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Massachusetts Charter Schools

Charter Amendment Requests Pending BESE Action (Grades, Enrollment, or Districts Served)

Pursuant to the Charter School Regulations, 603 CMR 1.11(1), the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (Board) must approve major changes in the material terms of a school's charter. This year, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (Department) received requests from ten existing Commonwealth charter schools that involve changes to the districts served, the grades served, and/or the maximum enrollment allowed. If you wish to request a copy of any of the submitted amendment requests or if you have any questions, please contact charterschools@doe.mass.edu.

Section 1.11 of 603 CMR contains several criteria that the 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 the 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 maximum enrollment, the board of trustees in some districts, indicated by an asterisk in the table below, must qualify as a "proven provider" based on the existing school and meet the performance criteria described in 603 CMR 1.05(2). Fourth, schools must address additional criteria as outlined in the Department's guidelines on amendments.

We currently anticipate that these matters may be brought to the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education for consideration no earlier than its November 19, 2013 meeting and no later than its February 25, 2014 meeting. Please check Board Meeting Schedule and Agendas for updates.

Comment has been solicited from the superintendents in the school districts within each charter school's current/proposed district or region for Commissioner and Board consideration. Members of the public can submit written comments regarding a school's amendment request for Commissioner and Board consideration to: Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, c/o Charter School Office, 75 Pleasant Street, Malden, MA 02148 or by email to charterschools@doe.mass.edu. The deadlines for public comment vary by school request, please see below for additional information. Each deadline is guided by the Board's anticipated schedule to consider various charter school matters, including proposed charter amendments.

Existing Charter School Name Current District or Region Current Maximum Enrollment Current Grades Charter Amendment Requests Deadlines for Public Comment
Atlantis Charter School* Fall River 795 K–12 Maximum enrollment increase of 605 students January 3, 2014
Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School Franklin 450 K–8 Add Bellingham, Blackstone/Millville, Holliston, Hopedale, Medway, Mendon/Upton, Milford, Millis, Norfolk, Plainville, Walpole, and Wrentham to become regional; and maximum enrollment increase of 450 students November 18, 2013
Community Charter School of Cambridge Cambridge 360 6–12 Maximum enrollment increase of 60 students November 18, 2013
Dorchester Collegiate Academy Charter School Boston 238 4–12 (9–12 not implemented) Grade span change from 4–12 to 4–8 January 3, 2014
Global Learning Charter Public School* New Bedford 500 5–12 Maximum enrollment increase of 100 students December 16, 2013
Holyoke Community Charter School Holyoke 702 K–8 Add grades 9–12 November 18, 2013
KIPP Academy Lynn Charter Public School* Lynn 850 5–12 Add grades K–4; and maximum enrollment increase of 647 students January 3, 2014
Lowell Community Charter Public School* Lowell 640 K–6 Add grades K1, 7–8; and maximum enrollment increase of 160 November 18, 2013
Mystic Valley Regional Charter School* Everett, Malden, Medford, Melrose, Stoneham, & Wakefield 1500 K–12 Maximum enrollment increase of 400 November 18, 2013
Sturgis Charter Public School Bourne, Carver, Sandwich, Falmouth, Mashpee, Barnstable, Dennis-Yarmouth, Chatham, Nauset, Provincetown, Plymouth, Harwich, Wareham 800 9–12 Maximum enrollment increase of 50 November 18, 2013




Last Updated: August 21, 2013



 
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