The Ohio Department of Education (ODE) has issued a letter of approval to the Wilmington Christian Academy in a key step toward the school becoming chartered.

Now in its third year, the kindergarten through eighth-grade school will have to operate for at least a year in a trial period, in accordance with the state of Ohio chartering process.

“A lot of people worked really hard to bring us to this point. We have wonderful families and wonderful teachers and staff members and so we’re all very excited, and we feel like we are heading in the right direction. We’re excited about the future,” said Administrator Brian Tubbs.

To reach this point of the process, an ODE representative made two on-site visits, sitting in and observing classes. The ODE also reviewed what the school’s curriculum offers in terms of scope and sequence, as well as how the courses are taught and what the school’s expectations are for students.

After the completion of the one-year trial period, the school then can request ODE make a third on-site visit to make sure it’s still in compliance and on track and at that juncture ODE can go ahead and fully charter the Wilmington Christian Academy, said Tubbs.

Being chartered does two things, according to Tubbs.

First, a charter testifies to the community that a school’s educational standards and practices are in line with chartered schools in the state.

“It’s a good quality assurance measure to our parents,” Tubbs said.

And second, being chartered will make the school eligible for some financial reimbursement from the state for educational and administrative-related costs, he added.

Tubbs, who assumed the administrator position in January 2008, said this year there are 45 students — the highest enrollment yet — and the school is on tap to get two more students this week.