The Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education
Charter Renewal-Dorchester Collegiate Academy Charter School (Technical Correction)
On February 25, 2014, the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (Board) voted to place the Dorchester Collegiate Academy Charter School (DCACS) on probation and establish conditions. Additionally, the Board voted to approve the school's major amendment request to reduce its grade span. The February 25th memo is attached, for reference.
Due to an inadvertent error, the motion presented to the Board on February 25 neglected to include language renewing the school's charter. I recommend the Board vote to waive the provision of 603 CMR 1.11(1) requiring the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (Department) to "notify the charter applicant of the decision to renew or not to renew the charter and the reasons therefore no later than March 1 following receipt of the renewal application." Additionally, I recommend that the Board vote to grant a renewal of the school's charter for the five-year period from July 1, 2014 through June 30, 2019. The school's probationary status and the conditions imposed on the school's charter remain in effect.
| Dorchester Collegiate Academy Charter School (DCACS) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Type of Charter (Commonwealth or Horace Mann) | Commonwealth | Location | Boston |
| Regional or Non-Regional? | Non-Regional | Districts in Region (if applicable) | N/A |
| Year Opened | 2009 | Year(s) Renewed (if applicable) | N/A |
| Maximum Enrollment | 238 | Current Enrollment | 192 |
| Chartered Grade Span | 4-8 | Current Grade Span | 4-8 |
| Students on Waitlist | 912 | Current Age of School | 5 years |
| Mission: "Dorchester Collegiate Academy Charter School will be a rigorous middle and high school whose mission is to prepare for college those students who exhibit the primary indicators that portend poor achievement and eventually dropping out of school - chronic absenteeism, consistent disciplinary issues, and unsatisfactory academic performance. DCACS students will pursue an intellectual and ethical education in a learning community, combining high expectations with personalized academic and non-academic support systems. DCACS success will be measured by students' high school and college graduation rates, as well as their ability to consistently think and act, using ethical foundations." | |||
If you have any questions or require additional information, please contact Cliff Chuang, Associate Commissioner, at 781-338-3222; Jeff Wulfson, Deputy Commissioner, at 781-338-6500; or me.
Enclosures: February 14, 2014 Memorandum: DCACS renewal with probationMotion