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

Charter Renewal - Initial Discussion for Roxbury Preparatory Charter School

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

Roxbury Preparatory Charter School

RPCS, a Commonwealth charter school, is located in and chartered to serve students from Boston. The school opened in 1999. RPCS is chartered to serve grades six through eight with a maximum enrollment of 300. It is currently serving 230 students in grade six through eight and is gradually expanding to reach a new maximum enrollment, subsequent to a May 2008 amendment in which the school reduced its grade span and maximum enrollment. RPCS has been the recipient of numerous awards, including recognition from the United States Education Department, for its high levels of academic achievement.

The mission statement of RPCS reads: "Roxbury Preparatory Charter School, a public middle school, prepares its students to enter, succeed in, and graduate from college. Roxbury Preparatory Charter School is founded on the philosophy that all students are entitled to and can succeed in college preparatory programs when: 1) the curriculum is rigorous, engaging, and well-planned; 2) the school emphasizes student character, community responsibility, and exposure to life's possibilities; and 3) a community network supports students' academic, social, and physical well-being. Roxbury Preparatory Charter School helps students gain admission to outstanding public and private college preparatory high schools."

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 RPCS, 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 RPCS.

Areas of Charter School Accountability

I. Faithfulness to Charter

• The school has created an orderly learning environment that emphasizes character development, community involvement, and high expectations for student academics.
• RPCS provides an extended day program: school is in session from 7:45-4:15pm Monday through Thursday, and 7:45-1:15pm on Friday.
• The school has implemented an extensive graduate services program to support and track alumni/ae through high school and college.

II. Academic Success

• MCAS results are strong, with an aggregate Composite Performance Index of 93.4 in English language arts (ELA) and 90.3 in mathematics in 2008.
• RPCS made Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) in ELA and mathematics in the aggregate and for subgroups in all years between 2003 and 2008. Under NCLB the school has a no status determination in ELA and mathematics.
• The school has created a rigorous, comprehensive, and fully documented curriculum based on internally created RPCS standards and the Massachusetts curriculum frameworks.
• Teachers deliver academically challenging lessons and implement consistent instructional methods that yield high levels of student engagement.

III. Organizational Viability

• RPCS is a financially sound and stable organization.
• There are currently eleven members on the board of trustees who function in a policy, oversight, and support role.
• The school's co-director model of leadership has been in place since the school's founding. The co-directors' responsibilities are well defined and understood by the school community.
• The school reports high levels of parent satisfaction through the results of parent surveys.
• RPCS provides ample opportunities for teachers to improve their practice and receive feedback from the school's academic leader as well as their peers.

IV. Dissemination

• Currently, the school participates in Keeping the Promise, the Massachusetts Charter School Dissemination and Replication Project, a three-year, federally funded project undertaken by the Massachusetts Charter Public School Association.
• RPCS regularly welcomes visitors from a wide range of schools and other institutions to observe or research the school.
• RPCS has shared its best practices with other charter and district schools through the Project for School Innovation, Building Excellent Schools, and New Leaders for New Schools.

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