Community Development Through Education

The charter school will require students to have five internships each year.
 

It will be called “Future Frontiers”, but it won’t have it’s own physical high school building and won’t be exclusively virtual.

Students will take four academic classes at a high school or at a community college.

But 60% of their time at school will actually be at an internship.

Ryan Cunningham said it couldn’t do this kind of innovative approach within its normal structure because of all the rules.
 

And public charter schools in Iowa can operate without as much regulation.
 

“That doesn’t mean the system itself is broken. It’s just harder. It turns a little bit slower and the charter allows some of the waiver aspects,” Ryan Cunningham said.
 

The goal is to eventually allow anyone in the state to apply for the charter school - allowing them to be interns in whatever region they live in.

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In year one Sumner-Fredericksburg hopes to serve 30 students at Future Frontiers.

It said it plans to welcome its first class next school year.

https://www.kcrg.com/2026/01/15/sumner-fredericksburg-school-district-approved-new-charter-school-with-focus-internships/ 

Superintendent Contact: Ryan Cunningham
Email: cunninghamr@sfcougars.k12.ia.us