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

Charter Renewal - Vote on Sturgis Charter Public School

This month, the Board will vote on the charter renewal application of Sturgis Charter Public School (Sturgis), a regional charter school.

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, the recommendations regarding renewal are based upon the Department's 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 superintendents of districts sending students to each school have been invited to submit written comment to the Department regarding the renewal of each school's charter. No written comment was received from these superintendents.

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. 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. I recommend that the Board renew the charter for Sturgis Charter Public School based on the evidence gathered in the attached Summary of Review and as further summarized below.

I. Academic Success

• Sturgis serves students in grades 9-12 and offers students in grades 11 and 12 a college preparatory, International Baccalaureate (IB) program. The program is characterized by rigor and high expectations and is available to all students.
• The school has a well-documented curriculum for grades 9 and 10 that is aligned with and goes beyond the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks and is also pre-IB.
• Site visit teams from the Charter School Office and members of the renewal inspection team found rigorous classroom instruction and high academic standards.
• Sturgis attained AYP in English language arts and Mathematics in all four years of the current charter term at levels higher than state targets.
• Teachers are expected to participate in at least 25 hours of professional development each year.

II. Organizational Viability

• Sturgis is financially sound and stable.
• The renewal inspection team found a strong administrative team and governance structures.
• The school reports high levels of parent satisfaction through the results of a parent survey.
• Sturgis maintains full enrollment with a waiting list.

III. Faithfulness to Charter

• Sturgis has created a successful and rigorous college preparatory International Baccalaureate program.
• Sturgis was commended by the Department in its most recent Coordinated Program Review for its highly inclusive special education practices.

IV. Dissemination

• Through a dissemination grant from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Sturgis has presented governance workshops to charter and non-charter schools across the state.
• Faculty members regularly make presentations on the International Baccalaureate program.
• The school has participated in additional workshop presentations and exchanges.

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

Enclosure:    Summary of Review