Each school is assigned a liaison who is able to respond to inquiries regarding any aspect of charter school accountability.
For general questions and concerns about charter schools please contact charterschools@mass.gov or call 781-338-3227 for assistance.
The purpose of the Accountability Guide is to provide schools and other interested parties with information on the accountability system that is unique to charter schools in Massachusetts. Each component of the Guide provides specific information regarding a particular aspect of the accountability process. This process was conceived when charter schools were first opened in the Commonwealth and has been added to and improved upon through years of implementation.
Guide to Charter School Accountability
A charter school's Annual Report must be submitted to the Office of Charter Schools and School Redesign at the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (Department) on or before August 1, as set forth in the charter school statute (MGL Chapter 71, Section 89(jj)) and regulations.
The Annual Report informs the public of the recently completed academic year as it relates to the school's accountability plan objectives, the school's academic performance, and evidence regarding the three areas guiding charter school (faithfulness to charter, academic program success, and organizational viability). The Annual Report is also used by the Department to review the school's performance and progress for the past academic year, to corroborate and augment upcoming scheduled site visits, and to serve as one of the primary pieces of evidence that the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education will review when it considers a school's application for charter renewal. The Annual Report Guidelines (found below) provide the required elements that must be included in each report.
Annual Report Guidelines 2022-2023
The Annual Report Guidelines enable charter schools to meet statutory and regulatory requirements pertaining to Recruitment and Retention Plans. Please use the Recruitment and Retention Plan resources found on our Access and Equity website to complete this portion of the Annual Report. The resources are found at Access and Equity: Annual Report: Recruitment and Retention Plans.
A sample Recruitment and Retention Plan
Charter Analysis and Review Tool (CHART)
A list of charter schools that are located in districts that enroll 10 percent of more of limited English proficient students.
A compendium of recruitment strategies
The Charter School Performance Criteria (Criteria) are presented in the three guiding areas of charter school accountability defined in the current regulations, 603 CMR 1.00: faithfulness to charter, academic program success, and organizational viability.
The purposes of the Criteria are to:
The Criteria were first developed in 2005 and were subsequently revised in 2010. The Department developed the third revision (Version 3.0) in 2013 after research and review of best practices from other high quality charter school authorizers and made slight annual revisions to the Criteria in subsequent years to clarify the meaning of certain criteria or key indicators. The Department developed the fourth major revision (Version 4.0) in 2018 to include clear guidelines for charter schools to work toward the elimination of persistent achievement, access, and opportunity gaps experienced by historically underserved students.
There are ten (10) Criteria that define expected performance in the three guiding areas of charter school accountability: faithfulness to charter, academic program success, and organizational viability. The Department evaluates these criteria through the use of quantitative and/or qualitative data as well as affirmative evidence presented by the school, compiled over the course of the school's charter term.
This memorandum documents key considerations related to accountability decisions for charter schools, including decisions to not renew or to revoke schools' charters. These considerations are not new; they have been developed and employed by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (Department) and the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (Board) for the past several years.
Considerations for Charter School Renewal Memo
The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (Board) is obligated by statute (G.L. c. 71, § 89(dd)) and regulation (603 CMR 1.11) to conduct ongoing performance reviews of each charter school and, no later than the fifth year of the school's charter term, decide whether or not to renew the school's charter. The charter renewal decision is based upon the school's performance over the term of the charter in three areas:
The Charter School Performance Criteria provide the analytical framework used to hold a charter school accountable for performance in these three areas and to determine whether or not a charter should be renewed.
The application is an opportunity for the school to present evidence of the school's performance during the current charter term. The application process allows the school to examine its practices and decisions over the current charter term, offer explanations for any performance or operational issues, identify actions taken to correct past problems, and provide information regarding the school's plans for improvement in the future. By presenting full and accurate information along with a context for the information, the school has the opportunity to make its best case for charter renewal.
According to the regulations (603 CMR 1.00), a charter school shall submit its application for renewal of its charter no earlier than March 1 of the third school year of the charter term and no later than August 1 after the end of the fourth school year of the charter term.
Guidelines: Application for Renewal of a Public School Charter — Revised March 2024
This protocol provides information about the Massachusetts public charter school renewal site visit process to a wide range of stakeholders in public charter schools. Individuals who participate as team members on the renewal site visits and public charter schools going through renewal can draw practical knowledge on how to prepare for and successfully implement renewal site visits. The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education depends upon this protocol to describe the process used by evaluators to gather and analyze school performance data that will be considered when determining renewal or non-renewal of a public charter school. Parents and the general public may turn to this protocol for an explanation of one component of the greater accountability system that monitors public charter school performance over the five-year life of every charter.
Renewal Inspection Protocol — Revised June 2023
The Summary of Review (SOR) summarizes the school's performance over the five-year charter term, reflecting evidence compiled throughout the charter term from sources such as annual reports, site visit reports, and state assessment results. The SOR incorporates descriptions of evidence gathered during the renewal inspection. The renewal inspection team prepares these descriptions, and they are included in the gray shaded boxes in the body of the report. The SOR highlights evidence for six Criteria aligned with the statutory requirements for charter renewal outlined by M.G.L. c. 71, § 89(dd): Criterion 1: Mission and Key Design Elements; Criterion 2: Access and Equity; Criterion 3: Compliance; Criterion 4: Dissemination; Criterion 5: Student Performance; and Criterion 9: Governance. The SOR also includes evidence related to other Criteria assessed during the renewal inspection.
Summary of Review Template — Revised November 2023
One way in which charter schools demonstrate results is through reporting on selected outcomes using an Accountability Plan (603 CMR 1.02). A charter school creates an Accountability Plan to publicly articulate the goals the school has set to measure its success during a five-year charter term. These Accountability Plan Guidelines (Guidelines) are intended to assist in the creation of an Accountability Plan. Using the Guidelines and the template provided, a charter school can develop an Accountability Plan that will clearly demonstrate performance relative to the goals set forth in its charter.
Accountability Plan Guidelines — Revised 2023
In conducting site visits, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (Department) is carrying out the requirements of the charter school regulations (603 CMR 1.00) which outline the ongoing review of charter schools. The Site Visit Protocol is designed to be a resource for charter school leaders, external site visitors, the Department staff, and contracted vendors who may conduct site visits for the Department. It articulates the types of visits, site visit processes, roles and responsibilities of all parties, and expected outcomes. The Protocol is meant to provide useful information about site visits so stakeholders and visitors can know what to expect and how to prepare.
Site Visit Protocol — Revised September 2023
Classroom Observation Form — Revised October 2019
The Department seeks external volunteers with expertise in classroom instruction, school leadership, and/or school governance to serve as external site visitors on charter school accountability visits. If you are interested in applying to be a site visitor, please fill out a brief online survey. See below for Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about serving as a site visit volunteer.
Site Visitor FAQ
After the Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) votes its intent to non-renew, revoke, or suspend the charter of a charter school (School); or a vote by a charter school's board of trustees (board) to voluntarily surrender its charter; or the board does not file an application for renewal of a public charter, the trustees of the school are responsible for ensuring the completion of the items listed in these Closing Procedures in cooperation with the Massachusetts Department Elementary and Secondary of Education (DESE). All documents should be submitted to the Office of Charter Schools and School Redesign (OCSSR) of DESE unless otherwise indicated.
Commonwealth Charter School Closing Procedures
Horace Mann Charter School Closing Procedures
Last Updated: March 6, 2024
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 135 Santilli Highway, Everett, MA 02149
Voice: (781) 338-3000 TTY: (800) 439-2370
Disclaimer: A reference in this website to any specific commercial products, processes, or services, or the use of any trade, firm, or corporation name is for the information and convenience of the public and does not constitute endorsement or recommendation by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.