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

Charter Schools - Approval of Charter Amendment Request for Rising Tide Charter 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.

The board of trustees of the Rising Tide Charter Public School (RTCPS), located in Plymouth, requests approval to add a high school to the current middle school program and to increase the school's maximum enrollment from 320 students in grades 5 through 8, to a total of 700 students in grades 5 through 12. RTCPS opened in 1998 and is chartered to serve the district of Plymouth. The school's charter was renewed by the Board for a third charter term from July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2013.

In its request, RTCPS articulates three primary reasons for expansion: 1) parent demand; 2) community need; and 3) completion of the school's mission. A series of feasibility committees and focus groups conducted expansion planning activities during the past several years. Feedback was gathered from parents regarding a preference for a small, safe, tuition-free environment for high school as an alternative to the two large, district high schools in Plymouth. The school articulates the need for additional school options in Plymouth because the school-age population, particularly at the middle and high school level, continues to grow, and the two Plymouth high schools experience overcrowding. Additionally, the RTPCS Board and staff believe the school's mission, "RTCPS will graduate capable and prepared young adults who have already sown within themselves a sense of place and belonging," cannot be fully achieved by the end of middle school.

The school currently has no accountability status in either English language arts or mathematics and has made adequate yearly progress in the aggregate and for all subgroups in both subjects in all years.

As required by 603 CMR 1.11(5) for these types of amendment requests, comment was solicited from the Plymouth Public Schools Superintendent, Gary E. Maestas. He submitted comment opposing the proposed amendment request for several reasons, including lost revenue and the inability of the proposed RTCPS high school to help with overcrowding because of the limited number of students they would serve. His letter is 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 this request.

The Department has reviewed this request and it appears reasonable and consistent with the charter school statute and regulations. I recommend that the Board approve the amendment request as presented.

If you have any questions regarding this amendment 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.