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

Charter Renewal - Initial Discussion for Marstons Mills East Horace Mann Charter Public School

This month, the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (Board) will have an initial discussion of the charter renewal application of Marstons Mills East Horace Mann Charter Public School (MME). The Board will vote on this renewal at its meeting on February 24, 2009.

Marstons Mills East Horace Mann Charter Public School

MME, a Horace Mann charter school, is located in Barnstable. The school opened in 2004 and is chartered to serve kindergarten through grade 4, with a maximum enrollment of 475 and is currently fully enrolled. As described in its original charter application, the school's educational philosophy includes the implementation of the Accelerated Schools Plus model.

The school's mission statement reads: "The mission of the Marstons Mills East Horace Mann Charter Public School is to be a whole school community that provides a challenging and enriching environment for all children, Kindergarten through grade 4; and where all children achieve high academic standards and develop character. We support the whole child and continuous improvement in the teaching process, and consider a whole school community as integral to success."

The district of Barnstable, due to budget reductions, is currently developing plans for restructuring of the district, including conversations with MME about the possibility of reconfiguring the school's grade span. MME may be requesting the Board's approval, in the spring, for an amendment to reflect this change.

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 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 compiles 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 MME.

Areas of Charter School Accountability

I. Faithfulness to Charter

• MME has faithfully implemented the Accelerated Schools Plus (ASP) model described in the original charter application. This model offers to all students the educational methods and programs typically reserved for gifted and talented students.
• The school was chosen as one of eight, national demonstration sites for fully implementing the ASP model and having a direct positive impact on student achievement.

II. Academic Success

• MME has established a school environment that is student-centered and inclusive. Students in all grade levels show consistently high levels of engagement.
• Teachers at the school have developed a curriculum based on the Massachusetts curriculum frameworks that incorporates ASP's "powerful learning activities."
• The results of a number of internal and external assessments are used to differentiate instruction.
• The school's performance on MCAS examinations has been strong throughout the term of its charter, with a composite performance index of 89.1 in English language arts (ELA) and 90.5 in mathematics in 2008. MME made Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) in ELA and mathematics in the aggregate and for subgroups annually from 2004 to 2008.

III. Organizational Viability

• MME has addressed issues surrounding an unexpected operating deficit in FY07. The school is fiscally viable.
• The school has implemented a governance and leadership structure that assures collaborative decision making. Teachers, board members, support staff, administrators, parents, students, and other community members work together to address the needs of the school.
• MME has extremely low teacher turnover; most teachers are veterans with many years of experience.
• The school has effective board leadership and a sound governance structure.
• The school has maintained a waiting list for the past four years and reported a waiting list of 60 students for the 2008-09 school year. In March 2005, the school received approval to expand its enrollment from 370 to 475 students.
• The school has reported high levels of parent satisfaction throughout the term of its charter.

IV. Dissemination

• MME was awarded a dissemination grant from the Charter School Office for the 2007-08 school year to mentor the Silver Hill Horace Mann Charter School - a new charter school in Haverhill that opened in 2008 and adopted the ASP program. Members from the MME staff helped the school develop and implement the ASP model in areas such as leadership, governance, and instructional practice.
• The school has also established a partnership with two local community colleges, Cape Cod Community College and Bridgewater State College. MME served as a site for potential teachers to develop a working knowledge of the charter school philosophy and served as a student-teaching site for potential teachers.

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