With the official support of the Sardis Elementary School community, the school is now one step closer to becoming a charter school in the 2009-10 school year.

Both students’ parents and the staff of Sardis Elementary voted Thursday to continue working with the school system toward charter status.

The Schoolwide Enrichment Model charter would allow children to be grouped based on their interests and talents, enabling teachers to implement the state curriculum through the vehicle of students’ curiosities.

The state Board of Education soon will review the Schoolwide Enrichment Model charter proposal. If the board approves the charter, it could be implemented next year with the assistance of at least $100,00 in state or federal funds.

Sardis Elementary School would be the district’s second charter school after the World Language Academy, which the state recently awarded $200,000 for charter implementation assistance.