Massachusetts Charter Schools

Charter Amendment Request Pending Board Action (Districts Served, Grade Span, and Maximum Enrollment)

Pursuant to the Charter School Regulations, 603 Code of Massachusetts Regulations CMR 1.10(1), the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (Board) must approve certain changes in the material terms of a school's charter. This year (2026-2027), the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (Department) received three requests from existing charter schools that seek changes to districts served, grade span, and maximum enrollment.

Marblehead Community Charter Public School

• Location: Marblehead
• Districts in region: Marblehead, Swampscott, and Nahant
• Grade span: 4–8
• Maximum enrollment: 230
• Proposed amendment to charter: Add Beverly and Peabody to the charter region

Pioneer Charter School of Science

• Location: Chelsea
• Districts in region: Chelsea, Everett, Revere
• Maximum enrollment: 780
• Grade span: K–12
• Proposed amendment to charter: Add pre-kindergarten (PK) to the current K–12 grade span to create a PK–12 school, and increase maximum enrollment by 444 students, from 780 to 1,224 students

Pioneer Charter School of Science II

• Location(s): Saugus and Peabody
• Districts in region: Saugus, Peabody, Danvers, Lynn, and Salem
• Maximum enrollment: 858
• Grade span: K–12
• Proposed amendment to charter: Add PK to the current K–12 grade span to create a PK–12 school, and increase maximum enrollment by 366 students, from 858 to 1,224 students

Please contact the Department at charterschools@mass.gov to obtain copies of submitted amendment requests.

Section 1.10 of 603 Code of Massachusetts Regulations CMR contains several criteria that the Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education (Commissioner) and the Board may consider in reaching a determination regarding a school's request to amend its charter. First, "the Commissioner and the Board may consider a charter school's compliance with applicable state, federal, and local law." Second, the Commissioner and the Board may consider 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. Third, if seeking an increase in student enrollment from certain districts, the board of trustees must qualify as a "proven provider" based on the existing school and must meet the performance criteria described in 603 Code of Massachusetts Regulations CMR 1.04(4). Fourth, schools must address additional criteria as outlined in the Department's guidelines on amendments.

The Department currently anticipates bringing this matter to the Board for consideration at a meeting no earlier than January 27, 2027, if the request is recommended by the Commissioner for approval. Updates about this process may be found on the Department's Board Meeting Schedule and Agendas website.

The Department solicits comments from the superintendent of the school district within the charter school's district. Members of the public may submit written comments regarding a school's amendment request to: Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, c/o Office of Charter Schools and School Redesign, 135 Santilli Highway, Everett, Massachusetts MA 02149 or by email to charterschools@mass.gov . Email is preferred. The deadline for public comment is December 4, 2026. The deadline is guided by the Board's anticipated schedule regarding charter school matters.