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

Charter Renewal - Initial Discussion for Boston Collegiate Charter School

This month, the Board will have its initial discussion of the charter renewal application of Boston Collegiate Charter School (BCCS), a Commonwealth charter school located in Dorchester and serving students from Boston. The Board will vote on this renewal at its meeting on January 22, 2008.

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'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 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 Boston Collegiate Charter School based on the evidence gathered in the attached Summary of Review and as further summarized below.

I. Academic Success

• BCCS serves students in grades 5-12 in a highly structured school environment that sets high academic and behavioral expectations.
• BCCS has developed a highly detailed scope and sequence for all subject areas that is aligned with the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks. Teachers develop and document curriculum in binders and electronic planning documents that are based on the school's scope and sequence. Curriculum is regularly reviewed and adjusted to reflect student needs.
• Site visit teams from the Charter School Office and members of the renewal inspection team found a variety of instructional practices. Over the past two years, teachers have increased the focus on active learning for students and offer fewer teacher-directed lessons. High levels of student engagement were observed throughout the school.
• The results of a number of internal and external assessments are used to inform instruction. BCCS was one of the first schools to participate in the Massachusetts Public School Performance Project, through which six MCAS-like interim assessments are administered throughout the school year.
• The school's performance on MCAS examinations has been very strong throughout the term of its charter, with a composite CPI of 90.9 in ELA and 86.0 in mathematics in 2007. BCCS made Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) in ELA and mathematics in the aggregate and in all statistically significant subgroups in all years between 2003 and 2007.

II. Organizational Viability

• BCCS is fiscally sound and stable.
• The school's administrative team includes an executive director, two principals, a dean of curriculum and assessment, a dean of administration, and a dean of students. All members of the administrative team have been at the school for five to nine years, creating significant continuity.
• The BCCS Board consists of eleven members. The site visit and renewal inspection teams reported effective board leadership and a sound governance structure, with three well-functioning standing committees - governance, finance, and development.
• The school reports high levels of parent satisfaction through the results of a parent survey.
• BCCS maintains full enrollment and a waiting list. In November of 2005, the school received approval to expand its enrollment and plans to open a separate campus for grades 5 and 6 in September 2008, expanding enrollment from 483 students to 620 students by the 2012-2013 school year.

III. Faithfulness to Charter

• The mission of BCCS is to "to prepare each of our students for college." Preparation of all of its students for college is a strong focus for the school. Every graduate has gained admission into a four-year college for the past four years.
• The school successfully completed a full Coordinated Program Review in May 2003 and a mid-cycle review in April 2006. No further monitoring activity is scheduled to occur at the school until the 2008-09 school year.

IV. Dissemination

• In 2006, BCCS was one of five charter schools chosen to participate in a three-year, federally funded dissemination program managed by the Massachusetts Charter Public School Association, which will result in a book, a documentary film, and training of other educators.
• For seven consecutive years, BCCS has organized the annual Boston Charter School Showcase of Schools, providing families with the opportunity to learn about charter school options.

If you have questions 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