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The Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education

Charter Schools - Report on Condition for Cape Cod Lighthouse Charter School and Proposed Amendment

To:
Members of the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education
From:
Mitchell D. Chester, Ed.D., Commissioner
Date:
December 4, 2015

I recommend that the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (Board) vote to remove the condition from Cape Cod Lighthouse Charter School's (CCLCS) charter and approve the changes to decrease its grade span and maximum enrollment, as requested by the school.

On February 13, 2015, I informed the Board that I had renewed the charter of CCLCS with a condition pertaining to the school's grade span and maximum enrollment. In its 20 years of operation CCLCS has served grades 6-8 and has never implemented its high school program as originally proposed in its charter application. Further, during the renewal process, the school indicated that it did not intend to expand to high school grades nor to use the maximum number of seats (400) originally granted to the school in 1994. Given this evidence, I renewed the school's charter with the condition that follows.

By August 1, 2015, CCLCS will submit to the Department a request to amend the school's charter. This request must specify the grade span and maximum enrollment the school intends to serve during its charter term and corresponding amendment requests regarding the school's mission, enrollment policy, and any other relevant material terms.

The school has met the condition. On August 25, 2015, on behalf of the school's board of trustees, CCLCS's executive director submitted a request to decrease CCLCS's chartered grade span from 6-12 to 6-8 and change the maximum enrollment from 400 to 260. The school's request is attached. The school's existing mission statement and enrollment policy did not require amendments; those documents already reflected the school's commitment to serve middle school grades. I recommend that the Board vote to remove the condition from the school's charter.

As stated in the Charter School Regulations, 603 CMR 1.10(1)(b) and (c), certain changes to the material terms of a charter, such as grade span and maximum enrollment, require the approval of the Board. I recommend that the Board vote to approve the changes to CCLCS's grade span and maximum enrollment.

If you have any questions regarding this recommendation or require additional information, please contact Cliff Chuang, Associate Commissioner (781-338-3222); Jeff Wulfson, Deputy Commissioner (781-338-6500); or me.

Enclosures:

Download PDF Document
Cape Cod Lighthouse Charter School amendment request
Motion