Nuestro Mundo Community School was started by a grass-roots movement and a team of dedicated advocates.

What follows is a brief summary of the early days of Nuestro Mundo, Inc.

2001

Summer

• Dual language elementary charter school concept is presented to a small group of parents and educators as a strategy to help address lagging outcomes for Latino students. Informal committee organizes monthly meetings to assess the need for a charter school in our community.

2002

January

• First meeting of the “Friends of Nuestro Mundo Community School Project” convenes 30 community members to discuss the need for the charter school and begins to draft the initial charter proposal.

February

• Committee attends the Institute for the Transformation of Learning at Marquette University in Milwaukee to begin drafting their strategic plan.

April

• Writing groups compose the initial charter school proposal draft.

May

• City-wide fundraiser is held at Samantha’s Café.

May-June

• Individual meetings are held with members of the Madison Metropolitan School District to discuss their questions and identify their philosophical positions and hear their suggestions about the proposed charter school.

July

• Nuestro Mundo Community School Project Executive Committee and Leadership Team is formed and incorporated as the Nuestro Mundo Community School Project (NMCSP) Inc.
• Leadership Team organizes monthly community meetings at various locations around the city to share progress and solicit feedback. NMCSP volunteers to advance the project.

August

• Strategic Planning workshops are held to plot the general direction of the project through the opening of the school in 2004.

September

• NMCSP Leadership Team and supporters present the school’s vision to MMSD to establish lines of communication. A liaison is selected to serve between district administration and members of NMCSP. The members of MMSD, NMCSP and the Board of Education determine how technical assistance will be provided between the 3 entities.

November

• City-wide friends of NMCSP participate in a school design workshop.

2003

January

• NMCSP Leadership Team acquires official endorsements of community members.

March

• The Board of Education amends the school district charter school policy and procedures to review charter school planning grant application.

April

• NMCSP and South Madison Library collaborate and implement a dual language day camp.

September

• NMCSP holds community meeting at LaFollette High School plans to win the support of the Board of Education for the charter school proposal.

October

• Nuestro Mundo, Inc. Board of Directors meets for the first time.

November

• Nuestro Mundo, Inc. elects officers and meets with members of the Board of Education to discuss proposal.

2004

June

• NMI wins “Best of Madison Editor’s Choice Award” from Madison Magazine and WISC-TV, Channel 3.

August

• First Site Leadership Council meets under direction of NMI executives and NMCS Director.

September

• NMSC opens it doors

November

• NMI 501 c-3 status is approved by Federal IRS.

December

• Certificate of Exemption from Wisconsin Sales and Use Tax granted by WI Dept. of Revenue.
• NMI Strategic Planning creates mission and vision and begins to set priorities for 2005.

2005

February

• Open enrollment for NMCS.
• Internal Transfer – all grades

March

• Kindergarten registration.