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The Department has moved to 135 Santilli Highway in Everett. The Department's office and Licensure Welcome Center are open. The new location has free parking and is a short walk from the Wellington station on the MBTA's Orange Line.
For Immediate Release
Friday, February 13, 2015
Contact:Jacqueline Reis, 781-338-3115

Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner to Recommend Two New Charter Schools in Salem and Springfield

Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to vote Feb. 24

Malden - Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Mitchell D. Chester today announced he will recommend that the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education vote to grant two new Horace Mann charters to groups seeking to restart schools in Salem and Springfield. At the Board's Feb. 24, 2015 meeting, Commissioner Chester will recommend approval for the Bentley Academy Charter School, which intends to serve 350 students in grades K-5 in Salem, and the UP Academy Charter School of Springfield, which would serve up to 800 students in grades 6-8 in Springfield. The Bentley Academy Charter School proposes to open in 2015 in the current Bentley Elementary School and be an option for existing Bentley students as well as other Salem students. The UP Academy Charter School of Springfield proposes to open in 2016 in a Springfield public middle school that will be identified by November 2015. "I am pleased to see school committees take advantage of the opportunity to incorporate charter schools into their districts," said Commissioner Chester. "These two proposals underwent a rigorous review, and I believe they would be strong options for students in Salem and Springfield." As part of the 2014-15 charter school application cycle, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education received seven prospectuses from groups seeking to receive approval to open new charter schools in Massachusetts. Commissioner Chester invited the founders of four of those groups to submit final applications. Both schools that the Commissioner will recommend demonstrated their ability to found and operate a high-quality charter school, and both have plans for collaboration with their partner public school district. The two other finalists in this year's application cycle did not receive a favorable recommendation. Those proposed schools are the Academy for the Whole Child Charter School, which would have served the Fitchburg area, and the New Heights Charter School of Brockton. The founders of those groups will receive feedback from the Department on their applications and are invited to consult with the Department regarding participation in future application cycles. For more information on charter schools, go to Massachusetts Charter Schools.



Last Updated: February 13, 2015



 
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