The Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education

Amendment to the Charter of Seven Hills Charter Public School

At the September 2009 meeting of the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (Board), the Board voted to authorize the Commissioner to act on its behalf in "approving charter amendments that do not involve changes in grade span, maximum enrollment, or districts served," provided that the Commissioner shall report to the Board on all such approvals and, provided further, "that the Commissioner shall notify the Board in advance of all such intended actions, and a Board member may request that the Commissioner place the charter matter(s) on the agenda of the Board for discussion and action."

Under the terms of the September 2009 delegation vote, I am reporting to the Board that I approved the following amendment, after notification to the Board and no request to place this amendment on the agenda in May 2011.

Seven Hills Charter Public School - Governance and Whole School Design Change

The Board voted at its February 28, 2011 meeting to renew Seven Hills Charter Public School's (Seven Hills) charter with probationary status and conditions. The conditions require that the school create a self-evaluation and action plan in the areas of academic program, school leadership, and board of trustees' development. As part of the school's corrective action plan, the school submitted a charter amendment request, dated April 13, 2011, to amend the school's governance/leadership structure and whole school design.

Currently, the school has one person who serves as both the superintendent and principal. While the superintendent will continue to report to the board of trustees, the school leadership structure will change significantly. The proposed change shifts some of the responsibilities from the superintendent to heads of school who will be charged with the instructional leadership of four different academies. This is a change from the prior model: three academies were overseen by curriculum and instruction coaches. Currently the school has a primary academy (K-2); an elementary academy (3-5); and a junior academy (6-8). The school is proposing to change to an early learning academy (K&1); primary academy (2&3); an elementary academy (4&5); and a junior academy (6-8). The superintendent will be responsible for working with the board of trustees to implement the school's short and long term strategies to ensure the sustainability and success of the school, human resources, supervising school leadership, and fiscal oversight. The four heads of school will function as each academy's educational leader.

This request is reasonable and consistent with the charter school statute and regulations. As such, I approved this amendment request.