IDEA has lost its two founders, who began in remote South Texas in 2000

[Johann]

...They basically are able to get kids up to par or ready for AP/IB if they wanted the extra academic challenges.   
Link: IDEA charter network rebounding after leadership stumble - The Washington Post

No - I think it's compulsory. From the article:

"All high school students are required to take AP or IB courses and exams. According to Garza, 100 percent of graduating seniors have been accepted to college in the last 15 years. This past fall 99 percent showed up. Seventy-four percent of them are the first in their family to attend college." (Emphasis mine - J)

That's spectacular! But I'm in favour of doing it without boxes at stadiums etc. Siphoning off education money for that sort of thing is wrong as hell. Hopefully, the present leaders have put a stop to it.