The newly formed North Bay Educational Foundation, which is trying to open a pre-kindergarten to eighth-grade charter school in Novato, is extending its deadline for intent to enroll to Aug. 31 after receiving an outpouring of community interest.

Robert Verhoeff and Mary-Jayne Lonson, parents of Novato schoolchildren and directors of the group, hope the Novato Unified School District approves their request to open a charter school by fall of next year.

The proposed charter school will offer a curriculum supplied by the Core Knowledge Foundation, which holds that an explicit, grade-by-grade core of common learning is necessary for a good education.

The Core Knowledge curriculum model is an innovative, research-based program that has a proven record of equipping all students with the academic skills and personal values they need to compete in the areas of communication, fine arts, technology, mathematics and scientific innovation, Lonson said.

The number of preliminary intent-to-enroll submissions gathered in such a short time reflects the excitement parents feel when they learn about the charter schools curriculum and methodology, Lonson said.

Ideally, with this data, NBEF will be able to accommodate all interested students on the first day of school, Verhoeff said.

The NBEF began accepting preliminary intent-to-enroll forms July 15 in order to provide data for budgeting and facilities planning when the charter petition is presented to the NUSD for review in September or October. Extending the deadline also reduces the potential for a lottery enrollment process, which according to California law, is implemented if too many people want to apply and the facility is too small.

If the NUSD denies us, we have to go to the county, Lonson said. If the county denies us, we have to go to the state. In order to open in August 2013, NBEF will submit its petition, including signatures, with intent to register with NUSD as early as September.

The official intent-to-enroll form will be available for signature as soon as the petition review process is complete.

Lonson and Verhoeff teamed up after years of active participation in their childrens educational upbringing.

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