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

Charter Schools - Approval of Charter Amendment Requests for Four Rivers Charter Public School, Global Learning Charter Public School, and Hilltown Cooperative Charter Public School

Pursuant to the Charter School Regulations at 603 CMR 1.11(1), the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (Board) must approve major changes in the material terms of a school's charter, including changes to maximum enrollment and grades served. Each of the following charter schools has requested an amendment to increase its maximum enrollment and/or grades served. Each of the requests is for a small, incremental expansion to accommodate additional students in existing programs. If granted, these amendments would take effect for the 2009-10 school year, with expansion occurring over a period of several years.

As required by 603 CMR 1.11(5) for these types of amendment requests, comment was solicited from the superintendents in the school districts within each charter school's district or region, as well as from superintendents in districts from which the charter school draws a substantial number of students. Superintendent comments for each request are summarized below and are also attached.

After analyzing the effect of the proposed increases in maximum enrollment on the 9% net school spending cap for sending districts, the Department has determined that there are sufficient seats available to grant each of these requests.

Four Rivers Charter Public School - maximum enrollment

The board of trustees of Four Rivers Charter Public School (FRCPS) requests approval for a charter amendment to increase the school's maximum enrollment by 20 students, from 192 to 212 students in grades 7 through 12. FRCPS, located in Greenfield, opened in 2003 and is chartered to serve the districts of Greenfield, Frontier, Gill-Montague, Mohawk Trail, Pioneer Valley, and Ralph C. Mahar. The Board renewed the school's charter in 2008. The school currently has strong demand for seats and, if this amendment is granted, will implement an incremental increase in the number of students per grade, from 32 to 36 students. The school has found very strong interest and clear academic and social benefits in having 36 students per grade (working in sections of 18) and wants to continue this pattern through the upper grades.

The school currently has no accountability status in either ELA or Mathematics and has made AYP in the aggregate and for subgroups in both ELA and Mathematics in all years.

I recommend that the Board approve a maximum enrollment increase of 20 students for Four Rivers Charter Public School.

Superintendent comment: Comments were not received from any superintendents in the school's region.

Global Learning Charter Public School - maximum enrollment

The board of trustees of Global Learning Charter Public School (GLCPS) requests approval for a charter amendment to increase the school's maximum enrollment by 50 students, from 450 students to 500 students, in grades 5 through 12. GLCPS, located in New Bedford, opened as a Commonwealth charter school in 2007 and is chartered to serve the district of New Bedford. The school previously operated as a Horace Mann charter school. GLCPS requests this amendment in order to accommodate its growing high school. As the school becomes more established, eighth graders are choosing to stay in the GLCPS high school program in larger numbers than previously anticipated.

The school currently has no accountability status in either ELA or Mathematics, and made AYP in the aggregate for ELA, but did not make AYP for subgroups in ELA or in the aggregate or for subgroups in Mathematics in 2008. The school's predecessor, New Bedford Global Learning Horace Mann Charter School made AYP in both subjects in the aggregate and for subgroup sin 2007.

I recommend that the Board approve an enrollment increase of 50 students for Global Learning Charter Public School.

Superintendent Comment: New Bedford Public Schools superintendent, Dr. Portia S. Bonner, submitted comment in opposition to this amendment request due to the negative educational and fiscal impact the increased charter tuition assessment would have on the New Bedford Public Schools. The letter is attached.

Hilltown Cooperative Charter Public School - maximum enrollment

The board of trustees of Hilltown Cooperative Charter Public School (HCCPS) requests approval for a charter amendment to increase the school's maximum enrollment by 26 students, from 154 students to 180 students, in grades K through 8. HCCPS, located in Haydenville, opened in 1995 and is chartered to serve school districts in Franklin and Hampshire counties. The Board renewed the school's charter for the second time in 2005. The school has received approval for four prior amendment requests, increasing its enrollment from 60 to 154 students. If this amendment is granted, the school plans to spread the enrollment increase across its grade span and serve approximately 20 students per grade, compared to approximately 17 per grade currently. HCCPS requests this amendment to further ensure fiscal strength for the school for the long term while remaining committed to the culture and traditions of a small school community. The school is in strong demand, annually receiving roughly 240 applications for 18 to 22 seats.

The school currently has no accountability status in either ELA or Mathematics and has made AYP in the aggregate and for subgroups in both ELA and Mathematics in all years.

I recommend that the Board approve an enrollment increase of 26 students for Hilltown Cooperative Charter Public School.

Superintendent comment: South Hadley Public Schools superintendent, Dr. Gus A. Sayer, submitted comment on behalf of the South Hadley School Committee opposing this amendment request, citing the financially punitive nature of the charter school financing mechanism in Massachusetts. The letter is attached.

Recommendation

The Department has reviewed these requests and they appear reasonable and consistent with the charter school statute and regulations. I recommend that the Board approve the amendment requests as presented.

If you have any questions regarding these amendments 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.

Enclosures:

Correspondence from Four Rivers Charter Public School
Correspondence from Global Learning Charter Public School
Superintendent Comment from New Bedford Public Schools
Correspondence from Hilltown Cooperative Charter Public School
Superintendent Comment from South Hadley Public Schools