District/School Administration Administration
The Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education

Charter Renewal - Initial Discussion for Boston Preparatory Charter Public School

This month, the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (Board) will have its initial discussion of the charter renewal application of Boston Preparatory Charter School (BPCPS). The Board will vote on this renewal at its meeting on February 24, 2009.

Boston Preparatory Charter Public School

BPCPS, a Commonwealth charter school, opened in 2004 and is chartered to serve grades six through twelve with a maximum enrollment of 350. In 2008-09, BPCPS serves 292 students in grades six through ten. BPCPS draws its students from Boston.

The mission statement of BPCPS reads: "BPCPS utilizes rigorous curriculum, extended academic time, and a range of supports for children and families to prepare 6th-12th grade students to succeed in college. An environment structured around scholarship and personal growth cultivates students' virtues of courage, compassion, integrity, perseverance, and respect."

Basis of Recommendations Regarding the Renewal of Charters

The charter school regulations state that "[t]he decision by the Board to renew a charter shall be based upon the presentation of affirmative evidence regarding the success of the school's academic program; the viability of the school as an organization; and the faithfulness of the school to the terms of its charter" 603 CMR 1.12. Consistent with the regulations, recommendations regarding renewal are based upon the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's (Department) evaluation of the school's performance in these areas. In its review, the Department has considered both the school's absolute performance at the time of the application for renewal and the progress the school has made during the first four years of its charter.

The superintendent of the Boston Public Schools, the district sending students to BPCPS, was invited to submit written comment to the Department regarding the renewal of the school's charter. No written comment was received from the superintendent.

The accountability process for charter schools recognizes that in exchange for increased freedom, a school must demonstrate results within the term of its five-year charter or risk non-renewal. The summary document that follows this memorandum was prepared for you as a compilation of the school's record for the term of this charter.

Recommendation for Renewal

Based on the evidence gathered in the attached Summary of Review and as further summarized below, I recommend that the Board renew the charter of BPCPS.

Areas of Charter School Accountability

I. Faithfulness to Charter

• BPCPS has a thoroughly documented, rigorous, standards-based, college preparatory curriculum aligned with the Massachusetts curriculum frameworks. The school maintains a strong, school-wide code of conduct.
• BPCPS combines preparation for college with character education, implemented through classes covering ethics, philosophy, and the college application process.

II. Academic Success

• MCAS results are strong, with an aggregate Composite Performance Index (CPI) of 88.6 in English language arts (ELA) and 85.1 in mathematics in 2008.
• BPCPS made AYP in ELA in the aggregate and for subgroups in 2006 and 2008 but did not do so in 2007. BPCPS made AYP in mathematics in the aggregate and for subgroups in all years between 2005 and 2008. The school has no status under NCLB in ELA and mathematics.
• The school's core curriculum consists of a mix of internally-created materials and published texts. The middle school curriculum focuses on the fundamentals of literacy and mathematics, gradually shifting to deeper content knowledge in the higher grades.
• The school meets the needs of diverse learners primarily through a full inclusion, co-teaching model which pairs classroom teachers with special educators.

III. Organizational Viability

• BPCPS is fiscally sound and stable.
• BPCPS is currently governed by an eleven-member board of trustees that understands its role to be that of governance and oversight.
• The head of school, principal, and lead high school teacher have been with the school since it was founded.
• The school reports high levels of parent satisfaction through the results of a parent survey.
• BPCPS maintains a lengthy waiting list.
• The school has experienced significant student attrition in the upper grades.
• The school plans to add grade eleven in 2009-10 and grade twelve in 2010-11.

IV. Dissemination

• During the 2006-07 school year, the school's principal presented on best practices at the Massachusetts Charter Public School Association Annual Convention, and the BPCPS support services team hosted a special educator's workshop in which seven charter schools participated.
• In 2007-08, the school's principal worked with the Massachusetts Center for Charter Public School Excellence to develop a program to assist and support new and emerging school leaders.
• BPCPS regularly hosts visitors from a wide range of schools and other institutions.

If you have any questions or require additional information, please contact Jeff Wulfson, Associate Commissioner, at 781 338-6500, or Mary Street, Director of Charter Schools, at 781 338-3200, or me.

   Summary of Review