools website: "Based on its approved SIG [School Improvement
Grant] Plan, Baltimore IT Academy will receive $465,091.00, in the first year;
$463,572.00, in the second year; and $463,572.00, in the third year. The 3
year SIG grant totals $1,392,235.00 for Baltimore IT Academy." Link
Chesapeake
Math & IT Academy $550,000
CMIT (Chesapeake Math and IT Academy)
received a $550,000 start-up grant from the state of Maryland. Link