News Article - Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

For Immediate Release
Monday, May 5, 2014
Contact:	Jacqueline Reis 781-338-3115

Charters Distributed to 2 New Schools

10 Additional Schools Receive Renewed Charters

BRIGHTON - The Patrick Administration today presented charters to the founders of two new schools and gave renewed charters to the leaders of 10 existing schools during a charter granting ceremony held at Conservatory Lab Charter School in Boston. Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Mitchell Chester and Board of Elementary and Secondary Education Chair Maura Banta presented charters to the founders of two new schools: Argosy Collegiate Charter School in Fall River and Springfield Preparatory Charter School. The board approved the charters in February. "These schools represent another quality option for families in their local communities," said Secretary of Education Matthew Malone. "I look forward to visiting these schools to see what practices we can replicate in other classrooms across the Commonwealth." "I am pleased to present two new charters today and provide additional high-quality choices for students," said Commissioner Chester. "We look forward to seeing these schools open and serve students, and we expect great things from the school leaders whose ambitious proposals the board approved." "The board approved these charters after a thorough review that persuaded us the schools would be viable and of benefit to their communities," said Ms. Banta. "We congratulate the schools where charters have been renewed, and we welcome the new additions." Charter schools are open to all Massachusetts students, with enrollment preference given to students in the district or region where the school is located. All charter schools are chartered for five years. At the end of that period, the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education reviews the school's performance in detail before making a decision on whether to renew the charter. Commonwealth charter schools are fully autonomous and operate independently of the local school district. Horace Mann charter schools are developed and operated in close cooperation with the host school district and require the approval of the local school committee. The Patrick Administration's Achievement Gap Act of 2010 raised the charter school cap in the lowest-performing school districts and made a number of changes to the charter authorizing process. The cap on district net school spending under the Achievement Gap Act is being raised from 9 percent to 18 percent in incremental steps. For fiscal 2015, the cap will be 16 percent in districts whose academic performance is in the lowest 10 percent as measured by MCAS. Applicants in those districts must have a proven track record of success in increasing academic attainment and commit to working with a diverse population of students. The new Commonwealth charter schools that received charters on Monday were:

Argosy Collegiate Charter School in Fall River (grades 6-12; opening in fall 2014)
Springfield Preparatory Charter School in Springfield (grades K-8; opening in fall 2015)

In addition, the following 10 charter schools received renewed charters Monday: Commonwealth charter schools:

Boston Preparatory Charter Public School in Boston (grades 6-12)
Conservatory Lab Charter School in Boston (preK-7)
Dorchester Collegiate Academy Charter School in Boston (grades 4-8)
Hampden Charter School of Science in Chicopee (grades 6-12)
Hill View Montessori Charter Public School in Haverhill (grades K-8)
KIPP Academy Lynn Charter School in Lynn (grades 5-11)
River Valley Charter School in Newburyport (grades K-8)
Roxbury Preparatory Charter School in Boston (grades 5-8)
Salem Academy Charter School in Salem (grades 6-12)

Horace Mann charter schools:

Barnstable Community Horace Mann Charter Public School in Hyannis (grades K-3).

Last Updated: May 5, 2014