Stories tagged: charter schools
Amid dispute with District, Discovery Charter cuts ribbon to new building
Submitted by Dale Mezzacappa on Tue, 06/18/2013 - 17:47 Posted in Latest news | Permalink
Discovery Charter School staged a festive ribbon-cutting for its new building in Parkside on Tuesday, declaring in a press release that it had settled a dispute over payments with the School Reform Commission and that its charter had been renewed.
Discovery did agree to repay the School District for students it enrolled beyond what was called for in its signed contract, according to District spokesman Fernando Gallard. However, he said, Discovery officials have yet to sign a new charter agreement.
Down to the wire on charter talks
Submitted by thenotebook on Thu, 06/13/2013 - 14:59 Posted in Latest news | Permalink
by Connie Langland
With their schools' mandates to operate running out in just a matter of days, leaders of 10 charters are deep into negotiations with District officials who are determined, at least for now, to defer plans by the schools to expand.
Citing the budget crisis, Superintendent William Hite last month announced he would not recommend any charter expansions in the coming year -- a setback to the publicized ambitions of 21 charter schools to add more than 15,000 students over the next five years. Such expansion would cost the District $500 million.
SRC matches Alcorn with Universal, but it's not over yet
Submitted by thenotebook on Fri, 05/31/2013 - 11:47 Posted in Latest news | Permalink
by Connie Langland
By a 4-1 vote of the School Reform Commission, Universal Companies last night came one step closer to winning the charter to run Alcorn Elementary School under the District’s Renaissance turnaround program.
But there’s one big "if."
The granting of the charter is still not official, and Deputy Superintendent Paul Kihn emphasized last night that the handover remained contingent on Universal coming to new terms with the District for the use of Audenried High School and Vare Middle School, both in South Philadelphia.
Letter: The true costs of unchecked cyber charter growth
Submitted by thenotebook on Wed, 05/29/2013 - 14:44 Posted in Commentary | Permalink
by Rhonda Brownstein
Ben Herold's recent article "Rising cyber-charter costs fuel push for statewide reform" focused on the financial cost of cyber charters. In the article, much attention was given to responses from cyber-charter operators and supporters who emphasize catchy policy terms like "innovation," but wholly ignore the reality of student experiences in these programs.
District staff recommends closing Imani Charter
Submitted by David Limm on Mon, 05/13/2013 - 14:39 Posted in Latest news | Permalink
Imani Education Circle Charter School in Germantown may have to fight to stay open beyond the end of this school year.
According to a list of pending resolutions for the School Reform Commission's Wednesday meeting, District staff is recommending that the 14-year-old charter be closed down.
District: No charter expansion next year
Submitted by Dale Mezzacappa on Thu, 04/25/2013 - 19:45 Posted in Latest news | Permalink
Superintendent William Hite has decided not to recommend any charter school expansions for next year, saying it would be irresponsible to do so given the District's financial situation.
"Given our dire financial prospects, we must ask for shared sacrifices from our partners," said Hite in a statement. "It would be irresponsible for the District to endorse charter expansion while asking our principals to do the impossible with school budgets."
SRC votes to close M.H. Stanton, create cyber school
Submitted by thenotebook on Fri, 04/19/2013 - 10:19 Posted in Latest news | Permalink
by Bill Hangley Jr.
On the heels of presenting a “doomsday” budget that would reduce schools to the bare essentials, the School Reform Commission voted Thursday night to close North Philadelphia’s M.H. Stanton Elementary School, triggering an explosion of tears and rage from its supporters.
The SRC also voted to establish its own cyber charter school and renew contracts with providers of accelerated and discipline schools. It also added a new provider.
After the 3-1 closure vote, Stanton’s defenders were devastated.
“I’m hurt. I’m hurt really bad,” said Tracey Lester, a Stanton grandparent and vocal supporter.
Advocate urges no 'blank check' for Philly charters seeking to expand
Submitted by thenotebook on Tue, 04/09/2013 - 15:08 Posted in Latest news | Permalink
[Updated, 4:05 p.m.]
by Benjamin Herold for NewsWorks, a Notebook news partner
The Philadelphia School District's two main priorities -- balancing its books and expanding the number of "high-quality seats" in city schools -- are poised for a head-on collision, perhaps as soon as next week.
Twenty Philadelphia charter schools, including some of the most sought-after schools in the city, are seeking to expand.
If granted, their requests to add students would almost certainly put the cash-strapped District many millions of dollars deeper into the red.
Mayor's education office seeks to lift the veil on Philly charter board meetings
Submitted by thenotebook on Thu, 04/04/2013 - 16:49 Posted in Latest news | Permalink
by Benjamin Herold for NewsWorks, a Notebook news partner
Seeking to better understand the operations of Philadelphia's 80-plus public charter schools, Mayor Nutter's Office of Education has launched an effort to get boots on the ground at charter board meetings all across the city.
Lori Shorr, the Mayor's chief education policy adviser, has directed members of her staff to begin attending several such meetings a month.
"We put a lot of public dollars into these schools, and they're serving a lot of kids in this city," Shorr said. "How they're governed is important."
District promises to get tough with new Renaissance charter operators
Submitted by thenotebook on Tue, 04/02/2013 - 18:24 Posted in Latest news | Permalink
by Benjamin Herold for NewsWorks, a Notebook news partner
The Philadelphia School District is vowing to take a hard line on two issues that have caused confusion when charter operators take over traditional public schools: special education and facilities costs.
Even as the District tries to convert three more of its schools into charters, officials and parents alike are wading through confusion over “exceptions” that past administrations granted to outside managers in previous years of the District’s Renaissance school turnaround initiative.
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- Round two of PCAPS forums keeps education reform conversation going
- Amid dispute with District, Discovery Charter cuts ribbon to new building
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