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Municipal Services Education department to review new charter school proposals
State education officials have invited proponents of eight new charter schools to submit final applications for public hearings and review and possible approval early next year.
Final applications are due to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education by Nov. 13. The schools that are approved could open as soon as next fall.
The eight schools would be located in cities and towns across the state, with a maximum total enrollment of 2,153 students.
The largest proposed school, the Road to Success Charter High School, would draw students from Lynn, Peabody and Salem, with a maximum enrollment of 400 students in grades 9-12. Two new charter schools would be located in Worcester, with enrollments totaling up to 475 students. Western Massachusetts would be home to two new charter schools.
The MMA estimates that more than $25 million would be deducted from local education aid payments in fiscal 2011 if all eight schools are approved and open with full enrollments next year. Sixty-eight cities and towns would face school aid deductions either directly or indirectly (through membership in a regional school district). Quincy would lose more than $4.5 million, based on MMA estimates, and Worcester would lose more than $5 million.
Under school finance law, school aid deductions are scheduled to be covered in full by the state in the first year and by a declining percentage in later years, although state reimbursements for charter school-related school aid losses are subject to annual legislative appropriation in the state budget.
Under education department regulations, staff will review and evaluate any final applications according to criteria outlined in regulations and proposed in the charter application. The department will conduct interviews with applicants to assess their qualifications to operate a charter school.
The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education will hold public hearings on applications and review comments. The education board is scheduled to vote on charter school applications in February.
According to the education department, 62 charter schools are now operating in Massachusetts. Fifty-five are private charter schools, called Commonwealth charter schools, which are separate from the local public school system, and five are in-district Horace Mann charter schools, which are part of local public school systems.
About 25,000 students attend charter schools statewide. Most charter schools are small, with enrollments below 500 students.
Proposed new charter schools
• Discovery Charter School of Sustainability, Franklin County, K-6, 260 students
• Hanlin International Academy Charter School, Quincy, 6-12, 308 students
• Housatonic River Charter School, Berkshire County, 7-12, 240 students
• Leaders of Tomorrow Charter Public School, Worcester, 6-8, 270 students
• Lynn Preparatory School, Lynn, K-8, 250 students
• Rediscovery Academy Charter School, 30 cities and towns in eastern Massachusetts, 9-12, 150 students
• Road to Success Charter High School, Lynn, Peabody and Salem, 9-12, 400 students
• Spirit of Knowledge Academy Charter School, Worcester, 7-12, 275 students
Source: Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Municipal Services Education department to review new charter school proposals
Education department to review new charter school proposals
State education officials have invited proponents of eight new charter schools to submit final applications for public hearings and review and possible approval early next year.
Final applications are due to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education by Nov. 13. The schools that are approved could open as soon as next fall.
The eight schools would be located in cities and towns across the state, with a maximum total enrollment of 2,153 students.
The largest proposed school, the Road to Success Charter High School, would draw students from Lynn, Peabody and Salem, with a maximum enrollment of 400 students in grades 9-12. Two new charter schools would be located in Worcester, with enrollments totaling up to 475 students. Western Massachusetts would be home to two new charter schools.
The MMA estimates that more than $25 million would be deducted from local education aid payments in fiscal 2011 if all eight schools are approved and open with full enrollments next year. Sixty-eight cities and towns would face school aid deductions either directly or indirectly (through membership in a regional school district). Quincy would lose more than $4.5 million, based on MMA estimates, and Worcester would lose more than $5 million.
Under school finance law, school aid deductions are scheduled to be covered in full by the state in the first year and by a declining percentage in later years, although state reimbursements for charter school-related school aid losses are subject to annual legislative appropriation in the state budget.
Under education department regulations, staff will review and evaluate any final applications according to criteria outlined in regulations and proposed in the charter application. The department will conduct interviews with applicants to assess their qualifications to operate a charter school.
The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education will hold public hearings on applications and review comments. The education board is scheduled to vote on charter school applications in February.
According to the education department, 62 charter schools are now operating in Massachusetts. Fifty-five are private charter schools, called Commonwealth charter schools, which are separate from the local public school system, and five are in-district Horace Mann charter schools, which are part of local public school systems.
About 25,000 students attend charter schools statewide. Most charter schools are small, with enrollments below 500 students.
Proposed new charter schools
• Discovery Charter School of Sustainability, Franklin County, K-6, 260 students
• Hanlin International Academy Charter School, Quincy, 6-12, 308 students
• Housatonic River Charter School, Berkshire County, 7-12, 240 students
• Leaders of Tomorrow Charter Public School, Worcester, 6-8, 270 students
• Lynn Preparatory School, Lynn, K-8, 250 students
• Rediscovery Academy Charter School, 30 cities and towns in eastern Massachusetts, 9-12, 150 students
• Road to Success Charter High School, Lynn, Peabody and Salem, 9-12, 400 students
• Spirit of Knowledge Academy Charter School, Worcester, 7-12, 275 students
Source: Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Written by MMA Legislative Director John Robertson
