Three years ago, Gabriella's Place, a dance studio serving the largely immigrant community of Pico Union, was forced to close. While the neighborhood hoped for it to return, the list of would be dancers grew to 2,300 names long. LA Times reporter Esmeralda Bermudez reports that the new studio was made possible through a community partnership between Liza Bercovic executive director of the Gabriella Axelrad Education Foundation and Camino Nuevo Charter Academy founder Philip Lance here.

In other headlines... 

CO: Recently unveiled plans to consolidate Denver Public School facilities are getting mixed reviews from families. Denver Post blogger KPiper dispels some charter school myths that have erupted in the city, and explains how charter schools add to, not detract from, DPS in this regular blog.

GA: Coweta County's career academy has entered talks with Liberty County Schools District to plan a charter school program focused on strengthening the community's work force. Lauren Hunsberger of the Coastal Courier writes that success measures for the new program include reducing the drop-out rate and bringing new industry to the area here.

WI: Linda Dawson former assistant superintendent of Appleton charter schools, Sean Schuff of Tesla Engineering Charter School and Al Brant principal of Kaleidoscope Academy have all been nominated for the Charter Person of the Year Award. Post Crescent staff writer Kathy Walsh Nufer reports on these and other nominations for Wisconsin Charter Schools Association's inaugural Charter Schools Awards banquet here.